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Jaillet up for second straight NCAA top goalie award

Mar 23, 2018 | 9:53 AM

Tanner Jaillet has a chance to make history.

The Red Deer native is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men’s hockey. Jaillet won the award last year and can become the first goaltender to win it twice.

The senior netminder for the University of Denver earned National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goaltender of the Year and First-Team All-NCHC honors, both for the second straight season, while backstopping Denver to second place in the NCHC this season. He was also tabbed Most Outstanding Player at the 2018 NCHC Frozen Faceoff last weekend after guiding the Pioneers to their second NCHC Tournament title.

The senior led the conference in save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (1.85), while his 21 wins tied for first in the NCHC. The undrafted free agent owns a 21-8-7 record this season and ranks fifth in the nation in goals-against average, tied for fifth in shutouts with five, seventh in save percentage and wins, and ninth in winning percentage (.681).

The other finalists for the Mike Richter Award this year include Cornell freshman Matthew Galajda, Notre Dame sophomore Cale Morris, Colgate sophomore Colton Point and Northeastern freshman Cayden Primeau. The award will be presented at ESPN’s #CawlidgeHawkey event on April 6.

Criteria for the Mike Richter Award include outstanding skills on the ice, academic achievement and sportsmanship, playing in 50 percent or more of the season, and consideration should be given to the candidate’s activities in the community. The candidate must also comply with all NCAA rules and be in good academic standing at his college or university.

Jaillet came up through the Red Deer Minor Hockey system before playing in the AJHL with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons from 2011-2014.

(with file from nchchockey.com)