Following are the nominees for the 2015 Mike Richter Award:

Michael Bitzer, Bemidji State, Freshman                
Thatcher Demko, Boston College, Sophomore          
Charlie Finn, Colgate, Sophomore           
Michael Garteig, Quinnipiac, Junior                      
Mitch Gilliam, Cornell, Sophomore          
Jon Gillies, Providence, Junior                  
Matt Ginn, Holy Cross, Senior                    
Carmine Guerriero, Alabama-HuntsvillE, Sophomore           
Kyle Hayton, St. Lawrence, Freshman             
Jake Hildebrand, Michigan State, Junior                      
Charlie Lindgren, St. Cloud State, Sophomore           
Alex Lyon, Yale, Sophomore          
Olivier Mantha, Alaska Anchorage, Freshman               
Ryan Massa, Omaha, Senior                      
Zane McIntyre, North Dakota, Junior              
CJ Motte, Ferris State, Senior                    
Rob Nichols, Connecticut, Sophomore       
Matt O’Connor, Boston University, Junior                   
Steve Perry, Clarkson, Sophomore           
Cal Petersen, Notre Dame, Freshman             
Jamie Phillips, Michigan Tech, Junior             
Mike Santaguida, Vermont, Sophomore        
Colin Stevens, Union, Senior                    
Rasmus Tirronen, Merrimack, Senior                
Adam Wilcox, Minnesota, Junior                
Jay Williams, Miami, Junior                      
Stephon Williams, Minnesota State, Junior                
Clay Witt, Northeastern, Senior           

Demko, Gillies, Hildebrand, Motte, and Stevens were nominees in 2014. Wilcox and Witt were finalists a year ago.

The nominees combine for a 2.13 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and a grade-point average of 3.15.

Candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 59 NCAA Division I men’s hockey head coaches. The finalists and winner will be selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. The five finalists for the 2015 Mike Richter Award will be announced on Wednesday, March 18.

Criteria for the Mike Richter Award:

- Candidates must display outstanding skills on the ice
- Candidates should be in good academic standing at an NCAA college or university
- Consideration should be given to academic achievement and sportsmanship
- Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules; be full-time students at an NCAA college or university; and complete 50 percent or more of the season
- Consideration should be given to the candidate’s activities in the community

Connor Hellebuyck of UMass Lowell won the inaugural Mike Richter Award.

About Let’s Play Hockey: In its 43rd season and based in the Twin Cities, Let’s Play Hockey is the longest-running hockey newspaper in the U.S., serving the largest hockey market in the nation. Let’s Play Hockey is published 29 times a year – weekly during the hockey season and monthly during the offseason.

About the Herb Brooks Foundation: The Herb Brooks Foundation is dedicated to growing the game of hockey and giving the game back to the kids. Founded in 2003 by Dan Brooks and Kelly Brooks Paradise, Herb’s family and friends created the foundation to preserve his legacy by continuing his life’s work by growing the game by “making hockey fun for kids and letting them learn to love the game the way we did.”