Saves By Shostak

LINCOLN, Neb. – Yan Shostak grew up in Minsk, Belarus with little intention of playing college hockey, let alone calling central Minnesota home.

However, the 20-year-old goaltender took a visit to St. Cloud State last season and the rest is history, as Shostak is slated to join the Huskies next season.

“That was my first college I visited, and I didn’t really know much about the different colleges, but I really liked the coaches and (the campus),” Shostak said. “I remember when I got to the rink they had a big picture of me on the scoreboard, and I just really liked St. Cloud.

“So, I talked to my coaches (in Lincoln), and my agent said this was the best choice in the NCAA, and I thought so too.”

It’s been a whirlwind 14 months for Shostak as last season was his first in North America.

He made the 5,100-mile trek to Lincoln and spoke barely any English, but he still turned in a solid rookie season with the Lincoln Stars. Shostak finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 20-18-2 record, .902 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average, along with a pair of playoff wins. Yet he still felt there was more to prove.

Welp… so far so good, as Shostak is off to a red-hot 5-1-0 start and has been arguably the USHL’s best goalie through five weeks.

He was pulled after 17 minutes last Saturday in Youngstown with a lower-body injury, which both Shostak and head coach Rocky Russo said was out of precaution. Had it been a late-season or playoff game, Shostak would’ve “100% been in the net.”

However, he had posted back-to-back shutouts before that start and has made 148 of a possible 156 saves this season, giving himself a .949 save percentage and 1.28 goals-against average – both of which rank second among USHL goaltenders.

Yan Shostak committed to St. Cloud State last April. “We loved Yan’s athleticism and compete level,” said St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson. “He never quits on a puck and plays to win. His technique is very solid and he shows poise under pressure, and we’re excited that he’s a future Husky!” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

Strong Shostak effort, strong start for Lincoln Stars
Shostak also has a pair of shutouts, which is tied for the league lead. He turned aside all 36 shots Waterloo fired his way on Oct. 12 and went a perfect 13-for-13 on Oct. 18 in Youngstown.

“We’ve got a really good team and I’m just working hard and feeling way confident,” Shostak said. “We’ve just got to keep working and keep it going.”

Lincoln currently owns the USHL’s best record at 8-1-0, and the Stars hold a four-point lead atop the Western Conference. It’s Lincoln’s second-best start in franchise history.

Make no mistake, it’s been a complete team effort as Russo’s club has allowed the USHL’s fewest goals (17). Lincoln has also scored the USHL’s second-most goals (36) and has one of the league’s top defensive corps, too, but Shostak deserves plenty of credit.

“This team is built from the net out, and it’s no secret Yan is a big part of that,” Russo said. “He’s always been an athletic goaltender, but he’s done a good job of making saves and managing rebounds, and he’s done a good job of settling the situation down when we need him to. He’s just been rock-solid for us.”

Yan Shostak is 5-1-0 to open his second USHL season. “I’d say the biggest difference is he’s staying more patient,” said assistant coach Artt Brey. “He’s such a strong skater and too much movement puts him out of position at times, but I think he’s done a good job this year of slowing things down and his movements are really sound.” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

At the same time, Shostak’s “rock-solid” play didn’t happen overnight, and he’s continued to develop in Nebraska’s capital city.

“He’s just got such a consistency to his approach on a daily basis, and he’s elevated everything from the time he got here,” Russo said. “He honestly wasn’t very good when he first got here, and it’s not because he wasn’t talented, but it was all those adjustments – learning to manage living away from home, not being able to speak the language and adjusting to a new league.

“So, there were a lot of challenges and it took some time, but he was willing to battle regardless of the situation. He always had that worker’s mindset and once he settled in, he had a tremendous second half. He’s carried that into this season.”

Added assistant coach Artt Brey, who primarily works with Lincoln’s goalies: “He’s a great kid and he’s such a hard worker. He’s ultra-competitive, he hates to lose and he hates to get scored on. I think that mentality and demeanor has transformed him into the goalie he is today and we’re seeing that confidence in him.

“He didn’t get here by chance or by luck, and he had to overcome a lot last year after moving here from overseas. Especially early, and we struggled as a team in front of him. But he’s persevered through a lot of ups and downs and he’s earned all the success that he’s had.”

Yan Shostak started playing hockey as a 5-year-old defenseman in Belarus and did that for two years before shifting to goalie. Shostak’s older brother, Konstantin, also played goalie in the KHL. (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

This season’s success also coincides with another factor, both on and off the ice: Comfort.

“It’s been a lot better this year,” Shostak said. “I know the guys better, I know the coaches, the staff and what (the USHL) is like. The people here are all so nice and helpful too, so I’ve felt a little bit more (comfortable) now.”

On top of that comfortability, the other difference is Lincoln’s play, as the Stars got off to a dismal 3-12-0-2 start last season. Lincoln was outscored 68-31 throughout that 17-game stretch but has outscored its opponents by a 19-goal margin (36-17) through its first nine game this this fall.

Shostak said his goals this season are to simply win the Clark Cup and be the league’s best goalie – the latter of which he’s well on his way to accomplishing.

He now hopes to keep it up and eventually continue building on it at SCSU.

“I’m really excited to be a Husky,” Shostak said. “It’s going to be a new challenge for me, but I’m just really excited to play there.”