UND's Zane McIntyre won the Mike Richter Award as college hockey's best goaltender in 2015, beating out a list of accomplished netminders to earn the honor.

Now, he'll be battling more college superstars to try to land the backup goalie role with the Vancouver Canucks.

McIntyre, an unrestricted free agent, signed a one-year, two-way deal with Vancouver on Monday as the NHL's free agency period opened up. McIntyre will make $700,000 if he's in the NHL.

There will be a big challenge to reach that point.

The former Thief River Falls goalie will battle former Boston College star Thatcher Demko (who McIntyre beat out for Richter in 2015), former Western Collegiate Hockey Association player of the year Richard Bachman of Colorado College and former Clarkson standout Jake Kielly to back up Canucks starter Jacob Markstrom.

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If McIntyre does not make the big club, he will play with the Utica (N.Y.) Comets in the American Hockey League.

McIntyre will be entering his fifth pro season. He spent the first four with the Boston Bruins organization. Boston drafted McIntyre in the sixth round in 2010.

McIntyre last played in the NHL during the 2016-17 season, when he suited up for the Bruins for eight games. Last season, he dressed for the Bruins in an NHL game, but did not play.

McIntyre played 46 games for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, posting a .898 save percentage and a 2.59 goals-against average. He won 12 consecutive games during January and February last season.

During his UND career, McIntyre improved his save percentage from .920 as a rookie in 2012-13 to .926 as a sophomore and .929 as a junior.

McIntyre was named the Frank Brimsek Award winner as the best senior goalie in the state of Minnesota in 2010. He was named the United States Hockey League's top goalie in 2012 as a member of the Fargo Force and he won the Richter in 2015.