Red Wings’ Trey Augustine, Canadiens’ Jacob Fowler among top 10 finalists for NCAA’s top goaltender award
The semifinalists for the top goaltender award in D-I men’s college hockey have been revealed.
On Thursday, the Hockey Commissioners Association announced the 10 finalists for the Mike Richter Award. The award has been handed out since 2014, with some of the best netminders in today’s game being honored, including Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (UMass-Lowell, 2014), Vancouver Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko (Boston College, 2017) and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (Northeastern, 2023).
Let’s take a look at the 10 best goaltenders in college hockey this season.
Trey Augustine (So.), Michigan State
One of two backstops who was a finalist last year, Augustine is inching closer and closer to the pro game with his level of playing in his second season with the Spartans. The Detroit Red Wings prospect is part of a team that is challenging for the top spot in the country, with Augustine going to be a big reason if the makes a deep run in the tournament.
The reigning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year has a 15-5-3 record with a 2.07 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Albin Boija (So.), Maine
The Black Bears are one of the surprises of college hockey, sitting near the top of the national polls while challenging the likes of Boston College and Boston University for the Hockey East title. Albin Boija is a huge reason for the team’s success.
After a promising freshman season, the Swedish netminder has been sensational this season for Maine. In 26 games, Boija has a 17-5-4 record with a 1.61 GAA that is second in the nation. His .931 save percentage places him second among Hockey East goaltenders.
Matt Davis (Sr.), Denver
If we ignore the disaster that was the UNLV game…Matt Davis is having another pretty good year.
After coming into the spotlight with a masterful performance in last year’s Frozen Four, where helped Denver win the national championship while picking up tournament MVP honors, Davis is keeping the Pioneers in contention for another run in the national tournament. His 19 wins place him a tie for second among goaltenders across the country, with a 2.20 GAA that is fourth in the NCHC, while his .918 SV% puts him fifth in the conference.
Jacob Fowler (So.), Boston College
The other finalist from last year’s award race, Fowler is on that juggernaut of a team over in Chestnut Hill. With names like Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault on the roster, it might be tough for Fowler to stand out. However, the Montreal Canadiens draft pick is proving himself in his second in college hockey.
Folwer is in a tie with Davis for the second-most wins in the NCAA this season (19), and second in shutouts (6). His 1.72 GAA and .936 are both good fifth in the country. His play is why the Eagles are currently first in the latest national polls.
Thomas Gale (Sr.), Holy Cross
Only a couple of guys have seen more rubber this season than Thomas Gale. The 24-year-old has made 802 saves so far this season, placing him third among men’s D-I netminders. With a 17-10-2 record, he is tied for third in the NCAA in wins, with his .929 save percentage placing him in a tie for first in Atlantic Hockey America.
With a respectable 2.12 GAA and two shutouts, Gale’s efforts have put the Crusaders in prime position to win a conference championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Josh Kotai (So.), Augustana
While some people are still getting used to where Augustana is, Josh Kotai’s play is putting the Vikings in the national spotlight.
Thus far, Kotai has a 15-7-3 record with a .943 SV% that is second to Bowling Green’s Christian Stoever. The 21-year-old also has a 1.76 GAA, which is second in the CCHA and seventh in the nation. With Kotai making the big saves, the Vikings currently sit second in the CCHA, right behind conference favorite Minnesota State.
Simon Latkoczy (Jr.), Omaha
One of the more underrated goaltenders for several years, Latkoczy is one of the main reasons the Mavericks are sitting second in the NCHC. While his 13-10-1 record and 2.42 GAA aren’t anything to write home about, his .932 SV% ranks him third among NCHC backstops and eighth in the NCAA.
If Omaha can sneak into the national tournament with an auto-bid or even win the NCHC Championship outright, it will be because of Latkoczy.
Cameron Rowe (Gr.), Western Michigan
The Broncos came into this season with a great problem. They had the experienced Cameron Rowe returning for a fifth season, along with Los Angeles Kings prospect Hampton Slukynsky between the pipes.
The duo have split most of the season, but when Slukynsky went off to represent the U.S. at the IIHF World Junior Championship, Rowe stepped up, winning some big games. The 23-year-old has an impressive 14-1-0 record with a 1.73 GAA that places him second in the NCHC, trailing only Slukynsky. Rowe is sixth in the country in both GAA and SV% (.934).
Alex Tracy (Jr.), Minnesota State
There hasn’t quite been a goaltender in Mankato since Dryden McKay turned pro. Alex Tracy has seemingly taken that torch and is running with it.
After a bumpy sophomore campaign, his first as the No. 1 netminder, Tracy has flourished behind a Mavericks team that is more than capable of winning the Mason Cup and going back to the NCAA Tournament. The 23-year-old leads the nation in wins (20) and GAA (1.53), with his SV% placing his a measly fourth (.941).
Lawton Zacher (So.), Brown
The lone representative from the ECAC comes by way of a second-year netminder who is putting in a great effort just about every night.
While he hasn’t played as many games as other names on this list, Zacher is in the running to be named the conference’s top goaltender, despite Brown not necessarily being in the ECAC Championship conversation. Along with an 11-6-2 record, with 2.05 GAA and .934 SV% are tops in the conference, with his SV% placing him tied for sixth with Rowe.
Thanks to the exceptional play between the pipes, the Bears have a chance to finish with a winning record for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.