By: Jordan McAlpine, Sports Reporter
OMAHA, Neb. – When Isaiah Saville was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019, the Alaska native envisioned what it would be like to join the organization someday.
Fast forward to March 18, 2022, and Saville found himself signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Golden Knights. Two days later, Saville was boarding a flight from Omaha to Las Vegas.
“Even when I was signing the contract, it didn’t really kick in that it was really happening,” Saville said. “Then when I was flying over the (Las Vegas) Strip and seeing everything, it made me super nervous, but a good nervous. It’s been an incredible experience so far, but it’s surreal. It’s crazy to think that this is my life now and I’m doing something I love as a job.”
Although Saville’s end goal is to play at the NHL level, he’s still less than a month into his professional career and there’s work to be done. Saville is currently playing for the Vegas’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. Regarded as one of the Golden Knights’ top goaltending prospects, he’s appeared in four games so far in his pro career, including three starts.
Saville has a 2-1 record, .934 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against average. He notched his first professional win on April 4 with 29 saves against the Rockford IceHogs and followed it up with another 29 saves six days later in a win over the San Jose Barracuda. That second win clinched Henderson a spot in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs.
It’s been an adjustment, especially off the ice, but Saville is starting to settle in at the pro level.
“It’s been pretty crazy, honestly,” he said. “Definitely making the jump from college to the pros is a difficult one, but it’s been a lot of fun. I’m super grateful to be here and I’m enjoying my time so far. It’s been a great experience and I’m looking forward to everything that’s coming.”
Saville said he’s developed “exponentially” over the last year and once Omaha’s season ended last month in Kalamazoo, he felt ready to make the jump. He gives credit to his current goalie coach, Fred Brathwaite, along with Omaha’s goalie coach, Rob Couturier. Especially on the mental side of the game.
Brathwaite and everyone within the Vegas organization have helped make the transition as seamless as possible.
“Everyone here is so amazing and I’m so thankful that I’m part of this organization,” Saville said. “It’s the best scenario you could think of and everyone is so nice and everyone is so welcoming. From the staff to my new teammates, it’s been a quick adjustment- It was definitely tough being the new guy and it almost went back to being a freshman again.”
Saville laughs at the thought, but three years ago he found himself as a young freshman arriving on the Omaha campus. During his three years as a Maverick, Saville blossomed into a fan favorite and one of the NCHC’s top goaltenders. He finished his collegiate career with a 38-36-5 record and posted a career .907 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average.
Although he now may have a Henderson logo on his chest, being a pro hockey player still gives him the chance to represent the crimson and black.
“It’s a tremendous honor and such a privilege to represent our school in a professional manner,” Saville said. “We’re still, and will always be part of Omaha hockey, and the fact that we get to represent it as our job now is incredible. When I hear people say he’s a product of UNO, it’s something that means a lot to me, and I take a lot of pride in it.”
