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VANCOUVER — Aku Koskenvuo played only 17 games as a sophomore at Harvard University last season, so it might be hard to envision the 21-year-old goalie playing a significant role in the Vancouver Canucks crease anytime soon.

However, due to recent history and similarities in strength and style with another Canucks goaltending prospect, it shouldn’t be dismissed.

It would have been difficult two years ago to predict that Arturs Silovs, who split 20 games between the American Hockey League and ECHL as a 21-year-old, would become Vancouver’s starting goalie for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“Silovs and Koskenvuo share many similarities in terms of size, athleticism, speed, and power,” said Marko Torenius, the goaltending development coach for the Canucks. “There are numerous aspects they have in common.”

These similarities involve receiving limited playing time at the age of 21.

Koskenvuo, who only participated in two games as a freshman at Harvard in the 2022-23 season, shared starting spots with senior Derek Mullahy in the last season. He recorded a 2.95 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and two shutouts with a 5-6-4 record. He seems poised to become Harvard’s primary goalie this season after his brief stint last season.

“Torenius stated, “The upcoming season is extremely crucial for him. He’s somewhat unnoticed currently, but with more game time, he could gain confidence. That’s when his true character will start to reveal itself.”

Koskenvuo was chosen by Vancouver in the fifth round (No. 137) of the 2021 NHL Draft, marking him as the second goalie the team has selected since Ian Clark returned to the Canucks as a goalie coach (now director of goaltending) after seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The first was Silovs, who was picked in the sixth round (No. 156) of the 2019 NHL Draft. During Clark’s tenure in Columbus, six out of the seven goalies they drafted have played at least one game in the NHL. Koskenvuo displays proficiency in several of the seven key qualities that Clark prioritizes in his goaltenders.

“Clark commented, “He scored a perfect 10 on several occasions. He is endowed with an ideal size of 6-foot-4 and a perfect body for the goaltending position. He possesses the athleticism, competitiveness, and all the other attributes I constantly seek.”

Koskenvuo has been striving to integrate all those elements in a more regulated way by familiarizing himself with the Canucks’ goaltending system.

Koskenvuo explained, “My approach to the game involves treating most situations similarly to establish a more systematic pattern, thus reducing fluctuations in performance. The speed at which your head turns, the direction of your gaze, and the position of your blades on the post all play a role. These might seem like minor details, but they contribute significantly to the bigger picture. I believe their importance cannot be overlooked and my attention to them has greatly improved my game.”

NCAA rules prevent Torenius from going on the ice with Koskenvuo during the season, but he still flew to Boston once, and they talk every few weeks, reviewing his games on video and sending clips of Canucks No. 1 Thatcher Demko.

“Torenius explained, ‘He’s beginning to grasp the concept of less is more. He’s learning to trust his body and be more compact. He doesn’t need to be constantly moving. He’s like one of those wild horses we own, and it takes a while to bring those guys into balance.'”

Koskenvuo mentioned that he has learned a lot from watching Demko’s process videos, a process Demko himself has undergone.

“I attempted to grasp the basic elements of Demko’s play style and figure out how I could incorporate them into my own game. So far, it’s been beneficial,” stated Koskenvuo. “I appreciate the simplicity of his game, his systematic approach, and his excellent control. However, what impresses me the most is his ability to diverge from this and make significant saves when needed.”