Two second-round NHL Draft picks are among the finalists for the Mike Richter Award as top goalie in the NCAA this season.
Michigan State's Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings), UMass' Michael Hrabal (Utah Mammoth) and the undrafted Josh Kotai of Augustana are the three finalists, the Hockey Commissioners Association announced Friday.
The American-born Augustine, picked 41st overall by the Red Wings in 2023, is 23-8-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season, earning him the Big Ten's goalie of the year award for a second straight campaign. His Spartans team is guaranteed a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, starting next week.
The Czech-born Hrabal, selected 38th overall in 2023 by what were then the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, is 19-8-1 with a 1.98 ERA and .936 save percentage this season. He also was named Hockey East's player of the year earlier this week.
UMass needs a win against Merrimack in a Hockey East semifinal on Friday to keep its NCAA tourney hopes alive.
Kotai, 23, is 20-11-4 with a 1.99 GAA and .938 save percentage this season. Augustana was eliminated from the CCHA conference championship last week, but still could get an NCAA tournament spot with some help on the out-of-town scoreboard this weekend.
The Richter winner will be announced April 10.
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacob Fowler won the award last year with Boston College.
Previous winners include Connor Hellebuyck, Thatcher Demko and Jeremy Swayman.
