Michigan State University Athletics
Hildebrand a Mike Richter Award Nominee
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. - For the second straight year, Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand has been nominated for the Mike Richter Award, it was announced by Let's Play Hockey and The Herb Brooks Foundation on Friday. Hildebrand is one of 28 nominees for the award.
Hildebrand, who has started every game this year, has been one of the Big Ten's top goaltenders all season and entering Friday's game vs. Minnesota, he leads the Big Ten in both save percentage (.925) and goals-against average (2.25).
The native of Butler, Pennsylvania, ended 2014 by allowing just two goals in the two games of the GLI tournament. Over the last 13 games (including the GLI), Hildebrand has yielded two or fewer goals in 10 of the last 13 games.
Since Jan. 1, Hildebrand ranks second in the nation in save percentage (.946) and eighth in goals-against average (1.81).
He has been one of the Big Ten Stars of the Week on four occasions this season, most recently named the third star on Feb. 24. He has two shutouts in the last four games and is the first Spartan netminder to have four shutouts in a season since Jeff Lerg in 2007-08. Hildebrand's eight-career shutouts are fifth most in program history.
Off the ice, Hildebrand carries a 3.125 GPA and is active in the team's community service initiatives.
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 and the award will be presented by Mike Richter at the 2015 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Boston.
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
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."
