With his father watching from the stands, former Flin Flon Bombers goalie Devin Buffalo recorded his first college hockey shutout this past weekend.
Buffalo, who played for the Bombers from 2011 to 2014, turned away 21 shots to help Dartmouth College beat Colgate University 2-0 last Saturday, Nov. 5.
It was only the eighth game Buffalo, a third-year team member, had played for the Hanover, New Hampshire-based NCAA Division I Big Green.
“It feels really good to record my first collegiate shutout,” said Buffalo, a Wetaskiwin, Alta. product. “My father Pat flew out here from Alberta to watch our first two ECAC home games of the season. ... This is the first time he has been able to watch me start since 2014 when I played with the Drumheller Dragons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League finals series. So to tie Cornell 1-1 and to shut out Colgate 2-0 in front of my dad was a special feeling.”
The shutout is another highlight in what has been a strong start for Buffalo this season. Through three games, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is 2-0-1 with a 0.97 goals-against average. He helped Dartmouth beat the University of Michigan for the first time since 1971.
In his first two seasons, Buffalo played behind two strong goaltenders. He did not see action as a freshman and played five games last season.
“I did not see myself being a third-string goalie as a failure,” Buffalo said. “Instead, I took everything in and learned how to be a Division 1 goalie and took the time to understand what it takes to be successful in the league. I have been waiting for this opportunity to start, and I believe I have prepared myself for the role. I am excited about our early team success and we are looking to continue to grow as a team as we set out on a seven-game road stint before Christmas break.”
Dartmouth head coach Bob Gaudet obviously believes in Buffalo. On the team’s website, after Colgate win, he stated: “Buff is just so calming and you can see that in everything he does. He makes everyone else in tight situations more relaxed.”
Buffalo believes his two-and-a-half-season with the Bombers helped him get to where he is as a player and a person.
“The community of Flin Flon is extremely hard working, friendly and humble and I believe my time in Flin Flon helped me grow as a person,” he said.
He was quick to credit the Bombers coaching staff for helping him succeed.
“I have to give a lot of credit to [Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan] for helping me get the opportunity to play Division 1 hockey,” Buffalo said. “I have noticed many coaches believe that if the player is good enough, they will receive attention from schools on their own. However, I respect the coaches that go out of their way to help players get to the next level. I am thankful that Reags reached out to schools on my behalf and told them not only about my play on the ice, but who I was as a person, and I appreciate that.
“The coaching staff put their trust in me, and I was able to develop my skills over three years with
many starts.”
A SJHL Rookie of the Year, Buffalo split his final junior season between Flin Flon and Drumheller. The Dragons acquired him for a playoff run, and he helped them make it to the league final.
After that season he went to Dartmouth, where he is majoring in government. A member of the Samson Cree Nation, he hopes to go into indigenous law after a pro hockey career.
Buffalo is enjoying his time at the prestigious and historical Dartmouth College.
“I think the best thing about being at Dartmouth is that it’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “The athletics, facilities, and staff are all great and extremely professional. The academics are prestigious and being able to work towards an Ivy League degree is very special to my family and I.”
