The finalist list for the 2018-19 Mike Richter Award, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men's hockey, has been pared down to five and making the cut is University of Minnesota Duluth junior
Hunter Shepard. The sixth annual award will be presented on April 12, 2019 at the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y..
Shepard, the 2018-19 NCHC Goaltender of the Year Award recipient, currently ranks sixth nationally in goals against average (1.87), is tied for second in wins (25) and for third in shutouts (6).The two-time All-NCHC honoree (first team in 2018-19 and second team one year ago), has made a school-record 77 straight starts, an ironman run that dates back to Oct. 21, 2017. One of six NCAA I goaltenders who has a played in -- and started -- in all of his team's games this season, Shepard owns UMD records for shutouts in both a season (eight in 2017-18) and a career (14). His 50 wins as a Bulldog puts him in a tie with Isaac Reichmuth (2002-06) at the No. 5 spot on UMD's all-time charts.
Shepard is the second Bulldog to be named a Mike Richter Award Top 5 Finalist, joining then-rookie Hunter Miska, the man he backed up during the 2016-17 season.
2019 Mike Richter Award Finalists
| Name |
Team |
Year |
W |
L |
T |
GAA |
SVS% |
So |
| Joey Daccord |
Arizona State |
Jr. |
21 |
12 |
1 |
2.36 |
.926 |
7 |
| Jake Kielly |
Clarkson |
Jr. |
26 |
10 |
2 |
1.89 |
.929 |
5 |
| Cayden Primeau |
Northeastern |
So. |
25 |
9 |
1 |
2.00 |
.936 |
4 |
| Hunter Shepard |
UMD |
Jr. |
25 |
11 |
2 |
1.87 |
.918 |
6 |
| Andrew Shortridge |
Quinnipiac |
Jr. |
17 |
6 |
2 |
1.51 |
.941 |
5 |
Three of the 2019 Mike Richter Award finalists -- Joey Daccord, Andrew Shortridge and Shepard -- are all competing in this weekend's NCAA Midwest Regional in Allentown, Pa.
Candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 60 NCAA Division I men's hockey head coaches. The semifinalists, finalists and winner are selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. Past winners include the University of Notre Dame's Cale Morris (2018), the University of Denver's Tanner Jaillet (2017), Boston College's Thatcher Demko (2016), the University of North Dakota's Zane McIntyre (2015), and the University of Massachusetts' Connor Hellebuyck (2014).
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
