Goaltender Ilja Nikitins commits to Merrimack

Merrimack added to its 2008 recruiting class on Saturday with a commitment from goaltender Ilja Nikitins.

Originally from Latvia, he plays for the New Jersey Rockets 16U team, where he is teammates with recent 2008-born commitment Mark Konstantinov.

Nikitins has a 1.65 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage this season. Last season with the Rockets’ 15U team, he had a 2.35 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. Nikitins helped his team win the USHL Fall Classic 15U division last season.