Aldergrove netminder Jordan Liem commits to SFU for 2014/15 season

---

Simon Fraser University is pleased to announce its third student athlete commitment for the 2014-15 season. Joining SFU is 21-year-old goaltender Jordan Liem.

The Coquitlam product spent time with the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Pacific Junior Hockey League's Aldergrove Kodiaks in 2013-14.

"Jordan is a quality goalie who has experience at both the Junior A and Junior B levels. His numbers speak for themselves, he's proven he can backstop a winner," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta.

"We are very excited that Jordan has chosen SFU to continue his post secondary education. With both of our goaltenders moving on after last season, we fully expect Jordan to come in and compete for the number one spot between the pipes."

Liem started 2013/14 with Nipawin, playing six games before joining Aldergrove at the end of October. He played 24 games with the Kodiaks, finishing with a 20-3-1 record, a 2.52 goals-against-average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts.

His season included a 12-game personal unbeaten streak and a six game winning streak to start the 2014 playoffs.

Liem was 12-4 in the post-season with a 2.32 goals-against-average, a .926 save percentage and two shutouts, playing a big role in Aldergrove winning the PJHL championship. He was 2-2 at the Cyclone Taylor Cup BC Provincial Junior B Championships, finishing with a 2.51 goals-against-average and a .906 save percentage.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound netminder is eager to get started with Simon Fraser in September.

"I'm excited to continue my education at SFU, because it's a great school. I've heard nothing but good things about it," Liem explained. "Education-wise, it's one of the top schools in Canada and hockey wise, Coach Coletta has built a great program which contends for the BCIHL championship every season."

Liem describes himself as the type of goaltender who doesn't let the highs get too high, or the lows too low.

"I'd say one of my biggest strengths is that I'm very calm when I'm in goal," Liem added. "I have a calm demeanor and try to keep my game as simple as possible."

Coletta expects Liem’s big game playoff experience to help him make the adjustment from Junior B hockey to the BCIHL.

"In backstopping Aldergrove to a championship, Jordan knows what it takes to win, and I expect him to be a big part of our program moving forward," added Coletta. "With no returnees in the position, goaltending is of the utmost importance for our team next season, so we see having Jordan on board as a huge plus."

Liem played 16 games with Nipawin as a rookie in 2012/13, going 10-5 with a stellar 2.28 goals-against-average, a .920 save percentage and one shutout, en route to being named the Hawks' Most Improved Player for the season.

He received league honours as the PJHL's Most Improved Player in 2011-12 while also claiming Most Improved Player with his club team, the North Vancouver Wolf Pack. During the 2010-11 season, Liem was an affiliate player with the BC Hockey League's Penticton Vees and he was also chosen in the ninth round, 194th overall of the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

"In my first year at SFU, I'm looking to get a good feel for what post-secondary school is all about," concluded Liem. "And I hope to get a better idea of what I want to major in."

Liem joins defenseman Mathew Berry-Lamontagna and forward Matthew Luongo as three recruits thus far in what is expected to be a very strong recruiting class for the 2014-15 season for SFU.