FRESNO FALCONS SIGN NCAA DIVISION I AND PROFESSIONAL GOALTENDER NICK GRABKO

FORMER BENTLEY AND ALASKA NETMINDER BRINGS AHL, ECHL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO FRESNO

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Falcons have signed goaltender Nick Grabko for the upcoming season, adding an accomplished netminder with experience at the NCAA Division I, American Hockey League, ECHL and international professional levels.

Grabko, a 6-foot, 187-pound native of Channahon, Illinois, joins the Falcons following a season in France with Hockey Club Mont-Blanc. The 26-year-old appeared in 28 regular-season games during the 2025–26 campaign, recording a 2.96 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.

His season overseas followed a professional debut that included opportunities at two of North America’s highest minor professional levels.

Grabko began his professional career with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL in March 2025 after completing his collegiate career. He later joined the Toledo Walleye and earned his first professional victory on March 23, stopping 25 of 28 shots in Toledo’s 4-3 overtime win against the Bloomington Bison.

His performance and continued development also earned him an opportunity with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. Grabko signed a professional tryout agreement with Rockford and made one relief appearance for the IceHogs during the 2024–25 season.

Before entering the professional ranks, Grabko completed a five-year NCAA Division I career with Bentley Universityand the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He appeared in 76 collegiate games and consistently faced high-level competition throughout his time in college hockey.

Grabko spent his first four collegiate seasons at Bentley, making 56 appearances for the Falcons from 2020 through 2024. He finished his Bentley career with 19 victories, a 3.08 goals-against average, a .895 save percentage and two shutouts.

He immediately established himself during his freshman season, earning a place on the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team and receiving recognition on the Mike Richter Award Watch List. The Richter Award is presented annually to the top goaltender in NCAA Division I men’s hockey.

Grabko continued to deliver notable performances throughout his Bentley career. During the 2021–22 season, he made 39 saves in a 2-1 victory over Ohio State and followed it with a 38-save performance in a win against Boston College. Those efforts helped him earn Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week honors twice during the season.

His junior campaign included several strong outings against conference and nonconference opponents. Grabko stopped 37 shots in a victory over Sacred Heart, made 34 saves against Northeastern and produced another 34-save performance in a win over Mercyhurst.

Grabko concluded his Bentley career with one of his strongest statistical seasons in 2023–24. He registered a 2.40 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and two shutouts, including a 22-save performance in a 3-0 victory over Air Force.

Following four seasons at Bentley, Grabko transferred to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for his graduate season. He appeared in a career-high 20 games for the Nanooks during the 2024–25 campaign, recording a 2.74 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage and one shutout.

One of Grabko’s signature performances at Alaska came against nationally ranked Notre Dame. He turned aside all 37 shots he faced to lead the Nanooks to a 1-0 road victory. He later made 39 saves in a 2-1 overtime win against Minnesota Duluth, setting an Alaska single-game season high.

His early-season performance earned him NCAA Division I Independent Hockey Co-Goaltender of the Month honors for October. Grabko was also selected as Alaska’s nominee for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player in NCAA men’s hockey.

Grabko’s development began well before his collegiate career. He spent the 2018–19 season with the Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League, appearing in 34 regular-season games and recording a 2.68 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and five shutouts. He was selected to participate in the 2019 NAHL Top Prospects Showcase following his performance with Minot.

The following season, Grabko advanced to the United States Hockey League with the Green Bay Gamblers. He appeared in 27 games for Green Bay, producing a 2.58 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage while earning USHL Goaltender of the Week honors during the season.

Grabko now comes to Fresno with a résumé built across junior hockey, five seasons of NCAA Division I competitionand professional experience in the AHL, ECHL and France. His experience, composure and ability to perform in high-pressure situations will add an established presence to the Falcons’ crease as the organization prepares for the upcoming season.

Additional roster announcements and information regarding the Fresno Falcons’ upcoming season will be released in the coming weeks.

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