Dev camp invitee Kiesewetter could have a big future in hockey

Russian-born, Massachusetts-raised goalie turns heads with his size, athleticism

Only five players in NHL history hail from the Siberian town of Novokuznetsk, and just two of them are goaltenders. 

Against the odds, both of those goaltenders have played for the Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy twice while patrolling the crease for Columbus from 2013-19, while Daniil Tarasov followed in his footsteps and has skated in 21 games the past two seasons for the Jackets. 

So it had to raise some eyebrows when the Blue Jackets development camp roster included another netminder born in Novokuznetsk, but Tom Kiesewetter's story far from ends there. 

Given up for adoption at birth, Kiesewetter was adopted by American parents residing in Boston when he was just over a year old. He has little recollection of his home country, but one thing seems to have stuck with him -- the urge to get between the pipes like Bobrovsky and Tarasov before him. 

"I remember my mom mentioned that to me -- you know where Bobrovsky is from?" Kiesewetter said this past week during development camp. "It's not a big town, so the fact it's produced even any goalies (is crazy)." 

He agreed that netminding must be in the blood, though. Kiesewetter, 18, has grown into an imposing prospect who stands 6-foot-6, but that slim, lanky build also made him quite the competitive swimmer growing up. There's no telling how good he could have been in the pool, but Kiesewetter gave it up about five years ago to focus solely on hockey.  

"I always knew I wanted to be a hockey player," Kiesewetter said. "It didn't always seem that way, but once I quit (swimming), my hockey career took off. I definitely think it was the right decision." 

A standout at Boston College Prep, he's dipped his toe into the water, so to speak, in the junior ranks the past two seasons. Kiesewetter has played two games over the past two years with Muskegon of the top-tier USHL and has skated with three different teams in the Tier II North American Hockey League, posting a combined 3.64 GAA and .900 save percentage in the NAHL.  

He plans to spend next season with Muskegon, where he has played with fellow CBJ development camp attendee Nathan McBrayer. 

"He's awesome," McBrayer said. "He's gonna be great for them next year. He's a good guy -- super nice, super chill." 

While Kiesewetter has the size and athleticism to be a standout goalie, he's still learning the game now that he's devoted his full-time energy to the sport. Experiences like the Blue Jackets development camp can only help in that regard. 

"It's great," he said. "The practices are a little bit tough, lots of shots, but it's a lot of development. I like it so far. Everyone here is really nice. They treat us really good. The skates have been high intensity. I've been getting better." 

And while Kiesewetter's numbers to this point haven't been eye-catching, it's fair to say he could have a big future in the sport. He's committed to attend Princeton to play college hockey, and his appearance in Columbus came when he received an invitation from CBJ legend and current director of player development Rick Nash. 

"It's been a month ago now, I got a call from my agent and he said Rick Nash was talking to him," Kiesewetter said. "Obviously I know who Rick Nash is. I grew up in Boston, he was there for a bit. I was like, 'All right, let's see what this is about.' Then he calls me back an hour later and said they want to invite you to dev camp. I knew what an honor that was, so I took it as soon as I got the chance. 

"And then Rick did end up calling me later that day and gave me the rundown, and there was no thinking about it for me. I just knew it was a great opportunity and I want to be here. It's crazy to think about how people like that, they all know who you are. To get recognized by someone like Rick Nash is such a great honor." 

Kiesewetter said this trip to Ohio was his first opportunity to spend time in the state, but his parents do have ties to the Buckeye State. His mother, Kris, and father, Eric, met at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.  

"It's kind of funny how it's come full circle for them," he said. 

And perhaps given Kiesewetter's worldliness, when asked about a favorite hockey memory, he didn't think of games won or pucks saved but rather the opportunities presented by the sport. 

"Being able to travel everywhere," he said. "Most kids my age don't get to see what I do and see the most random cities in Texas or everywhere I've been. Hockey has taken me so many places, and it's been really cool to see all the different types of lifestyles in this country. It's a big world outside of Massachusetts."