The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) has announced the Semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top netminder in NCAA Division I men’s hockey and for the second year in a row CCHA netminders Josh Kotai (Augustana) and Alex Tracy (Minnesota State) were named to the group of 10 vying for the nation’s top netminder honor.
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Josh Kotai, Jr., Augustana (Abbotsford, B.C.)
This season, Kotai holds a record of 16-9-3 with a goals-against average of 2.10 and a save percentage of .933. He ranks in the top 10 nationally in save percentage and shutouts. Kotai has garnered two CCHA Goalie of the Month awards (October and January). He garnered a spot on the United States Collegiate Selects roster that competed in the Spengler Cup.
Earlier this season, Kotai became the first men's NCAA Division I hockey goaltender to record three straight shutouts since Dryden McKay in February of 2020. He holds the CCHA's longest shutout streak in minutes since it was reconstituted.
Alex Tracy, Sr., Minnesota State (Chicago, Ill.)
Tracy has started 27 games for the Mavericks and holds a 14-8-5 record with two shutouts. He has totaled 663 saves for a .923 save percentage, with 55 goals against for a 2.02 goals against average (leads CCHA).
Second among active Division I goaltenders with 59 career wins, Tracy's shutout at Northern Michigan on November 28 moved him into a tie for third place on MSU men's hockey's all-time career shutouts chart with 10.
Last season, Tracy was named AHCA/CCM All-American Second Team West, CCHA Player of the Year, CCHA Goaltender of the Year, and a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist.
2026 Mike Richter Award Semifinalists
Trey Augustine, Michigan State (Big Ten)*#
Alexis Cournoyer, Cornell (ECAC Hockey)
Emmett Croteau, Dartmouth (ECAC Hockey)
Michael Hrabal, UMass (Hockey East)
Jack Ivankovic, Michigan (Big Ten)
Josh Kotai, Augustana (CCHA)#
Tyler Muszelik, UConn (Hockey East)
Jan Spunar, North Dakota (NCHC)
Alex Tracy, Minnesota State (CCHA)#
Lawton Zacher, Northeastern (Hockey East)#
*2024 Semifinalist
#2025 Semifinalist
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 McClellan, Wisconsin; 2025 - Jacob Fowler, Boston College.
For more information, contact:
Perry Laskaris
Director of Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065