MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Graduate goaltender
Chad Veltri was named to the Hockey Commissioners Association's Goalie of the Year Watch List. It was announced by the HCA today, Friday afternoon.
Joining RMU for his final season of NCAA Division I hockey, Veltri has made an immediate impact for the Colonials.
Appearing in 21 games this season so far, Veltri owns a 2.91 G.A.A. and .922 save percentage. He ranks third in the Atlantic Hockey conference in save percentage and seventh nationally in that category. His 33.38 saves-per-game are the highest in the AHA. Across all Division I netminders, Veltri sits at the top of the save's leaderboard, owning 701 saves.
From Pittsburgh, Pa., Veltri earned his first win with the Colonials in their first away game of the season. After the home opener, Veltri posted a shutout to help RMU take down Bowling Green, 3-0 (10/8). This was RMU's first official win in the relaunch season.
Twice so far in the 2023-24 campaign, Veltri has garnered Goaltender of the Week honors by the AHA conference.
On 12 occasions, he's registered 30 or more saves in a game. In RMU's first conference win of the year against Bentley (10/27), Veltri paced for a career-high 51 saves to help the Colonials win, 4-3.
The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced this "Watch List" of 32 goalies who will compete for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey since 2014.
A committee of voters – made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media – will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next three weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four. A similar award to recognize the top female goalie in the NCAA is also presented by the HCA.
Past Richter Award Recipients: 2014 – Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell; 2015 – Zane McIntyre, North Dakota; 2016 – Thatcher Demko, Boston College; 2017 – Tanner Jaillet, Denver; 2018 – Cale Morris, Notre Dame; 2019 – Cayden Primeau, Northeastern; 2020 – Jeremy Swayman, Maine; 2021 – Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota; 2022 – Devon Levi, Northeastern; 2023 – Devon Levi, Northeastern.
To read more, check out HCA's official
website.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
