New Jersey Goaltender Nikolaev makes NCAA DI Commitment

The New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that goaltender Andrei Nikolaev has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Boston University in the Hockey East.

The 6’4 netminder hailing from Moscow, Russia, Nikolaev has secured a commitment to play for the Terriers. The 16-year-old is one of the youngest players in the NAHL and is in his first season of playing junior hockey. The ‘09 goaltender has played between the pipes in 13 games for the Titans, spotlighting six wins. He has produced a .918 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average. Nikolaev has secured his first shutout in juniors, thanks to an 18-save performance on October 24, 2025, against the Philadelphia Rebels. The 16-year-old played a crucial role in the Titans' overtime victory against the divisional leader, the Maryland Black Bears, on October 28, 2025. He stopped a career-high 35 shots and helped to snap the Black Bears’ 10-game win streak. 

The Moscow, Russia native was drafted in the inaugural NAHL Futures Draft by the Titans. He was selected in Round 1 by New Jersey with the 21st overall pick in the draft. The Futures Draft is designed to give 16-year-old players early exposure to junior hockey and support their path to NCAA hockey through the NAHL’s proven development model. He is a prime example of the purpose of implementing a draft like this. 

Nikolaev explains how it feels to secure this Division I commitment.

“I am extremely proud and honored to announce that I have committed to play Division I hockey at Boston University. Thank you to my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me along the way. Looking forward to what the future holds.”

Head coach of the Titans, George Haviland, explains how spectacular Nikolaev has been since joining the Titans.

We’re all very proud of Andrei's NCAA Division I Hockey East commitment to Boston University. To date, Andrei has been nothing short of spectacular since his first day in New Jersey. His ability to track pucks and move in the net has been outstanding!  He’s had lots of eyeballs on him as a 2009-born player playing in the North American Hockey League. His play makes him very appealing to all, and if you are good at projecting, he’s a 16-year-old with spectacular poise and composure. Never seems to get rattled and moves very well. With those types of attributes, his future is bright; at the same time, he gives the Titans a chance to win every night. Boston University will be his journey to the NCAA.”

Nikolaev is one of three members of the New Jersey Titans  to make a Division I hockey college commitment.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list