Maine Hockey Journal

Wahlstrom commits to Harvard

(PHOTO: Dan Hickling/ Hickling Images)

(PHOTO: Dan Hickling/ Hickling Images)


Nearly seven weeks after opting out of his commitment to the University of Maine men’s hockey team, Oliver Wahlstrom announced Thursday evening on Twitter that he has verbal committed to Harvard University.

Wahlstrom, 15, originally committed to Maine as a 13-year-old that made him the youngest player at the time to commit to a collegiate program.

He wasn’t expected to join the Maine program until 2019-2020 at the earliest.

Wahlstrom’s commitment to Harvard is contingent on meeting the school’s guidelines for admittance and NCAA eligibility requirements.

At the time of his commitment to the UMaine, the Falmouth native attended North Yarmouth Academy where he played varsity hockey despite only being in the seventh grade. In 22 games, Wahlstrom scored 11 goals, 18 assists for 29 points.

“(Oliver is) a very talented skater. He’s strong on the skates, which he has worked hard at. That allows him to be physical to keep the puck on his stick,” NYA head coach Eric Graham said about Wahlstrom back in Jan. 2014. “The second thing is his ice awareness. It’s always been a strength of his game.”

Wahlstrom moved to Faribault, Minnesota to play for the prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary’s where he finished second in scoring with the Bantam team, scoring 68 goals, 46 assists for 114 points in 65 games.

Wahlstrom, who is eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, will return to Shattuck-St. Mary’s again in the fall where he’s expected to compete for a spot on the Prep team’s roster.

He recently took part in USA Hockey’s Boys’ Select 15 Player Development Camp in Williamsville, New York where he tallied six goals in five games for Team Royal.

He gained notoriety as a 9-year-old for his lacrosse-style goal he scored during a Mini One-on-One segment that aired on NESN during the intermission period of a Boston Bruins game.

Wahlstrom’s father, Joakim, was recruited by current Black Bears’ assistant coach Jay Leach. He played for the Black Bears from 1988-1990.

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