- Let’s Play Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation announced today the five finalists for the 2015 Mike Richter Award, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men’s hockey. The second annual award will be presented by Mike Richter at the 2015 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Boston.

In alphabetical order, the finalists for the 2015 Mike Richter Award are:

Kyle Hayton • St. Lawrence University • Freshman

Arguably the top rookie goaltender in college hockey this season, Kyle Hayton backstopped St. Lawrence to a second-place finish in the ECAC. A native of Denver, Hayton owns a 20-12-3 record and has played in all but one game this season for the Saints. He ranks tied for first in the nation in save percentage (.939), fifth in shutouts (5) and sixth in goals-against average (1.90). Hayton ranks second in the ECAC in each category, behind fellow finalist Alex Lyon of Yale. His five shutouts broke the school record and is just four shutouts short of Bill Sloan’s career mark of nine. Hayton has posted a .930 or better save percentage in all but five games this season (his first five games as a collegiate goalie) and has made 1,035 saves this season, the third-most in the nation. He has 16 games with 30 or more saves, including a 51-save effort in a 2-1 loss at Miami on Oct. 25 and a 46-save performance in a 5-1 win at Harvard on Jan. 17. Hayton is undecided on a major and owns a GPA of 3.472.

Jake Hildebrand • Michigan State University • Junior

The Big Ten Player and Goaltender of the Year, Jake Hildebrand leads the Big Ten in goals-against average (2.12), save percentage (.930) and shutouts (6). His six shutouts rank second in the nation. A native of Butler, Pa., Hildebrand has started all 34 of Michigan State’s games, allowing two or fewer goals in 20 of those contests. He owns a 17-15-2 overall record and has posted a .920 or better save percentage in 14 games this season, including the last 12 contests. Since Jan. 1, he leads the nation in save percentage (.950), ranks sixth in goals-against average (1.55) and has posted five shutouts – second most in the country – over the 16-game stretch. Hildebrand has 15 games with 30 or more saves, including a career-high 48-save effort in a 2-2 tie at Penn State on Jan. 16. He has been named the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week a league-high four times this season. Hildebrand is a communications major with a GPA of 3.125.

Alex Lyon • Yale • Sophomore

Alex Lyon leads the nation in goals-against average (1.58), save percentage (.939) and shutouts (7) – all single-season Yale records. A native of Baudette, Minn., Lyon posted a 17-9-5 overall record and backstopped the 19th-ranked Bulldogs to a third-place finish in the ECAC. The Ivy League co-Rookie of the Year last season, Lyon had a .930 or better save percentage in 19 games this season and had six games with 30 or more saves, including a 39-save effort in a 3-2 double-overtime loss to Harvard in the ECAC quarterfinals. The two-time ECAC Goalie of the Week started all but one game this season and allowed two goals or less 23 times. Lyon’s career goals-against average (1.99), save percentage (.928) and shutouts (10) rank first in Yale history. Lyon is a political science major with a GPA of 2.99.

Zane McIntyre • University of North Dakota • Junior

Zane McIntyre is a member of the NCHC All-Conference First Team and a finalist for the NCHC Goaltender of the Year Award. A native of Thief River Falls, McIntyre owns a 27-7-3 record and played in all but 43 minutes this season for top-ranked UND. He ranks tied for first in the nation in wins, fifth in winning percentage (.770), sixth in save percentage (.932) and ninth in goals-against average (1.97). In backstopping North Dakota to the NCHC regular season title, McIntyre made 989 saves, the fifth-most in the nation. He has 14 games with 30 or more saves, including a 43-save effort in a 2-1 win at Miami on March 6. A sixth-round pick (165th overall) of the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, McIntyre has posted a .930 or better save percentage in 21 games this season and is 11-2-3 in one-goal contests. McIntyre is a psychology major at UND and owns a GPA of 3.26.

Jamie Phillips • Michigan Tech University • Junior

Jamie Phillips backstopped the fourth-ranked Huskies to a second-place finish in the WCHA while leading the conference in wins (27), goals-against average (1.61), save percentage (.938) and shutouts (6). A native of Caledonia, Ont., he owns a 27-7-2 overall record and ranks tied for first in the nation in wins, second in GAA and shutouts, and third in save percentage. The All-WCHA First Team netminder has played in every game this season for the Huskies, allowing two goals or less 29 times. He has stopped 30 or more shots in 12 games this season, including a career-high 43 saves in a 1-1 tie at Minnesota State on Feb. 27, and is currently riding a career-long 180:39 shutout streak. Phillips has posted a .930 or better save percentage in 22 games this season and is 9-5-2 in one-goal games on the year. A seventh-round pick (190th overall) of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Phillips is an exercise science major at Michigan Tech with a GPA of 3.36.

Candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 59 NCAA Division I men’s hockey head coaches. The 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.

Connor Hellebuyck of UMass Lowell won the inaugural Mike Richter Award.