University of Maine sophomore goalie Albin Boija is one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Mike Richter Award, which goes to the nation’s top Division I goalie.
Entering Friday night’s game against New Hampshire, Boija had the nation’s second-lowest goals-against average among goalies at the 64 Division I schools at 1.61. His .931 save percentage was ninth overall and fourth among goalies with at least 25 appearances.
His .731 winning percentage (17-5-4) is eighth-best.
He has four shutouts.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound native of Sundsvall, Sweden has held opponents to two goals or less 21 times including 12 outings in which he has limited the opponent to one goal or notched a shutout.
UMaine head coach Ben Barr said Boija’s inclusion on the list of semifinalists “isn’t surprising considering the year he’s had.”
“I have to imagine he’s one of the 10 best in the country and it’s well-deserved,” said Barr. “Good for him.”
The other finalists are Minnesota State’s Alex Tracy, Michigan State’s Trey Augustine, Denver’s Matt Davis, Boston College’s Jacob Fowler, Holy Cross’ Thomas Gale, Josh Kotai from Augustana, Omaha’s Simon Latkoczy, Western Michigan’s Cameron Rowe and Brown University’s Lawton Zacher.
The three finalists will be announced in March and the winner will be named during the Frozen Four in St. Louis on April 10-12.
It is the 12th year of the award in the name of Mike Richter, who had an impressive 14-year career with the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers after playing collegiately at the University of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s Kyle McClellan won it last year and Northeastern’s Devon Levi earned the award the two previous seasons.
Current Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman is the only UMaine goalie to win it and that occurred in the 2019-20 season.
Barr said Boija has provided the fifth-ranked Black Bears with a “lot of stability in net. He gives us consistent performances every night and he is a great member of our culture.”
“It’s not just the on-ice stuff, it’s everything he does off the ice,” said Barr, calling Boija a competitor. “We’re fortunate to have him.”