STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO — Canisius goaltender Charles Williams has been named a finalist for the 2017 Mike Richter Award, Let’s Play Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation announced Thursday.
Given annually to the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA men’s ice hockey, candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 60 NCAA Division I men’s hockey head coaches. The 10 semifinalists, five finalists and winner are selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. The fourth annual award will be presented at the 2017 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Chicago.
Candidates for the Mike Richter Award must display outstanding skills on the ice. They should be in good academic standing at an NCAA college or university and must have appeared in 50 percent or more of his team’s contests that season. Consideration should be given to academic achievement and sportsmanship while the candidate’s activities in the community should also factored into the nomination.
The Atlantic Hockey Conference Player of the Year and an All-AHC First Team selection, Williams led the Griffs to their first AHC regular season championship while leading the league in goals-against average (1.82), save percentage (.943), shutouts (6) and saves (1,016).
A native of Canton, Mich., he posted a 21-7-5 overall record and ranks first in the nation in save percentage and shutouts, is tied for third in goals-against average, ranks fourth in saves and is tied for 12th in wins.
The graduate transfer netminder played in all but five games this season for the Golden Griffins, allowing two goals or less 25 times. Williams stopped 30 or more shots in 15 games this season, including a career-high 46 in a 2-2 tie at Air Force on Jan. 14.
The six-time AHC Goalie of the Week honoree posted a .930 or better save percentage in 21 games. A Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalist, Williams is a master’s degree candidate in sport administration at Canisius.
The 2017 Mike Richter Award will be presented at ESPN’s #CawlidgeHawkey event at Kitty O’Sheas in the Hilton Chicago on Friday, April 7 (7 p.m. CT), featuring John Buccigross and Barry Melrose. Fans are encouraged to attend the event, which will feature a Q&A, giveaways, autographs and lots of college hockey talk. More details to be announced next week.