Ryder Fetterolf turned 18 on Jan. 5 and it was a fairly quiet affair.
He had school earlier in the day, then had dinner along with some cake.
Worst of all, he had homework.
To be certain, the work he had to do at home wasn’t all that miserable, as it didn’t involve science or social studies.
He had to stretch.
A goaltender with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Ottawa 67’s, Fetterolf, a native of Sewickley, has an elaborate stretching routine he adheres to in order to maintain his form.
“That was pretty much it for the day,” Fetterolf said. “I got to play hockey the day before and the day after. So, I was pretty happy with it.”
Just about anyone with a vested interest in the 67’s has had plenty of reason to be happy with Fetterolf during his first season with that club.
He has been one of the OHL’s top goaltenders this season, posting a 24-8-1 record along with a 2.18 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and a league-leading four shutouts through 34 games entering Tuesday.
Fetty Stop's highlight reel is never ending ????
Ryder Fetterolf made another sensational save for the @Ottawa67sHockey this afternoon, earning him the @RealCdnSS Save of the Night!#NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/3PTQ1ZNkK8
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 23, 2026
His success led to him being selected to the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game last month. That is a prominent showcase event at the junior level for players in that league who are candidates to be selected in the upcoming NHL Draft in June.
And as the top goaltender for the 67’s, he has sparked a club that has been a surprise during the OHL’s 2025-26 season with a 39-14-1-2 record, one of the league’s best marks.
“We were definitely doubted at the beginning of the year,” Fetterolf said. “We were underestimated. Now, look at us. We’re at the top of the league.”
A native of Western Pennsylvania becoming one of the OHL’s top goaltenders is something of a surprise, at least on the surface.
Generally, Americans don’t often get opportunities to play in the top junior leagues north of the border, especially in net, where there are usually only two goaltenders on a roster.
And to do it as a 17-year-old as he entered the season is far from typical.
“It’s pretty rare nowadays to see a 17-year-old putting up the minutes that he is,” said Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending consultant Mike Chiasson, himself an alumnus of the former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “You see teams taking (on) goalies quite a bit from a development standpoint. But usually there’s a 19-, 20-year-old goalie that they’re riding, then (the younger goaltender) may get 15, 20 games for the season.
“(But) he’s their go-to guy at such a young age and they have such confidence in him. And he’s not only one of the best rookies in the league, he’s going to be the top goalie in the league. It’s a challenge, but if anyone can do it, he’s built a little different mentally.”
Fetterolf’s introduction to hockey isn’t all that different from other Western Pennsylvanians who got into the sport over the past two decades.
That’s to say Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby was a leading factor in him becoming fascinated with hockey.
And like other area products who have recently been drafted by NHL clubs, such as Logan Cooley and L.J. Mooney of West Mifflin, Fetterolf participated in Crosby’s ballyhooed Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey program, which provides gear and ice time to area youth.
But he took a slightly unique route when it came to becoming a goaltender.
“A pipe in our house burst in the winter (in 2016),” Fetterolf said by phone earlier this month. “So, we had to rent a house right down the street that had this huge living room with tile floor. We had nothing to use it for, so we’d put on our Rollerblades and we’d play some street hockey inside. After a couple of weeks, my brother (Hunter) wanted a goalie to shoot on. So, he popped up some street pads on me and ever since then, just loved it.”
Fetterolf also has a pair of sisters (Hannah and Greta) who have played hockey and the family has been a regular presence at area rinks such as Baierl Toyota Ice Complex in Warrendale and the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center on Neville Island. Eventually, they became involved with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program based at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
For Ryder Fetterolf, that led to him coming into the orbit of Chiasson.
In his current gig, Chiasson essentially operates as the NHL Penguins’ practice goaltender. Previously, he served as a manager of youth hockey for the franchise.
“Ryder has always just been an athlete,” Chiasson said. “His family is very athletic. He did a lot of youth triathlons and things like that. Aside from being a very good goalie from a young age, he was also just an athletic kid that took care of himself. Very dynamic, explosive in the net. His athleticism and doing other things kind of helped him progress to the fast, dynamic goalie that he is today.”
Another connection with another Penguins-adjacent goaltender came through his father, Brian Fetterolf.
Former Penguins goaltender Jeff Zatkoff retired as a player in 2000 and got into the world of finance with TriState Capital Bank which is based in Pittsburgh.
Brian Fetterolf is chairman and CEO of that group.
“I skated with (Ryder Fetterolf) a few times and did some goalie sessions,” Zatkoff said. “You could tell from a really young age, not only was he athletically gifted. But he had the mental makeup to be really successful as a goaltender. The athleticism is there, obviously, but having that mental makeup and being wired a certain way is a big differentiator. That’s really what sets him apart.”
That approach to the game led to Ryder Fetterolf suiting up for Gilmour Academy, a preparatory school in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, starting in 2022.
Gilmour competes in the Midwest Prep Hockey League and Fetterolf routinely played in higher age groups as he sought stiffer competition.
“When you’re playing on Penguins Elite, you have all this super-great talent all around you and you don’t necessarily need to have your best game,” Fetterolf said. “The reason I went to Gilmour was so I could get a ton of shots and kind of be the backbone of my team. (Last year), we were a super strong team, treated really well and we played pretty great together.”
His success with Gilmour led to Fetterolf committing to Penn State, which has become one of the most prominent men’s programs in the NCAA due in part to a Frozen Four appearance last season as well as the arrival of superstar forward Gavin McKenna (an addition made possible by the lure of name, image and likeness financial opportunities).
The appeal of playing close to home for a team on the rise was clear for Fetterolf, who announced his decision in August.
“You’ve seen them progress every year and get deeper and get better,” Fetterolf said. “It’s been super cool to watch. Seeing them go to the Frozen Four last year was awesome.
“When I made my visit there, I was obviously already super interested. Then I saw all the facilities. They’re top tier. I met the coaching staff and I loved them all. We share very similar beliefs and goals. I love the competitive environment there.”
Getting a chance to compete in the OHL took some connections as well.
Fetterolf, who is scheduled to graduate from Gilmour after completing some online classes, was passed over in two consecutive OHL drafts as teams in that league are often hesitant to devote a selection to players with NCAA aspirations.
That led to Gilmour goaltending coach Neil Conway, a former OHL player himself, reaching out to some contacts in that league. Eventually, the 67’s invited Fetterolf to a development camp. Impressed with what he displayed, 67’s management signed him to what the OHL terms as a scholarship and development agreement.
“(Conway) spoke very highly of me and (said), ‘Just give him a chance at (development) camp and I promise you’ll like what you see,’” Fetterolf said. “Fortunately, they brought me in and I was able to play pretty well and make an impression. They offered to sign me. That was obviously super awesome to go up there for two days and be able to make an impression like that. I was super excited to go to the OHL.”
Fetterolf’s season has been nothing short of spectacular. As such, he has begun to show up on the radar of NHL scouts, albeit in a modest fashion.
In the NHL Central Scouting bureau’s mid-season rankings that were issued in January, he was 16th among North American goaltenders.
For the sake of comparison, Alexis Cournoyer was ranked 16th among North American goaltenders in last year’s final rankings issued by NHL Central Scouting and wound up being a fifth-round draft pick (No. 145 overall) of the Montreal Canadiens.
Fetterolf has designs on improving his standing.
“I was happy to at least be on it (the rankings),” Fetterolf said. “But when I saw myself at 16, I tend to laugh at it. Not much else you can really do. I’m not going to focus on it too much. If they want to have me at 16th, I think I’ve been proving them wrong the whole year. I’m super excited for June. I’m obviously hoping to get drafted and see where I go.
“But all I can do right now is outwork everyone in front of me and just keep playing my game, stick to what I do and go far with my team in the playoffs.”
Listed at a sinewy 6-foot and 186 pounds, Fetterolf relies on his reflexes to man the pipes and cites a blend of former Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with ex-Canadiens goaltender Carey Price as archetypes for his game.
BIG SAVE BY FETTY ????
Rookie Ryder Fetterolf makes an impressive save just seconds before the end of the second period. pic.twitter.com/Ai753gJudj
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) October 19, 2025
Zatkoff points to another star in former Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick while drawing comparisons to Fetterolf’s mental approach to the position.
“He reminds me a lot of Jonathan Quick (with) just the way he practices,” said Zatkoff, who played with Quick in Los Angeles. “He’s got some athleticism like (Quick). I don’t think anybody is as flexible as (Quick), but in terms of his compete (level), every single puck, whether it’s practice or a game, just his ownership, always wanting to get better, never satisfied, whether it’s a win, a shutout, he’s always looking to improve.”
Should Fetterolf be drafted, it is believed he would be only the third goaltender from this region to be selected by an NHL club.
Most notably, John Gibson, a native of Whitehall, has enjoyed a 13-year career as an All-Star after being a second-round selection (No. 39 overall) of the Anaheim Ducks in 2011. He currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
And back in 2002, the Penguins selected McMurray’s Dwight LaBrosse in the ninth round (No. 265), but he never played above the junior level.
The only other Western Pennsylvanian goaltender to play in the NHL was Wexford’s Michael Houser, an undrafted journeyman who appeared in six games for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.
Fetterolf would join a fairly exclusive company should he hear his name called in late June. And he already keeps pretty good company as he has skated in summer training sessions with Gibson, as well as other local NHLers such as Olympian forwards J.T. Miller (Coraopolis) and Vince Trocheck (Upper St. Clair) at the Baierl facility.
Gibson, himself a product of the OHL, has logically drawn Fetterolf’s attention as the latter tries to forge his own path to the NHL.
“Watching him in skates, I pay super close attention to him and how he plays his game,” Fetterolf said. “Even how he practices. There’s so much for me to learn from a seasoned veteran like him. Going from Anaheim to Detroit, seeing how he’s able to play and how he’s playing well. You see the difference in how much work I still have to put in to get to that next level.
“That just motivates me more. I want to get to the next level, no matter what. To see a guy from the same area as me play in the NHL like he is, I think that’s super cool and definitely a goal of mine.”