Northeastern University’s Devon Levi, winner of last season’s college goaltender trophy, is back for a third year and is once again a favorite.
Three former winners now play prominent roles on an NHL team: Connor Hellebuyck with the Winnipeg Jets (2014, University of Massachusetts Lowell), Thatcher Demko with the Vancouver Canucks (2016, Boston College) e Jeremy Swayman with the Boston Bruins (2020, University of Maine).
The winner of the 2023 edition of the trophy, named after former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter, will be announced in April during the Frozen Four tournament in Tampa.
Here are the ten goalkeepers in contention for the trophy (in alphabetical order).
Magnus Chrona, University of Denver
The 22-year-old fourth-year player is 9-4-0 with a 2.33 goal average, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 13 games this season with the University of Denver, after going 28-8-1 with a 2.11 GAA save percentage and .911 with last season’s NCAA champions.
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fifth round (152nd overall) in 2018, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Fredrik Claesson on April 12, 2021.
Drew Commesso, Boston University
The 20-year-old third-year is playing well after missing action in October with an injury. He’s 6-2-0 with a 2.41 GAA and a .915 save percentage in eight games this season.
One of 11 Mike-Richter Trophy semifinalists last season, Commesso represented the United States at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (46th) in 2020.
Jakub Dobes, Ohio State University
The 21-year-old sophomore has been 9-6-1 with a 2.31 GAA, .913 save percentage and a shutout in 16 games this season. Dobes was a Mike Richter Trophy semifinalist in his freshman year last season, when he went 21-12-2 with a 2.26 GAA, . 934 save percentage and three shutouts in 35 games.
Dobes was selected in the fifth round (136th) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 draft.
Devon Levi, Northeastern University
The 20-year-old third-year player is the favorite to become the first goaltender to win the Mike-Richter Trophy a second time. He is 7-4-3 with a 2.11 GAA and . 936 save percentage, ranking third in the NCAA and making 436 saves, the fourth-highest total in the country.
Levi won the Mike Richter Trophy last season after a stellar sophomore year with Northeastern University. He was 21-10-1 with a 1.54 GAA, led the NCAA in . 952 save percentage, and set a Northeast record with 10 shutouts.
Drafted in the seventh round (212th) in 2020 by the Florida Panthers, was traded to the Buffalo Sabers with a first-round pick in the 2022 draft in exchange for center Sam Reinhart July 24, 2021.
Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac University
The 22-year-old sophomore, who is good friends with Levi (both are natives of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.), is 10-1-3 with a 1.84 GAA, .920 save percentage and three shutouts in 14 games.
Out of the NHL, Perets was a Mike Richter Trophy finalist last season when he went 22-5-2 with a 1.17 GAA, .939 save percentage and 11 shutouts, an NCAA record.
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech University
The 22-year-old fourth-year is 9-3-2 with a 1.90 GAA . 933 save percentage in 14 games and leads the NCAA with four shutouts.
Undrafted, he was a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Trophy last season when he went 21-13-2 with a 1.91 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 37 games.
Erik Portillo, University of Michigan
The 22-year-old fourth-year is 9-4-0 with a 2.84 GAA and . 908 save percentage in 13 games. Portillo was a Mike Richter Trophy semifinalist last season, going 31-10-1 with a 2.14 GAA, . 926 save percentage and three shutouts in 42 games to help the University of Michigan reach the Frozen Four.
He was drafted by the Sabers in the third round (67th overall) in 2019.
Tommy Scarfone, Rochester Institute of Technology
The 22-year-old undrafted sophomore is 10-1-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .923 save percentage in 11 games for the Atlantic Hockey Conference First Team.
In his freshman year last season, he went 8-9-1 with a 2.46 GAA, .919 save percentage and two shutouts in 20 games.
Liam Souliere, Penn State University
The 23-year-old undrafted sophomore leads the nation in wins this season. He is 11-2-0 with a 2.06 GAA, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 games. He made 17 saves in a 3-0 victory on November 4 against the University of Michigan, which was ranked No. 1 nationally at the time.
Last season, Soulière went 7-7-1 with a 2.88 GAA and .905 save percentage in 15 games.
Dylan St. Cyr, Michigan State University
The 23-year-old is 10-4-1 with a 2.13 GAA, .934 save percentage and two shutouts in 15 games this season.
St. Cyr was a transfer from Quinnipiac University, where he was 10-2-1 with a 1.16 GAA and a .936 save percentage in 13 games last season. Undrafted, he is the son of Manon Rhéaume, the first goaltender to take part in an NHL preseason game with the Lightning in 1992. He also won the silver medal with the Canadian women’s team at the 1998 Olympic Games. from Nagano .
