The last two winners of the Mike Richter Award – given annually to college hockey’s top goalie – have come from the west (Minnesota’s Jack LaFontaine in 2021) and the east (Northeastern’s Devon Levi in 2022). With the release of the top 10 finalists for the 2023 Richter, speculation abounds that it may come down to east vs. west again.
Levi, who made the list again this year, has made a strong bid to repeat as the trophy holder. His chief competition may come from Michigan Tech senior Blake Pietila, who leads the nation with eight shutouts.
The rest of the finalists, announced on Wednesday, include a trio from the Big Ten: Ryan Bischel of Notre Dame, Justen Close of Minnesota and Jakub Does of Ohio State. The NCHC placed one name on the list in Denver’s Magnus Chrona, while two from ECAC Hockey – Mitchell Gibson from Harvard and Yaniv Perets from Quinnipiac – are among the finalists. Along with Levi, Maine junior goalie Victor Ostman represented Hockey East on the list.
Named for former Wisconsin star goalie Mike Richter, who backstopped the New York Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup, the award was first given out in 2014 to Connor Hellebuyck from UMass-Lowell, who has gone on to a standout NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets.
The 2023 award will be given out on Friday, April 7 at the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.
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The Trust Project
