Mareks Mitens Named to Mike Richter Award “Watch List”

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State senior goaltender Mareks Mitens has been named to the Mike Richter Award “Watch List” for the 2020-21 season. 

The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) has announced a “Watch List” of 33 goalies who will compete for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in NCAA Division I men’s hockey since 2014. The award was previously administered by “Let’s Play Hockey” magazine.

Mitens, a native of Ventspils, Latvia, has started all 12 games this season for the Lakers, posting a 4-3-3 record with a 1.92 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. As of Feb. 2, Mitens ranks fourth among WCHA goaltenders in goals against average (1.92), third in minutes played (623:57), third in saves (275), and fourth in save percentage (.932) this season. This season, Mitens has received mutiple conference honors as he has been awarded WCHA Goaltender of the Week on two occasions as well as WCHA Goaltender of the Month for his play in November. 

In his career as a Laker, Mitens has started 75 games and appeared in 81 contests. The senior goalie has combined for a record of 26-39-9 while posting a 2.60 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. 

“This is a strong group of goaltenders and one of them will join the already impressive list of past recipients,” said Joe Bertagna, Secretary-Treasurer of the HCA. “While we are pleased to assume responsibility for this award, I wish to thank everyone at “Let’s Play Hockey” and the Herb Brooks Foundation who created and nurtured this award for the past seven years.”

A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media — will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four. 

Past Richter Award Recipients: 2014 – Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell; 2015 – Zane McIntyre, North Dakota; 2016 – Thatcher Demko, Boston College; 2017 – Tanner Jaillet, Denver; 2018 – Cale Morris, Notre Dame; 2019 – Cayden Primeau, Northeastern; 2020 – Jeremy Swayman, Maine.

2020-21 Richter Award “Watch List”

Atlantic Hockey
Zack LaRocque, Air Force (SR – Arvada, CO)
Stefano Durante, AIC (SR – Brampton, ONT)
Jake Kucharski, AIC (FR – Erie, PA)
Trevin Kozlowski, Army (SR – Los Angeles, CA)
Nicholas Grabko, Bentley (FR – Channahon, IL)
Matt Ladd, Canisius (JR – Getzville, NY)
Erik Gordon, Holy Cross (JR – Duluth, GA)
Hank Johnson, Mercyhurst (SR – Minneapolis, MN)
Michael Corson, Niagara (JR – Darien, IL)
Noah West, Robert Morris (FR – Pittsboro, IN)

Big Ten
Strauss Mann, Michigan (JR – Greenwich, CT)
Drew DeRidder, Michigan State (JR – Fenton, MI)
Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota (SR – Mississauga, ONT)
Tommy Nappier, Ohio State (SR – St. Louis, MO)

ECAC
Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac (SR – Wilbraham, MA)
Emil Zetterquist, St. Lawrence (JR – Stockholm, Sweden)

Hockey East
Spencer Knight, Boston College (SO – Darien, CT)
Drew Commesso, Boston University (FR – Norwell, MA)
Tomas Vomacka, UConn (JR – Trutnov, Czech Republic)
Matt Murray, UMass (SR – St. Albert, AB)
Henry Welsch, UMass Lowell (FR – Lakeville, MN)

NCHC
Ludvig Persson, Miami (FR – Hindas, Sweden)
Ryan Fanti, Minnesota Duluth (SO – Thunder Bay, ONT)
Adam Scheel, North Dakota (JR – Lakewood, OH)
Isaiah Saville, Omaha (SO – Anchorage, AK)
David Hrenak, SCSU (SR – Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia)

WCHA
Zach Driscoll, Bemidji State (SR – Apple Valley, MN)
Eric Dop, Bowling Green (SR – Lewis Center, ON)
Zack Rose, Bowling Green (SO – Paradise, NL)
Mareks Mitens, Lake Superior (SR – Ventspils, Latvia)
Dryden McKay, Minnesota State (JR – Downers Grove, IL)
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech (SO – Howell, MI)

Independent
Garrett Metcalf, Long Island (GR – Salt Lake City, UT)

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