Colten Ellis

Colten Ellis (born October 5, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 93rd overall by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft. Born and raised in River Denys, Nova Scotia, Ellis emerged as one of Atlantic Canada's top young goaltenders while playing for the Cape Breton West Islanders, leading the team and province to its first-ever Telus Cup in 2017. Following his performances with the Islanders, he went on to play major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, the Rimouski Océanic, and the Charlottetown Islanders. During his time in the QMJHL, Ellis made a name for himself, earning defensive rookie of the year and a spot on the all-rookie team his first year. Described as an athletic goalie before the 2019 NHL entry draft, he was selected by the St. Louis Blues with the 93rd overall pick. In his final QMJHL season, he tied the career QMJHL shutout record, broke the best goals-against-average season record, and had the fourth-best season save percentage all time. He was also named the best goaltender of the year and earned a spot on the first all-star team. After signing an entry-level contract with St. Louis in 2021, Ellis spent several seasons developing within the organization. He began his professional career with the ECHL's Worcester Railers before earning opportunities with the American Hockey League (AHL) Springfield Thunderbirds. Following subpar performance marked by inconsistent play and a mid-season injury that sidelined him for the rest of the 2022–23 season with the ECHL Tulsa Oilers, Ellis rebounded after relearning his love for hockey. In the following seasons, his statistics and play improved, eventually earning the Thunderbirds' starting role. In October 2025, the Blues placed Ellis on waivers, where he was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut later that month, becoming the first goaltender from Cape Breton Island to play in the NHL. Internationally, he has represented the Canada national team.