Announced via his instagram, Owen Bartoszkiewicz has transferred to Western Michigan
Owen Bartoszkiewicz, the former Minnesota Gophers goaltender, has now transferred to Western Michigan. Bartoszkiewicz announced he is transferring to Western Michigan via his instagram profile.
It's been an interesting college career for Bartoszkiewicz. He joined the Gophers halfway through the 2021-22 season after their starter Jack LaFontaine signed a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bartoszkiewicz joined the Gophers at the end of January and finished his freshman season without receiving any action. Justen Close returned to the Gophers for his senior year the next season which made Bartoszkiewicz the backup.
The 6-foot-1 goaltender made six appearances in goal for the Gophers, including four starts during the 2022-23 season. He finished the year with a perfect 3-0-0 record with a 3.72 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage.
Two of those three wins came after Bartoszkiewicz swept Michigan in November after 35 save performance against the Wolverines on Saturday the 18th to finish off a weekend sweep.
After last season it seemed like Bartoszkiewicz was going to be the next starter for the Gophers but that was until Close announced he was coming back for his fifth season. This forced Bartoszkiewicz out of a starting spot.
So the University decided to let Bartoszkiewicz go back to the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms to start games there. The plan was for Bartoszkiewicz to have a good season in the USHL then bring him back next season to be the Gophers starter.
Plans have changed. The Gophers brought in 25-year old Liam Souliere from Penn State via the transfer portal. This left Bartoszkiewicz without a starting role again.
Despite struggling in the USHL and eventually being demoted to the NAHL, Bartoszkiewicz will go to Western Michigan in hopes of revamping his College Career again.
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