By Warren Kozireski —
The Islanders selected Kieffer Bellows with the 19th overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and he has produced goals at every level—except Division I college hockey.
After netting 33 goals in 58 games with Sioux Falls in the USHL in 2014-15, he spent one season with the U.S. National Development Program (2015-16) where he scored 16 times in 23 USHL games before joining the Boston University Terriers in 2016-17 as a true freshman.
A frustrating season of only seven goals and seven assists in 34 games pushed him to the Western Hockey League and major junior with Portland this season.
There he had 21 goals and 21 assists in 32 games while also breaking Jeremy Roenick’s record for goals with nine during the IIHF Under-20 World Junior Championships in Buffalo in December/January. He also scored twice in seven games in 2017 when Team USA won the gold medal.
“We’re doing it for the guys in the locker room,” Bellows said about helping Team USA win a medal for the third straight year—a first in program history. “Everyone is just focusing on each other and winning for USA hockey.”
Earlier in the tournament, Bellows helped Team USA overcome two two-goal deficits and eventually defeat Team Canada in the outdoor game played at New Era field in front of 44,000 people, Bellows scored one of the two shootout goals.
“Came down the left side and tried to analyze what I was going to do depending on the goalie’s position and I thought five-hole was the best opportunity for me and I just tried to shoot it as quick as possible.
As for a favorite memory from the outdoor game, Bellows said, “honestly there are just so many to pick out. It could be the celebration with (starting goaltender Jake) Oettinger at the end there or walking out for the puck drop and seeing the snow falling with 45,000 fans. It’s something I know I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
So which Kieffer Bellows will Islander fans soon see? The 6’1”, 200 lb. power forward who can score with the best of them and has was not less than a +10 plus/minus at the junior level or the 18-year old who struggled to find his offensive game and was -9 for one season at the Division I college level? Let the debate begin.
(USA Hockey Photo)
