A lot was on the line this weekend with big Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) playoff implications and matchups that might be seen come March. Along with playoff implications, one end-of-the-season award announced their top-10 semifinalists including a pair of familiar names.
Josh Kotai and Alex Tracy named 2025 Richter Award Semifinalists
Named after the former Wisconsin goaltender, the Mike Richter Award is given to the top goaltender of NCAA Division One Men’s Hockey since 2014. After several voting rounds, the winner is announced at the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, this year’s taking place in St. Louis.
Only two CCHA conference goaltenders made the top 10 semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award. The first of the two goaltenders is one of five sophomores taking up space in the semifinal listing, Augustana’s Josh Kotai.
Kotai is a two-time national goaltender of the month recipient this season raking up 25+ saves in 18 games and a career-high 45 saves against (then No. 8) Colorado College. Currently, Koati is nationally ranked fourth in save percentage, sixth in goals against average, and first in shutouts in the CCHA.
The second goaltender is a key factor for the projected CCHA regular season champions, Minnesota State’s Alex Tracy.
Tracy started every game, so far, for the Mavericks with a record of 20-8-2, with 25+ saves in 14 games played and 30+ saves in five games played. Tracy ranks first in goals against average nationally and in the CCHA and is nationally ranked third in save percentage. While back in the CCHA Tracy ranks second in shutouts and save percentage.
Lake Superior stops Ferris State’s hot streak before it can start
Even though Lake Superior couldn’t get the sweep they were hoping for, they were able to put a stop to Ferris State’s three-game hot streak with goaltender Easton Hesse recording a career-high of 50 saves in the 5-3 thriller on Saturday night.
This win helps the Lakers just a bit in the standings as they’re now tied at fifth with St. Thomas with a .485 points percentage (PTS%).
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Ferris State Bulldogs as forward Cole Burtch had his first-career multi-goal game with two goals, and his first game-winning goal with the overtime winner after Friday’s win.
Augustana secures home-ice advantage in CCHA Playoffs
The Augustana Vikings solidified their place in the CCHA standings and as a result, have guaranteed home-ice advantage for the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs.
There was a lot on the line in this weekend’s split, with Michigan Tech’s first-ever trip to Sioux Falls not starting too hot with a 1-5 loss, but the Michigan Tech Huskies were able to bounce back on Saturday with an overtime win stealing one point for the standings.
