The Hockey Commissioners Association announced today the semifinalists for this year’s Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Division I hockey since 2014.
Eleven goaltenders from a “watch list” of 35 were singled out by a panel of voters from across the hockey community.
Five semifinalists are U.S. natives, with four from Canada and one each from the Czech Republic and Sweden. One is a freshman, five are sophomores, three are juniors, and two are seniors.
Three finalists will be announced in mid-March and the winner of this year’s Mike Richter Award will be announced in April during the Frozen Four in Boston.
A similar award to recognize the top female goalie in the NCAA is being presented this season as well.
Past Richter Award recipients: 2014 – Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell; 2015 – Zane McIntyre, North Dakota; 2016 – Thatcher Demko, Boston College; 2017 – Tanner Jaillet, Denver; 2018 – Cale Morris, Notre Dame; 2019 – Cayden Primeau, Northeastern; 2020 – Jeremy Swayman, Maine; 2021 – Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota.
Semifinalists for the 2022 Mike Richter Award
Gavin Abric, Army West Point (SO – Hayward, WI)
Drew Commesso, Boston University (SO – Norwell, MA)
Jakub Dobeš, Ohio State (FR – Ostrava, Czech Republic)
Ryan Fanti, Minnesota Duluth (JR – Thunder Bay, ON)
Devon Levi, Northeastern (SO – Dollard des Ormeaux, PQ)
Dryden McKay, Minnesota State (SR – Downers Grove, IL) *
Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac (SO – Dollard des Ormeaux, PQ)
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech (JR – Howell, MI) *
Erik Portillo, Michigan (SO – Gothenburg, Sweden)
Owen Savory, UMass Lowell (SR – Cambridge, ON)
Jaxson Stauber, Providence (JR – Plymouth, MN) *
*2021 semifinalist