The race for the Mike Richter Award - college hockey’s top honor for goaltenders - just got a little more interesting, especially if you're keeping an eye on the Montreal Canadiens’ pipeline. The NCAA has named its 10 semifinalists for the prestigious award, and two of those names should jump off the page for Habs fans: Alexis Cournoyer and Emmett Croteau.
Let’s start with Cournoyer. The 20-year-old is in his freshman season at Cornell University, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at his numbers.
Through 19 games, he’s posted a 14-5-0 record with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. That’s not just solid - that’s elite-level goaltending, especially for a player adjusting to the college game in his first year.
Taken in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Cournoyer is already showing the kind of poise and consistency that makes scouts take notice. He’s not just making saves - he’s giving his team a chance to win every night.
Then there’s Emmett Croteau, a name Canadiens fans might already be familiar with. Drafted in the sixth round back in 2022, Croteau is now turning heads at Dartmouth College.
In 15 games this season, he’s put together a 10-3-2 record, a 1.85 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. That kind of efficiency in the crease is no fluke - it’s the product of a goalie who’s locked in, tracking pucks well, and maintaining strong positioning throughout games.
What stands out about both Cournoyer and Croteau is how similar their numbers are - and how consistently strong they’ve been in their respective programs. Both are hovering around the 1.90 GAA mark with save percentages north of .920, which puts them right in the thick of the conversation for the Richter Award. That’s not just a nod to their individual talent, but also a reflection of their ability to handle pressure and elevate their play against high-level competition.
For the Canadiens, having not one but two goalie prospects in the hunt for the top goaltending honor in college hockey is a promising sign. Goaltending depth has long been a cornerstone of successful NHL franchises, and this kind of development at the NCAA level bodes well for Montreal’s long-term outlook between the pipes.
We’ll see how the rest of the season plays out, but for now, both Cournoyer and Croteau have earned their spots among the nation’s best. The spotlight is on, and so far, they’re thriving in it.