The NCAA annually recognizes college hockey’s top goaltender with the Mike Richter Award, and Boston University and former St. Sebastian’s star Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) was among the 28 players named to the watch list Thursday across all of college hockey's Division 1 conferences.
Commesso, who was recently named to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team, was also on Team USA for the canceled 2022 World Junior Championship. He posted a 3-2 win over Slovakia in the Americans’ only game before several positive COVID tests on the USA roster and the spread of the virus to other teams caused the event in Edmonton and Red Deer to be scrubbed altogether.
The Chicago Blackhawks prospect starred for the U.S. National Team Development Program and has held the fort for BU in his sophomore campaign, going 9-7-3 in 20 appearances with a 2.59 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. He is the region’s best pro goaltending prospect since Spencer Knight (Darien, Conn.) was selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
While Commesso is the only New England native on the 2022 Richter watch list, there are other talented goaltenders playing throughout the area who also warrant a mention. A voting committee of coaches, scouts, media and others connected to college hockey will pare the list down to 15 finalists in the coming weeks. We focus on contenders of note in the area, shedding more light on who we think has the best chance of reaching the final stage and is ultimately chosen as college hockey’s top netminder during the April 7 and 9 Frozen Four in Boston.
UMass Lowell goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won the inaugural Richter Award in 2014. Thatcher Demko (Boston College- 2016), Cayden Primeau (Northeastern- 2019) and Jeremy Swayman (Maine- 2020) are other former winners with local ties. As of 2022, New England is still looking for the first native to take home the hardware.
Drew Commesso
Boston University, 7/19/02, catches left, 6-2/180
NHL rights: Chicago (2/46- 2020)
Why he could win: Commesso has all of the tools to be a star netminder at this level and the next. With his height and agility, he’s able to react quickly to shots and adjust his body to make controlled saves under pressure. He sees the ice well and is able to maintain visual sightlines with the puck. He continues to build on an impressive body of work and depending on his usage in Beijing, the chance to compete in the Olympic games will shine a bright spotlight on the international stage.
Why he might not: Although Commesso’s progress has been steady and strong, he lacks the eye-popping statistical line of others in the conference and around the NCAA, which is often a major factor in the winnowing of the pool to 15 finalists.
Odds of being a finalist: 50/50. He has the ability and pedigree to be a finalist. Working against him is the ticking clock on his departure for China and the Olympic games: has he done enough?
Richter hopefuls with regional ties
1. Devon Levi
Northeastern, 12/27/01, catches left, 6-0/185
NHL rights: Buffalo (7/212- 2020- FLA)
Why he could win: The 2020 Florida Panthers late draft selection (since traded to Buffalo in last summer’s Sam Reinhart deal) has been a revelation for the Huskies, 16-5-1 with a .955 spct. and 1.31 GAA. The sophomore’s nine shutouts in 22 appearances are eye-popping and evoke memories of the kind of dominant performance in net from former Hobey Baker winner and longtime NHLer Ryan Miller. Levi is listed at a generous 6-feet in height, but size doesn’t matter as much with his elite quickness, ability to track pucks and highly competitive nature.
Why he might not: With such a tremendous start to his collegiate career (an injury forced him to miss his freshman season), the numbers he’s put up will be hard to sustain, even with the quality team in front of him.
Odds of being a finalist: Sure thing. Barring any unexpected catastrophe, the Quebec product will continue to be the Huskies’ workhorse with every opportunity to build on his sensational season. How far he can take Northeastern will have a major impact on whether he can be the last goalie standing. His NHL prospect status will help, not hurt him.
2. Yaniv Perets
Quinnipiac, 3/4/00, catches left, 6-1/189
NHL rights: Free agent
Why he could win: If you thought Levi’s statistics were otherworldly, Perets has been even more stingy with the Bobcats, sporting a 0.74 GAA and eight shutouts in just 14 games (.952 spct.). The former Boston Jr. Bruins star with the USPHL NCDC in 2017-19 has been on a steady developmental path to the BCHL and then just two minimal games of work as a freshman in 2020-21 before exploding in his second NCAA campaign. He and Levi are a great story in the region after being friends and teammates growing up in Lac St-Louis.
Why he might not: At 22, he’s a little older than some of the other contenders with more experience at the junior levels. That won’t impact votes per se, but when comparing him to the experience levels of others who are younger, it could swing a few decisions.
Odds of being a finalist: Like Levi, he’ll be there. Also like his friend, he’s got an excellent team in front of him. It’s hard to argue the results, so watching the race between the two in their respective conferences will be one of the more exciting storylines to follow in 2022.
3. Owen Savory
UMass Lowell, 10/11/97, catches left, 6-0/185
NHL rights: Free agent
Why he could win: The Guelph, Ont. native has rebounded in fine fashion after transferring to Lowell in 2020. Last season was one to forget, but with a 12-1-2 record, 1.52 GAA and 94 percent of pucks kept out of the net, Savory is yet another key factor in the tightening Hockey East standings.
Why he might not: Even older than Perets, he also had the benefit of two strong seasons at RPI where he posted north of a .925 save percentage in both years.
Odds of being a finalist: 70/30 he’s in. Richter voters like winners and that victory percentage in a tough conference will carry far more weight when casting the votes.
4. Jaxson Stauber
Providence College, 4/27/99, catches left, 6-3/180
NHL rights: Free agent
Why he could win: The son of 1988 Hobey Baker award-winning goalie Robb Stauber is another winner with the size and talent to follow in his father’s footsteps. The Minnesotan backstopped the 2019 Sioux Falls Stampede to a Clark Cup championship with a historic 11-1 record and MVP honors. He’s brought that same swagger to the Friars, where he’s posted 25 wins and counting in his second season after transferring in from Minnesota St. Mankato.
Why he might not: When it comes to the other goalies in the Hockey East he’s up against, he’s in the next tier of some outstanding competition.
Odds of being a finalist: 60/40. With Stauber in net and the kind of heavy, experienced team in front of him, if the Friars get on a roll, look out.
5. Matthew Murray
UMass, 2/2/98, catches left, 6-1/195
NHL rights: Free agent
Why could win: The fifth-year senior is a model of consistency, having won 62 games for the Minutemen and never having a seasonal save-percentage lower than .911 as a freshman in 2017-18. When it comes to veteran poise, experience and the ability to make the big save, they don’t come much more effective than the Alberta native.
Why he might not: Like the others, he’s in a crowded field of excellent goaltenders who are winning a lot and posting big statistics. He’s not an NHL draft pick and isn’t a flashy presence in the net, which works against him with voters.
Odds of being a finalist: 50/50. He’s absolutely worthy of making the top-15, but there will be some regional biases in play, so Murray will need to play his best hockey in the coming weeks to give himself the best chance to separate himself from a highly talented pack.
