Bowling Green State University goaltender Ryan Bednard signed a contract with the Florida Panthers of the
National Hockey League on Monday.
“I’ve been in contact with them throughout the season, they’ve come to some games, and they reached out
yesterday,” Bednard said of the Panthers. “It was definitely a hard decision, Bowling Green’s a home for
me. Being there, I needed to develop as a goalie and as a person. I think it’s just the right time for
me to move on.”
Bednard, who started 31 games for the Falcons this season, was drafted by the Panthers out of high school
in 2015. They selected him in the seventh round with pick No. 206.
The junior leaves the program after a sensational season.
Bednard was one of nine NCAA goalkeepers to sport a win percentage of 70 percent or higher. His
92.6percent save percentage was 12th in the country and he trailed just two goalies with a 1.78 goals
against average.
Bednard capped his season with a season-high 40 saves in the NCAA tournament loss to Minnesota-Duluth in
overtime. He ends his collegiate career with 1,541 career saves and 38 victories.
The Panthers, entering Monday’s game, had allowed 271 goals this season — third most in the NHL.
“Right now, I’m out to their minor league team in Springfield. I’ll be going there Wednesday and
finishing off the season there. Then I’ll be trying out, I’ll be going to the development camp and
training camp with the Panthers and trying out there,” Bednard said. “They just want me to keep it up
and I still have a lot of work to do.”