The historic 2022 NHL Draft class which saw an NCAA-leading and program-best 7 players get selected for Northeastern University continued its march to professional hockey as sophomore Cameron Whitehead signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. He was drafted by Vegas in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, the highest-drafted Northeastern goalie since Bruce Racine who went in the third round in 1985. He is the fourth Husky from this year’s team to sign an NHL contract in the last week, the sixth player to sign a pro contract.
Whitehead leaves Northeastern after two years of owning the crease, appearing in 70 of 73 games. As a freshman he posted a .917 save percentage, 2.62 goals-against-average, and 4 shutouts en route to 17 wins. He backstopped Northeastern to the 2024 Beanpot championship, where he won the Eberly Award in the 2024 Beanpot as the goaltender with the best save percentage in the tournament. His four shutouts tied Brad Thiessen and Cayden Primeau’s mark for the most as a freshman. He notched his first career shutout in his debut game against Stonehill, and added three more in the final month of the season against UMass-Lowell, Maine, and Merrimack.
As a sophomore, Whitehead finished the year with a .911 save percentage, 2.74 GAA, and 1 shutout, leading to 13 wins. He endured an up-and-down season but recovered in the second half with marquee performances in the Hockey East Tournament, saving 131 of 138 shots (.949 SV%) to lead Northeastern back to the Hockey East Semifinals for the first time since 2022. Those three games saw two double-overtime performances sandwiched around a road victory over #1 BC, showcasing Whitehead’s ability to stay cool under pressure when the lights are brightest. His 57 saves against Maine in the semifinals were the second-most in a single game in program history. For my money, he was the best goaltender in the tournament, including eventual Tournament MVP Albin Boija of Maine. His lone shutout in 2024-25 came against UMass-Amherst at the Mullins Center, where NU had not won in shutout fashion since 2016. He had further standout games in the Huskies’ victories over Boston College, Quinnipiac, and Boston University. His five career shutouts tie him with Clay Witt for 6th all-time at NU.
Whitehead was always a goalie that clearly has the tools to be successful at the professional level, and he proved that beyond a doubt with his performance in Northeastern’s final games of the year. He’s showcased the ability to make spectacular saves especially going across the crease, and has the size and strong glove-hand that gives him a solid foundation as he starts his pro career. While details of the contract and his reporting are still forthcoming, we expect that Whitehead will start in the minors with either AHL Henderson or possible in the ECHL with the Las Vegas Wranglers.
Congratulations to Cameron on signing with Vegas!
