Dalton could be a keeper

“Being from Canada, my high school classes weren’t going to work,’’ said the Clinton, Ontario, native. “I didn’t find that out until my second-to-last year of juniors. So I had to do a full year of university while I was in juniors just to get eligible for NCAAs. That scared a lot of schools off. I was talking to a lot of schools at the time. Once all the academic issues came out, it was like they all quit talking.’’

As Dalton prepares for his first year as a pro goalie, it appears he’s getting the last laugh on the spooked schools.

Dalton has been one of three goalies at Ristuccia Arena this week for development camp (Adam Courchaine and Michael Hutchinson are the others). The 23-year-old is in the Boston fold for the next two seasons, aiming to become the latest unorthodox netminder to make it in Black-and-Gold. Like Tim Thomas, Dalton isn’t committed to following the butterfly style that has become the norm.

“A modified butterfly goalie, maybe?’’ Dalton said. “I don’t think I’m a true butterfly goalie like a lot of the French-Canadian goalies. But I do butterfly quite a bit.’’

The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Dalton considers himself more of a track-and-react goalie. This week, Dalton has put his style to the test against the prospects’ shots. Dalton holds his glove up and out (Courchaine and Hutchinson keep their catchers closer to their bodies) and tries to make himself as big as possible.

“I think I play my best when I’m tracking the puck well and reacting,’’ Dalton said. “More reacting than dropping down into a butterfly. It’s different with every person. It’s something that I found works well for me.’’

Dalton honed his style and his off-ice schooling in 2006-07 in Des Moines. While Dalton played for the United States Hockey League club, he took classes at Grand View University to make himself NCAA-eligible. Dalton committed to Bemidji State, one of the few colleges that didn’t drop him from their list. In 2007-08, Dalton’s freshman season, he was one of two backups to starter Matt Climie, currently in the Dallas Stars system.

Last season, Dalton beat out senior Orlando Alamano for the No. 1 job. The Beavers qualified for the NCAA Tournament as College Hockey America’s lone representative - the CHA would disband after the 2008-09 season - and drew a first-round meeting against Notre Dame, the No. 2-ranked team in the country behind Boston University. Dalton and Bemidji State toppled Notre Dame with a commanding 5-1 win, then followed with a 4-1 victory over Cornell. Bemidji State lost to Miami in the Frozen Four semifinals, 4-1. Dalton finished his sophomore season with a 19-11-1 record, with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Dalton signed with the Bruins April 22.

“He certainly played well for a program that doesn’t get a lot of publicity,’’ said Don Sweeney, director of hockey operations and player development. “He took them to center stage. Our guys had been watching him.’’

Dalton will be competing with South Boston’s Kevin Regan and newly signed veteran Dany Sabourin for playing time in Providence. Hutchinson will return to juniors, and Courchaine can also return to his junior team as an overage player.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.