A thorough review of the candidates for the NCAA's 2020-21 Mike Richter Award

Next month, the Mike Richter Award will be given to the best goaltender in college hockey, and as usual, there are a lot of great candidates coming off high-level seasons.

This season, there are nine finalists:

• Spencer Knight, Boston College
• Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota
• Strauss Mann, Michigan
• Dryden McKay, Minnesota State
• Mareks Mitens, Lake Superior State
• Blake Pietila, Michigan Tech
• Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac
• Adam Scheel, North Dakota
• Jaxson Stauber, Providence

As one of roughly 30 voters — a healthy mix of broadcasters, writers, coaches, and executives — this is something I take very seriously and look at all available data before making a decision. In the interest of transparency, I also like to talk out my decision (here is last year's entry).

My general criteria for this award, personally, is t