COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – North Dakota freshman netminder Jan Špunar has been named one of only 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Mike Richter Award, the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced on Friday. The Mike Richter Award has been presented annually to the top goaltender in Division I men’s NCAA hockey since 2014.
 
Špunar is one of only three freshmen among the 10 semifinalists and the lone netminder from the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) on the list. Hailing from Olomouc, Czechia, he is also one of two Czechs among the semifinalists along with UMass junior Michael Hrabal. The remaining eight semifinalists hail from either the United States or Canada, with four from each country.
 
Špunar has put together a sensational freshman season, taking over the North Dakota net in late October and never looking back. He started his college career 10-0-0, including a shutout in his first career start at Clarkson on Oct. 25. He heads into this weekend’s series against No. 20 Miami carrying a 14-3-0 record in 17 starts.
 
Špunar leads the NCHC with both a .924 save percentage and a 1.76 goals-against average this season, with the latter fourth nationally. His save percentage is 13th in the NCAA, helping the Fighting Hawks to a No. 3 national ranking.
 
Špunar added shutouts against Mercyhurst and Denver in January, and now has three on the year, which ties for the NCHC lead and ties for fourth in the NCAA. The Czech was named NCHC Rookie of the Month in December, as well as Rookie of the Week once during that month.
 
The 10 Richter Award semifinalists were chosen by a panel of 25 voters from across the hockey community. The group includes coaches from each conference, and independent school coaches, as well as members of the national media, professional scouts and representatives of USA Hockey.
 
Finalists will be announced in early March and the winner of this year’s Mike Richter Award will be announced on Friday, April 10 during the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Las Vegas. The NCHC had six netminders named to the initial Richter Award Watch List in January, including Špunar, while the National saw a trio of Richter Semifinalists in 2025.
 
The NCHC is home to two previous Mike Richter Award winners. Former North Dakota goalie Zane McIntyre was the first from the NCHC to win it in 2015, while Denver’s Tanner Jaillet gloved the Richter Award in 2017.
 
2026 Mike Richter Award Semifinalists

• Trey Augustine, Michigan State*
• Alexis Cournoyer, Cornell
• Emmett Croteau, Dartmouth
• Michael Hrabal, Massachusetts
• Jack Ivankovic, Michigan
• Josh Kotai, Augustana*
• Tyler Muszelik, Connecticut
• Jan Špunar, North Dakota
• Alex Tracy, Minnesota State*
• Lawton Zacher, Northeastern*

*2025 Semifinalist