BUFFALO -- On the back of one of the greatest goaltending seasons in Northeastern history, men's ice hockey sophomore Cayden Primeau has been named the Mike Richter Award winner, as announced by Let's Play Hockey at the Frozen Four in Buffalo on Friday.
 
Voting for the award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, is conducted by all 60 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey head coaches.

Primeau is the first player in Northeastern history to win the award since its inception in 2014. Clay Witt (2014) is the only other Husky to be named a finalist, which Primeau has done in each of the last two seasons.
 
Criteria for the Mike Richter Award:
• Candidates must display outstanding skills on the ice
• Candidates should be in good academic standing at an NCAA college or university
• Consideration should be given to academic achievement and sportsmanship
• Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules; be full-time students at an NCAA college or university; and complete 50 percent or more of the season
• Consideration should be given to the candidate's activities in the community
 
Primeau's sophomore campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, as he posted a .933 save percentage that ranks fifth in the nation and a 2.09 goals against average. His save percentage is the best single-season mark in Northeastern history, and his GAA ranks second behind only his 1.92 average from last season. He posted a 25-10-1 record, the third most wins in the NCAA and tied for the most in a season in program history.
 
The Montreal Canadiens prospect stepped up when it mattered most throughout the season, putting on MVP displays as the Huskies won both the Beanpot and Hockey East Championships. Primeau saved 59 of 62 shots in the Beanpot, earning the Eberly Award in addition to his Tournament MVP accolade. The sophomore pushed aside another 38 shots in the Hockey East Championship game after making 29 saves in the semifinal, earning a place on the All-Tournament team as well as the William Flynn Award for MVP of the tournament. When No. 1 Massachusetts came to Matthews, Primeau made a career-high 45 saves as the Huskies upset the Minutemen 2-1 in overtime.
 
The sophomore has also been recognized with two HEA Defensive Player of the Weeks, Two HEA Player of the Weeks, a HEA Goaltender of the Month, the Hockey East Three Stars Award, the Stop it Goaltending Goaltender of the Year, and a Hockey East First Team All-Star selection, in addition to being nominated for the Hobey Baker Award.
 
Primeau missed three games for the Huskies earlier this season to compete with the United States National Junior Team at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, where the team earned the silver medal after falling to Finland 3-2 in the gold medal game. Primeau turned heads on the national stage and emerged as the team's leading goaltender during the tournament, posting a 4-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record with a 1.61 GAA and .937 save percentage.
 
After the conclusion of the Huskies' season Primeau signed an entry level contract with the Montreal Canadiens, and will report to the club's AHL affiliate in Laval. He was drafted in the seventh round (199th overall) by Montreal in the 2017 NHL Draft.
 
"Cayden Primeau is the best goaltender in Northeastern history," said Fernie Flaman Men's Hockey Coach Jim Madigan. "From the minute he stepped on campus a season ago, he conducted himself as a true professional, on and off the ice, and was the ultimate teammate. He helped take our program to unprecedented heights, and his shoes will be difficult to fill, but we are excited for him to take the next step in his hockey career and we wish him and his family nothing but the best."