After being drafted by the New York Islanders in 2013, Eamon McAdam could become the first former Waterloo Black Hawks to start as a goalie at the NHL level.

Eamon McAdam proved he was a world-class goaltender when he was a member of the Waterloo Black Hawks, and the New York Islanders are giving him the opportunity to prove that fact once again at the NHL level.

This week, the Islanders signed McAdam to a three-year contract which will begin next fall. In the meantime, the former Hawk will join New York’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

From 2010/11 through 2012/13, the Perkasie, Pennsylvania, native was in the Waterloo crease. He earned a record of 30-18-5 during 58 regular season appearances, posting two shutouts. He made his USHL debut at age 16 in January of 2011. Two of his most notable highlights came outside the regular season schedule. In 2013, he was named Most Valuable Player of the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Prior to the start of the 2012/13 season, McAdam had also led Waterloo to a silver medal during the 2012 Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia, where he was named the tournament’s top goaltender.

The Islanders selected him with the 70th overall pick during the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft following his final season in Waterloo. In the interim, McAdam has been in goal for the hockey program at Penn State University. In 45 games for the Nittany Lions, McAdam was 18-21-2, including a 13-8-1 mark this season during which he had NCAA-career-bests for goals-against average (2.98) and save percentage (90.5%).

Last summer, New York signed McAdam’s former teammate and fellow goaltender Stephon Williams. Both players were drafted by the Islanders in 2013. Either player has the opportunity to become the first Hawks goaltending alum to ever appear during an NHL regular season game.

Four former Hawks forwards have played in the National Hockey League this season: Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks), Craig Smith (Nashville Predators), J.T. Brown (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Vince Hinostroza (Chicago Blackhawks). Pavelski, Smith, and Hinostroza were each with the NHL club which drafted them during or immediately after their time in Waterloo.

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