Former WHL Goaltender of the Year Milic signs entry-level deal with Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg, Man.- Former WHL Goaltender of the Year Thomas Milic has inked a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets, the club announced Friday.

Milic’s deal will kick in for the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot, 180-pound netminder caught the attention of the hockey world with a breakout season with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2022-23.

Milic was named the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy winner as the WHL Goaltender of the Year after posting a league-leading 2.08 goals-against average and .928 save percentage while amassing a 27-3-1-1 record.

The Coquitlam, B.C. product hit a new level in the postseason, leading the Thunderbirds to the 2023 WHL Championship as the WHL Playoff MVP.

Milic went 16-3-0 in the postseason with a 1.95 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and one shutout.

Seattle would reach the Memorial Cup Final, where they fell to the Quebec Remparts.

The Winnipeg Jets took notice and selected Milic in the fifth round, 151st overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

The 21-year-old is coming off his first professional season, which saw him start with the ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals.

After slamming the door for his first professional shutout, winning ECHL Goaltender of the Week and a berth in the ECHL All-Star Game, Milic earned his call-ups to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

Milic went 19-9-2 with the Moose, serving up a 2.72 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage and a shutout.

He won 14 of his final 19 games for Manitoba to snag AHL Player of the Week honours in mid-March.

On the international stage, Milic represented Team Canada at the 2023 Spengler Cup, suiting up for one game and stopping 16 of 18 shots.

He also helped Canada win gold at the 2023 World Junior Championship with a perfect 5-0-0-0 record.