University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore Kasimir Kaskisuo is one of 20 NCAA Division I goalies named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List for 2015-16. He was among four National Collegiate Hockey Conference puckstoppers to be so honored, joining St. Cloud State University's Charlie Lindgren, University of Denver's Evan Cowley, and Miami University's Jay Williams.
 
The Mike Richter Award recognizes the most outstanding NCAA I goaltender in the nation. The winner of the third annual award will be announced at the 2016 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla. Individuals on the Mike Richter Award Watch List are chosen by members of Let's Play Hockey, utilizing both past performance and future potential. Finalists will be determined by nominations from all 60 NCAA I men's hockey head coaches.

Mike Richter Award candidates must display outstanding skills on the ice and be in good academic standing at an NCAA college or university. Consideration should be given to academic achievement and sportsmanship as well as activities in the community.

Kaskisuo, a native of Vantaa, Finland, earned a spot on the 2015-16 All-NCHC Preseason Team in a vote of league media. One year ago, he was chosen to the NCHC All-Rookie Team after finishing second among the nation's freshmen goalies in victories (18), fourth in winning percentage (.557 off an 18-14-3 record), fifth in goals against average (2.30) and seventh in saves percentage (.917). In addition, both his goals against average and save percentage were the third best single-season marks in program history. One of just two individuals to see crease time in all of his team's 24 league outings last season (North Dakota's Zane McIntyre was the other), Kaskisuo also shared the NCAA rookie lead for netminding starts and appearances (each 36).  The reigning UMD Most Valuable Player award recipient backstopped the Bulldogs to the NCAA I Northeast Regional finals and had one shutout (a 3-0 gem at the University of Minnesota on Nov. 14) to his 2014-15 credit.





2015-16 Mike Richter Watch List Nominees