University of Minnesota Duluth sophomore Kasimir Kaskisuo is among 26 nominees for the 2016-17 Mike Richter Award, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men's hockey. The third annual award will be presented by Mike Richter at the 2016 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla.

Kaskisuo, a native of Vantaa, Finland, currently sports the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's second-best goals against average (2.01) and sixth-best saves percentage figure (.918). The 2014-15 NCHC All-Rookie Team pick already has four shutouts this season -- including a program-high three in a row between Nov. 20-Dec. 4, which is one whitewash shy of the team record held by both Alex Stalock (2008-09) and Brant Nicklin (1997-98). Kaskisuo, who is one of four Mike Richter Award nominees from the NCHC, has appeared in the highest percentage of his team's overall minutes (94.70) of any leage netminder. He has also started 41 of the past 42 games going back to last February.

Candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 60 NCAA Division I men's hockey head coaches. The finalists and winner will be selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. The five finalists for the 2016 Mike Richter Award will be announced on Wednesday, March 16.
 
Criteria for the Mike Richter Award:
-  Candidates must display outstanding skills on the ice
- Candidates should be in good academic standing at an NCAA college or university
- Consideration should be given to academic achievement and sportsmanship
- Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules; be full-time students at an NCAA college or university; and complete 50 percent
  or more of the season.
- Consideration should be given to the candidate's activities in the community.

2015-16 Mike Richter Award nominee list