NAHL Netminder Signs With Air Force

With two senior goalies Carter Clafton and Dominik Wasik on its roster this year, Air Force needed to secure some fresh talent for their blue paint. They committed one such netminder from the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) New Jersey Titans in Andrew Bely. 

Bely, a St. Louis native, spent time last year with NAHL's Austin Bruins and USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers before heading out east to New Jersey. After starting this season 4-1-1-3 through 11 contests, Air Force pulled the trigger and committed him yesterday. He has maintained a save percentage at or above .900 in eight of his 11 games. 

"I’m extremely blessed and honored to announce my commitment to play NCAA Division 1 ice hockey and pursue my education at the Air Force Academy," Bely said on social media yesterday.  "I would like to thank God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches, and everyone who helped me along my hockey journey."

Standing at 6 foot 6  and 216 pounds, Bely has backstopped New Jersey to fourth place in the NAHL's East Division. The fast yet physical East Division is a perfect springboard into a similar Atlantic Hockey America conference where Air Force plays. Currently, the Titans sit at 10-6-2-3 through 21 games and are in the midst of a match against sixth place Danbury at the time of publication. If Bely continues protects his crease well, New Jersey could chase first place held by the defending Robertson Cup Champion Maryland Black Bears.