Tech Goaltender Pietila, Added to Mike Richter Award Watch List

MARQUETTE, MI. – Michigan Tech sophomore Blake Pietila finds himself in great company as he is one of 33 goaltenders who has been named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List. The prestigious award is given annually to the top goaltender in NCAA men’s Division I ice hockey and is sponsored by the Hockey Commissioners Association.

Blake Pietila currently ranks second in the nation with a .948 save percentage and fifth with a 1.60 goals-against average. He is tied for eighth nationally with a pair of shutouts and is 13th in winning percentage on the season. Pietila was named the HCA and WCHA Goaltender of the Month for December and has received two WCHA Player of the Week awards.

Within the next two weeks the list of 33 will be trimmed down to approximately 15 by a committee of voters which is made up of a cross-section of coaches, administrators, scouts, and media. This same committee will then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four. Some of the awards previous winners include:

Past Richter Award Recipients 2017 –

Thatcher Demko, Boston College
2017 – Tanner Jaillet, Denver
2018 – Cale Morris, Notre Dame
2019 – Cayden Primeau, Northeastern
2020 – Jeremy Swayman, Maine