No position in hockey is more volatile than goaltending — especially for college netminders still developing their games. Maine’s Albin Boija headlined this list last season for good reason after posting a .928 save percentage as a sophomore. As a junior, Boija’s save percentage plummeted to .899. It’s difficult to predict a goaltender’s season, since...
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No position in hockey is more volatile than goaltending — especially for college netminders still developing their games.
Maine’s Albin Boija headlined this list last season for good reason after posting a .928 save percentage as a sophomore. As a junior, Boija’s save percentage plummeted to .899.
It’s difficult to predict a goaltender’s season, since results are often team-dependent. Even so, some of the nation’s best netminders play their college hockey in New England.
Seven of the 13 goaltenders to win the Mike Richter Award won it while playing in New England. The region could very well make it eight of 14 this season.
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UMass junior Michael Hrabal was New England’s best last season and a Richter finalist, posting a .937 save percentage before inking his entry-level contract with the Utah Mammoth.
With Hrabal gone, there’s a new king to crown. Here are the names to watch.
Rorke Applebee
Quinnipiac | Junior
Applebee spent his first two collegiate seasons at Lake Superior State, posting a .907 save percentage as a freshman and a .914 as a sophomore. He joins a young Bobcats goaltending room that features freshman Christian Kirsch. With Applebee’s track record, it’s likely his net to begin the season, and if he repeats his past success, he could see 25-plus starts. He lacks elite size at six feet tall, but he’s a quick mover in the crease. And with a capable Kirsch pushing him from behind, Applebee has extra incentive to hold onto the job.
Given the expectations Boija carried entering his junior season, returning for his senior year would’ve been a surprise to most. Instead, Boija struggled mightily last season, posting a sub-.900 save percentage in 20 appearances. It’s fair to note the Black Bears took a step back defensively, which affected his numbers — but the Sundsvall, Sweden, native didn’t look like himself either. After attending the Boston Bruins’ development camp two years ago, Boija, now 23, was at the Detroit Red Wings camp this summer. He’s a smaller goaltender at 6-foot-1, but his athleticism and poise could help him regain his sophomore season form.
Emmett Croteau
Dartmouth | Senior
A sixth-round selection of the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, Croteau starred for the Big Green as they surprised college hockey, winning the ECAC tournament last season. In 24 games, he recorded a .923 save percentage with a 1.93 goals-against average and two shutouts. While it’ll be hard for Dartmouth to repeat its success of last year, it’s returning much of its core, including Croteau, who’s improved season after season. It should be Croteau’s net once again, and he has the athleticism and sizable frame (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) to repeat his success.
Ajeet Gundarah
Sacred Heart | Junior
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Gundarah might be the best goaltender in college hockey that no one is talking about. After a stellar freshman season, posting a .936 save percentage in 26 games, Gundarah appeared in 22 games as a sophomore and recorded an impressive .928 save percentage despite missing nearly three months in the middle of the season. Although he’s undersized at 6 feet tall, Gundarah is poised to once again play a key role in the Pioneers’ success as they look to get over the hump and win their first Atlantic Hockey Association title.
The Wildcats have a fresh group of goaltenders this season. Kendrick comes to Durham, N.H., from Sacred Heart and Simpson from Providence. Kendrick, who stands at 6-foot-4, played in 20 games for the Pioneers last season in place of the injured Gundarah, and was more than serviceable, recording a .920 save percentage and two shutouts. Simpson, who joined the Friars midseason from the ECHL, played in just two games last season. It looks like it will be a goalie competition at New Hampshire, so I’m listing both. Simpson offers a mature presence in goal while Kendrick has more upside given his frame. It wouldn’t be surprising if they split.
Jack Parsons
Providence | Sophomore
Entering his freshman season, Parsons was the Friars’ designated backup to Philip Svedeback. Then, on Jan. 3 against Alaska Fairbanks, Svedeback went down with an injury, and Parsons never looked back. In his 19 appearances, he was stellar, posting a .922 save percentage with two shutouts, and played a critical role in Providence gliding to the Hockey East regular-season title. His strong back half of the season played a factor in the Winnipeg Jets selecting him in the seventh round of June’s NHL Draft as a double-overager. With Svedeback moving on and mid-season addition Michael Simpson transferring to New Hampshire, it’s Parsons net.
Tobias Trejbal
UMass | Freshman
The first, and only, first-year college player on this list, Trejbal, is the reigning USHL Goaltender of the Year after posting a .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 42 appearances with the Youngstown Phantoms. As a result, Trejbal was the first goaltender taken in June’s draft when the Calgary Flames selected him 42nd. It was a difficult decision in choosing the Czech-born netminder over senior Jackson Irving (Newbury, Mass.) for this list, and while both will likely get starts in a competition for the Minutemen’s No. 1 job, Trejbal is the clear choice when it comes to upside given his pedigree and size. His path to getting significant starts is clear.
Mikhail Yegorov
Boston University | Junior
No netminder in college hockey was let down more by his team’s defense last season than Yegorov — the Terriers’ blue line was as dysfunctional as it gets. But that’s not to say Yegorov was at his best either — he let in more than a few soft goals in crucial spots. In 35 games, he posted a .905 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average. Entering his second full season at BU, Yegorov is still one of the best goaltending prospects in hockey. Standing at 6-foot-5, he’s intelligent with the tools to bounce back in a major way this season.
After transferring from Brown, Zacher was outstanding in his first season with the Huskies, posting a .929 save percentage with five shutouts. Zacher, who attended the Seattle Kraken’s development camp this summer, is a real contender for the Richter Award this season. He’s a strong skater in the crease with sound technique. A strong senior season should have Zachler signed to a professional contract at year’s end.
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