Nelson might not be quite as big as the average NHL goalie, but his contributions to Ottawa 67's 100-point season were significant.

It would be understandable for Jaeden Nelson to be wearing a perma-snarl and a chip on his shoulder.

It would be justified if he felt slighted.

The Nepean product was merely one-half of the best goaltending duo in the Ontario Hockey League last season, yet he was overlooked in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft for a second straight year.

At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Nelson might not be quite as big as the average NHL goalie, but his contributions to the Ottawa 67’s 100-point season were significant.

Along with an 18-6-3 record, his 2.33 goals-against average ranked third-best in the Ontario Hockey League and his .915 save percentage was fifth.

Of all “qualified goalies” in the league, none gave up fewer than the 65 goals allowed by Nelson.

When Ryder Fetterolf wasn’t between the 67’s pipes, the team didn’t miss a beat.

All Fetterolf did was go 29-9-2 with a 2.07 GAA and a .923 save percentage before being named the OHL goaltender of the year and the Canadian Hockey League goaltender of the year.

The legendary Brian Kilrea called him the best goalie in 67’s history.

Fetterolf, who is set to spend this season in the NCAA with Penn State, fell to the fourth round (125th overall) in the NHL entry draft, presumably because he’s listed at a stretched-out 6-feet and 184 pounds. But size didn’t matter to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and that organization has proven to be shrewd in its player evaluations.

How is it that Nelson wasn’t even invited to an NHL camp as a free-agent walk-on?

But bitter, he is not.

Instead, the popular and pleasant former Navan Grads star is prepared to go about his business as usual, only now as the 67’s undisputed No. 1 goaltender and most important player.

“Surprised is not really the right word for it,” said Nelson — who will surely be between the pipes when the 67’s play their home opener Sunday (3 p.m.) at TD Place against the Sarnia Sting — when asked how he felt about being overlooked at the draft. “You look back now, and see every goalie that has been drafted is very, very deserving of it, and there’s a lot of good, talented goalies up there. But it’s not the only way to achieve what every young kid dreams of, playing in the NHL for many years.

“In the moment, it can be a little disappointing when people you play with or against in minor hockey, people in the same situation that you can compare yourself to (get drafted and you don’t), but it’s important to remember that it’s not the only way to achieve what everyone wants to achieve. Everyone’s on a different timeline, and it’s about keeping your head down, running your race, and improving every year.

“The more consistent years of hockey you put together, playing in good leagues and having that opportunity, the right set of eyes will be on you.

“It just takes one person to vouch for you, to get your foot in the door,” he added. “And then it’s what you do with that opportunity from there.”

Sounds like a pro, right?

Behind a strong 67’s defence, expect Nelson to use this season as a stepping stone to becoming one.

Nelson’s backup is rookie Noah LaGambina, a Richmond Hill native the 67’s selected in the fifth round of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection.

While he has yet to get his first taste of OHL action, Nelson entered the season having played 65 games for the 67’s over the past four seasons.

No. 66 was this past Sunday, when Nelson stopped 23 shots in Ottawa’s campaign-opening 3-2 overtime loss in Kingston.

“People say you can’t teach experience and I have played a lot of junior hockey games,” Nelson said. “It’s a good feeling to know the coaches trust me, that they have trust in what I can bring to the table night in and night out for the team. It‘s a relieving feeling, but you also want to go out and prove to the coaches and your teammates and yourself that there’s a reason why they’re putting this trust in you.

“It definitely feels good to know that the team can rely on me, and I have the support of teammates and coaches, but then there’s a job to be done as well, and you have to be pretty sharp if you want to be the guy the team relies on.

“We want to be a good team and I want to help the team win a lot of games and winning lots of games in in this league is is not a very easy thing if you get very complacent. So it’s a job that you have to work for day in day out, and I think I’ve been I’ve been very very well prepared for it.

“I’m happy that I can have the trust, but I think every day trying to prove why I deserve that trust is what’s super important to me this year.”

Nelson says the pressure, in part, comes from the expectations he has of himself and what he wants to accomplish.

“Pressure is something that is just going to be there,” he said. “It’s a matter of how I let it get to me, and the noise of what other people outside of the team have to say. I think like it’s definitely there, and then maybe some pressure as a competitor that I put on myself to try and find a way to be better. I

“think it’s there for sure, but it’s just a matter of not feeding into it and looking at it as opportunities for things to go wrong, but rather opportunities for me to show what I can do and have some fun and play some good hockey for the guys.”

Up first is the Sting, who as of Friday had a 1-1 record after a season-opening 4-3 victory in the Soo and a 7-4 loss in Peterborough.

Centres Jack Van Volsen and Easton Walos have combined for four of the team’s eight goals.

Scoring for Ottawa against the Frontenacs last weekend was defenceman Theo Avila — a Greely native who was playing in just his 13th OHL game — and 2026 first-round pick Andrew Laurin.

It was the first OHL point for both players.

After Sunday’s game, the 67’s will play in Oshawa next Friday, then return home to host Erie on Saturday.

“We had an incredible year last year that no one really expected us to have, and with a lot of returning guys, we want to do the same and then some,” Nelson said. “I think we have the group to do it.”