Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.unhwildcats.com
- Name: Brian Foster
- Position: G
- Catches: Left
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 180 lbs
- Birthdate: 1987-04-02
- Eligible for Draft: 2005
- Drafted: 2005
- Hometown: Pembroke, New Hampshire
- Acquired: 5th round (161st overall), 2005
- Playing In: NCAA
Brian Foster
Prospect Grade: 5.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2004-05: Foster finished with a record of 30-6-4 in 41 games with a 2.51 GAA and .927 save percentage as the the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs won the EJHL championship. He committed to playing college hockey at the University of New Hampshire in 2006.
2005-06: Foster played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL. In a goal-tending tandem with former Cornell goalie Troy Davenport, he finished 12-9 with 3 OT losses and a 2.81 GAA and .903 save percentage.
2006-07: Foster was 2-2-0 with two shutouts as a freshman for the University of New Hampshire playing behind junior starter Kevin Regan (BOS). Foster finished with a 2.21 GAA and .933 save percentage in seven games.
2007-08: Foster was 2-2-2 in six starts as a sophomore for the UNH Wildcats as the backup to Regan. He posted a 3.06 GAA and .899 save percentage.
2008-09: Foster assumed the starting role for UNH as a junior and was 19-11-4 as the Wildcats finished third in Hockey East. After starting out the season hot, Foster struggled a bit with an ankle injury but appeared to get things back on track down the stretch. He finished with had a 2.68 GAA and .910 save percentage in 35 games. Foster stopped 40 shots in a wild 6-5 overtime game as the Wildcats upset North Dakota in the NCAA tournament before falling, 2-1, to Boston College in the Northeast regional final.
2009-10: Foster was one of just four seniors on an upstart UNH team that captured Hockey East's regular season championship. he finished with a record of 17-14-7 with a 2.98 GAA and .908 save percentage in 38 games for the Wildcats. Foster was at his best in UNH's first round playoff series with arch-rival Vermont allowing just six goals in the three-game series. Unfortunately, UNH did not score in either game - losing by consecutive 1-0 scores, the second in OT. Foster recorded 106 saves in the series, including stopping 50 of 51 shots in the Game 3 overtime loss. Foster was named First Team Hockey East and Second Team East All-American.
2010-11: Foster split his first pro season between Bossier-Shreveport in the CHL and the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones. Foster opened the season on loan to the CHL's Mudbugs due to the crowded goaltending situation in the Florida Panthers system and was 9-9-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .884 save percentage in 20 games. Foster joined the Cyclones in February and handled the bulk of the goaltending for Cincinnati down the stretch and in the playoffs. In 19 regular season games he was 11-7 with 2 shutouts and had a 2.30 GAA and .918 save percentage. Foster started all four playoff games in the Cyclones' four-game series with Reading and was 1-3, losing twice in overtime. He had a 2.26 GAA and .899 save percentage for the series.
Talent Analysis
Foster plays consistent in net and stays calm, not getting rattled in pressure situations. Foster is a strong "first-save" goalie and often comes up big on defensive breakdowns. He has improved his rebound control during his college career. Foster may need to add some strength to have the stamina for the physical requirements of the longer pro season, his skills and instincts are sound.
Future
Foster is part of a crowded goaltending picture that will sort itself out at training camp. The Panthers will have five prospects jockeying for a spot in the organization behind NHL starter Tomas Vokoun and veteran backup Scott Clemmensen. While Foster's credentials are not as gaudy as some of the others, he's a very solid goaltender and did well in his two years starting for the University of New Hampshire. The numbers may dictate a move elsewhere, but Foster has some talent and could develop into a solid backup or tandem goalie in the right situation.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: October, 12th 2011
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