(Spruce Grove, AB) - The Buffalo Sabres are no strangers to goaltenders drafted in the later rounds doing heroic things in the crease, Dominik Hasek who wore the Sabre crest was a 10th round pick. On Thursday, Buffalo selected another goaltender late in the draft, announcing goaltender Scott Ratzlaff as their 5th round selection, 141st overall. The current Seattle Thunderbird is a former product of the Hockey Super League.
The Irma, Alberta product spent 2018-19 with the Red Wings Hockey Club compiling an 8-3 record with a 3.00 goals-against average and a 0.900 save percentage. His talents made him a 2nd round pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2020 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. He was brilliant for the Thunderbirds this past season, amassing a 25-8-3 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a 0.918 save percentage. Ratzlaff was especially impressive when starter Thomas Milic was with the Canadian World Junior program this past December.
Milic was taken ten spots after Ratzlaff by the Winnipeg Jets and is expected to turn professional this coming season, leaving the door wide open for the 6’0”, 170-pound Ratzlaff take over the crease in Seattle and try to follow in Milic’s strides by wearing the maple leaf someday.
Silent Ice Sports & Entertainment would like to congratulate Scott and the Ratzlaff family on this outstanding accomplishment!
