The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) has announced a “Watch List” for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top netminder in NCAA Division I men’s hockey and three student-athletes from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) have been selected. Josh Kotai (Augustana), Christian Stoever (Bowling Green) and Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) were named to the group of 35 vying for the nation’s top netminder honor.
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Below are the two CCHA goaltenders named to the Watch List, which was limited to netminders with either a .920 or better save percentage or a 2.30 or better goals-against average (for a complete list click here):
Josh Kotai, So., Augustana (Abbotsford, B.C.)
Kotai has started 17 of Augustana's 20 games so far this season, going 11-5-1 with a 1.71 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. Recording a pair of shutouts, he was named the Hockey Commissioners Association Men's National Goaltender of the Month for October, when he posted a 3-2-0 record with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in five contests. Nationally, he ranks second in save percentage, fifth in goals-against average, sixth in wins and 14th in total saves. He has six games of 30 or more saves, including matching his career-high with 45 stops last time out in a 3-2 win at then-No. 8 Colorado College.
Christian Stoever, Sr., Bowling Green (Northfield, Mich.)
Stoever is unbeaten in his eight starts this season, going 6-0-2 with a 1.77 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, posting a pair of shutouts against CCHA competition. He leads the nation in save percentage and ranks sixth in goals-against average, earning CCHA Goaltender of the Month for December after going 3-0-0 with a 1.33 GAA and a .944 SV%. Making at least 24 stops in all but one start, he has surpassed the 40-save mark twice, including his last out against Bemidji State.
Alex Tracy, Jr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.)
Tracy has started every game between the pipes for No. 12 Minnesota State this season, going 15-5-2 with a 1.45 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. He ranks first nationally in goals-against average, second in wins and minutes played, third in save percentage and shutouts, and 11th in total saves. The HCA Men's National Goaltender of the Month in November, he posted a 5-1-2 record with a 1.23 GAA and a .955 SV%.
The Mike Richter Award has been awarded every year since 2014. This year’s field includes student-athletes from the United States (16), Canada (12), Sweden (3), Slovakia (2) and one each from Czechia and Hungary. Of the U.S. goalies, Michigan lead the way with four, followed by three from Florida and two each from Illinois and New York. There are five freshmen, 12 sophomores, 11 juniors, five seniors and two graduate students among those recognized. Goaltenders not named to the Watch List are still eligible to win the award.
A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media — will pare this list down to approximately a dozen names within the next three weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four.
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; 2022 - Devon Levi, Northeastern; 2023 - Devon Levi, Northeastern; 2024 - Kyle McLellan, Wisconsin.
For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065