Chalk up another recruiting first for Miami hockey.
University of Western Ontario goalie Matteo Drobac has signed with MU, becoming the first-ever player from U Sports — Canada’s version of the NCAA — to join the RedHawks.
U Sports hockey funnels its talent almost exclusively from the Canadian Hockey League, whose players were previously ineligible to accept NCAA slots since the CHL was considered a pro league.
The 2025-26 season will be the first in which CHL players — and therefore U Sports athletes — can join NCAA programs.
Drobac played parts of four seasons with Hamilton and Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League, one of three leagues under the CHL umbrella, in 2019-24. He finished 66-50 — setting the franchise’s all-time wins record — with a 3.30 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage and five shutouts in the offense-heavy league.
In 2024-25, his lone season at Western Ontario, Drobac went 13-10 with a 2.72 GAA and .904 save percentage, recording one clean sheet and posting a playoff save percentage of .922.
The Oakville, Ont., native, a dual Canadian and Croatian citizen who turns 22 in August, was invited to the Montreal Canadiens’ rookie camp last September.
None of Miami’s three goalies from 2024-25 are returning this fall, and Drobac is the second netminder the RedHawks have signed.
Shika Gadzhiev, the starter for Muskegon that has backstopped the Lumberjacks to the Clark Cup final, will also join the RedHawks this upcoming season.
Miami is still expected to sign a third goalie.
Miami’s entire list of signees for 2025-26 and their stats can be found here:
View From the Glass 
One thought on “Miami signs U Sports goalie Drobac”