Courtsey of Brian Beard

Men’s ice hockey (8–9–3; 6–5–3 NESCAC) goaltender Jacob Osborne ’28 knows what it means to be a team player.

“At the end of the day, being a goalie is about team success,” Osborne said. “If I’m not successful, the team’s not successful.”

Osborne, who just received NESCAC Player of the Week, has had a stand-out first season in net for the Polar Bears. He currently has a .912 save percentage for the season and earned the Peter Schuh ’96 Memorial Award for his performance in the annual Bowdoin-Colby hockey game, saving all shots on goal by the Mules.

Osborne first played hockey when he was four years old. Though he dabbled in nearly every sport growing up, as a Canadian, Osborne was heavily influenced by the nation’s hockey culture to pursue the sport.

“I just kind of naturally fell in love with the game from a young age, just watching it, seeing it everywhere, and [it] just kind of motivated me to want to start,” Osborne said.

Just a few years into playing hockey, Osborne found himself gravitating toward goaltending over other positions.

“I wasn’t that great of a skater, and back then, goaltending wasn’t as much skating, and I was just natural at it,” Osborne said.

Goaltending is one of the most high-pressure positions in hockey as the last line of defense against the opposing team. While some crack under this pressure, Osborne thrives on it.

“I do enjoy the pressure. It’s nice when it works out, and you get the win,” Osborne said. “I think it’s not for everybody, but it’s certainly something I do like.”

Osborne recently had the chance to shine under this pressure during the team’s annual home game against Colby. Watson Arena pulsed with energy as students and community members alike gathered in support of the Polar Bears, an environment that Osborne found invigorating to his game.

“Winning that Colby game [in the shootout] was a lot of fun,” Osborne said. “Having all the fans there and the excitement in the building—that was just a great time.”

While Osborne enjoys an arena packed with a rousing crowd on gameday, his everyday practice is grounded in dedication and hard work. Osborne believes this philosophy is key to his progress and success as a goaltender, having seen the role hard work has played in the hockey careers of his peers.

“Whoever works the hardest is going to go the farthest. Some of the most talented players I played with growing up aren’t even playing hockey anymore, just because they didn’t have that work ethic and that drive,” Osborne said. “Even after you’re kind of put down, you’ve got to just keep working, and hopefully, you’ll be successful.”

Head Coach Ben Guite recognizes Osborne’s hard work, praising Osborne for his quick adjustment to the team as a first-year among many upperclassmen.

“Once the puck drops, there’s no class. You’ve got to play whoever plays the best and [who] works the hardest typically plays, and I feel like he’s performed at a really, really high level,” Guite said.

Guite also highlighted Osborne’s consistency during the team’s win against Hamilton College (15–4–1; 11–2–1 NESCAC) and shootout win at Amherst College (8–10–2; 5–7–2 NESCAC) last weekend.

“[Osborne] was really great in both games this weekend. I felt our execution offensively was pretty good because of that, because the guys felt it,” Guite said.

Even with his stellar record, Osborne is always striving for improvement. He hopes that the team can win a NESCAC title or even a national championship during his time as a Polar Bear. Regardless of what the team’s future holds, Osborne is grateful for his teammates, coaches and the greater Bowdoin community he is surrounded by.

“I love the culture here,” Osborne said. “The support from the community is incredible.”