UMass Lowell hockey freshman and former Aberdeen Wings goalie Henry Welsch has been named to the 2020-21 Mike Richter Award “Watch List.”
The announcement came Tuesday from the Hockey Commissioners Association.
Welsch, a native of Lakeville, MN, played in Aberdeen during the 2019-20 season. He appeared in 34 games, recording a 1.96 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage, recording three shutouts in the process. Overall, he went 23-6-4 for the Wings.
Now, he’s in his rookie season at UMass Lowell, sitting at 2-1 on the season for the River Hawks. He’s made 80 saves so far, good for a team-best .909 save percentage. He also leads all UMass Lowell goalies with a 2.45 goals-against average.
The Mike Richter Award is been given annually to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Division I hockey since 2014. Former River Hawk Connor Hellebuyck was the first player ever to earn the honor, according to the UMass Lowell website.
The Watch List is currently made up of 35 goalies from across the country; Welsch is one of just seven freshmen to make the list. A committee of voters, made up of coaches, administrators, scouts and media, will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next two weeks and ultimately choose the winner, who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four.
2020-21 Richter Award “Watch List”
Atlantic Hockey
Zack LaRocque, Air Force (SR – Arvada, CO)
Stefano Durante, AIC (SR – Brampton, ONT)
Jake Kucharski, AIC (FR – Erie, PA)
Trevin Kozlowski, Army (SR – Los Angeles, CA)
Nicholas Grabko, Bentley (FR – Channahon, IL)
Matt Ladd, Canisius (JR – Getzville, NY)
Erik Gordon, Holy Cross (JR – Duluth, GA)
Hank Johnson, Mercyhurst (SR – Minneapolis, MN)
Michael Corson, Niagara (JR – Darien, IL)
Noah West, Robert Morris (FR – Pittsboro, IN)
Big Ten
Strauss Mann, Michigan (JR – Greenwich, CT)
Drew DeRidder, Michigan State (JR – Fenton, MI)
Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota (SR – Mississauga, ONT)
Tommy Nappier, Ohio State (SR – St. Louis, MO)
Cameron Rowe, Wisconsin (FR – Wilmette, IL)
ECAC Hockey
Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac (SR – Wilbraham, MA)
Emil Zetterquist, St. Lawrence (JR – Stockholm, Sweden)
Hockey East
Spencer Knight, Boston College (SO – Darien, CT)
Drew Commesso, Boston University (FR – Norwell, MA)
Tomas Vomacka, UConn (JR – Trutnov, Czech Republic)
Matt Murray, UMass (SR – St. Albert, AB)
Henry Welsch, UMass Lowell (FR – Lakeville, MN)
Jaxson Stauber, Providence (SO – Plymouth, MN)
NCHC
Ludvig Persson, Miami (FR – Hindas, Sweden)
Ryan Fanti, Minnesota Duluth (SO – Thunder Bay, ONT)
Adam Scheel, North Dakota (JR – Lakewood, OH)
Isaiah Saville, Omaha (SO – Anchorage, AK)
David Hrenak, SCSU (SR – Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia)
WCHA
Zach Driscoll, Bemidji State (SR – Apple Valley, MN)
Eric Dop, Bowling Green (SR – Lewis Center, OH)
Zack Rose, Bowling Green (SO – Paradise, NL)
Mareks Mitens, Lake Superior (SR – Ventspils, Latvia)
Dryden McKay, Minnesota State (JR – Downers Grove, IL)
Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech (SO – Howell, MI)
Independent
Garrett Metcalf, Long Island (GR – Salt Lake City, UT)