ITHACA, N.Y. — Freshman Matthew Galajda has been named one of five finalists for the 2018 Mike Richter Award, Let’s Play Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation announced Thursday. The award is presented annually to the goaltender deemed to be the most outstanding in NCAA men’s hockey.
Galajda has enjoyed a phenomenal debut campaign for the Big Red, currently leading the nation in goals against average (1.49) and shutouts (nine) while ranking third in save percentage (.940). He’s come on particularly strong in the second half of the season, with an 11-2-2 record, 1.13 goals against average and .956 save percentage since Jan. 1.
Galajda was named the Hockey Commissioners’ Associational National Division I Rookie of the Month for January after surrendering just five goals over the entire month. The Aurora, Ontario native posted three consecutive shutouts, riding a shutout streak that topped out at 227 minutes, 11 seconds. It was the second-longest such streak in Big Red program history and 13th all-time on the NCAA Division I list.
Galajda’s haul of postseason accolades is continuing to expand, with the list of awards including ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Year, ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year, Ivy League Player of the Year, Ivy League Rookie of the Year, first-team honors on both the All-Ivy League and All-ECAC Hockey first teams, and he is also the first freshman goaltender to ever be named one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
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. Criteria for the Mike Richter Award includes displaying outstanding skills on the ice, being in good academic standing, with consideration given to academic achievement and sportsmanship and a candidate’s activities in the community.
The other four finalists are Tanner Jaillet (Denver), Cale Morris (Notre Dame), Colton Point (Colgate) and Cayden Primeau (Northeastern). The winner will be presented the award on Friday, April 6 at the 2018 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.
