CHANHASSEN, MINN. — Let’s Play Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation announced today the 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Mike Richter Award, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men’s hockey. The five finalists for the fourth annual award will be announced on Thursday, March 23, with the winner presented on Friday, April 7 at the 2017 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Chicago.

In alphabetical order, following are the semifinalists for the 2017 Mike Richter Award:

Name School Year MIN W-L-T GAA Sv% SO SVS Michael Bitzer Bemidji State Junior 2219:13 22-12-3 1.65 .933 6 852 Parker Gahagen Army Senior 1867:48 16-11-4 1.90 .936 5 856 Kyle Hayton St. Lawrence Junior 1877:01 15-10-7 2.30 .929 4 937 Tanner Jaillet Denver Junior 1863:37 23-4-4 1.87 .929 0 755 Merrick Madsen Harvard Junior 1884:08 22-5-2 2.17 .918 2 683 Hunter Miska Minnesota Duluth Freshman 1821:12 20-4-5 2.14 .921 5 761 Jeke Oettinger Boston University Freshman 1797:39 18-9-3 2.07 .927 4 792 Cal Petersen Notre Dame Junior 2012:01 19-10-5 2.12 .927 5 900 Shane Starrett Air Force Sophomore 1794:16 21-5-4 2.08 .922 3 738 Charles Williams Canisius Senior 1832:28 19-6-5 1.83 .944 5 948

The semifinalists combine for a 2.01 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and a grade-point average of 3.25.

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:

- 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

Past winners: 2016 Thatcher Demko (Boston College), 2015 Zane McIntyre (North Dakota), 2014 Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell)

NOTES: There are nine Americans and one Canadian among the semifinalists • The 10 semifinalists represent seven different U.S. states – Minnesota leads with three , followed by California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York with one each • One Canadian province is represented – Alberta • Conference breakdown – Atlantic Hockey 3, ECAC 2, Hockey East 2, NCHC 2, WCHA 1 • The semifinalists include two seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.

About Let’s Play Hockey: In its 45th season and based in Minnesota, Let’s Play Hockey is the longest-running hockey newspaper in the U.S., serving the largest hockey market in the nation. Let’s Play Hockey is published 29 times a year – weekly during the hockey season and monthly during the offseason.

About the Herb Brooks Foundation: The Herb Brooks Foundation is dedicated to growing the game of hockey and giving the game back to the kids. Founded in 2003 by Dan Brooks and Kelly Brooks Paradise, Herb’s family and friends created the foundation to preserve his legacy by continuing his life’s work by growing the game by “making hockey fun for kids and letting them learn to love the game the way we did.”