ITHACA, N.Y. — Junior Matthew Galajda has been named one of five finalists for the 2020 Mike Richter Award, Let's Play Hockey and the Herb Brooks Foundation announced. The award is presented annually to the goaltender deemed to be the most outstanding in NCAA men's hockey.
 
Galajda ascended back to national prominence this season after an injury-plagued sophomore year. His 1.56 goals against average for the season was tops among all ECAC Hockey goaltenders and second in the nation, and three of his five shutouts came in what would ultimately be the last four games of the season. Three of those shutoutscame in the Big Red's final four games of the season, pulling Galajda into a tie with Ben Scrivens '10 for the program's career records for shutouts with 19.
 
While sometimes overlooked because of the quality defense in front of him, Galajda has still collected his fair share of accolades this year. He was named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Year for a second time, earning subsequent All-Ivy League first-team honors. He was one of three finalists for the ECAC Hockey MAC Goaltending Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year award.
 
In all, Galajda yielded just 24 even-strength goals in 29 games, and he ended the season on a nine-game winning streak.
 
"I feel Matt Galajda is the most underrated goalie in the country," said Mike Schafer '86, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Men's Hockey at Cornell. "We only gave up 45 goals against and 21 were power-play goals. Of the 21, he had no chance on 12 of them, because they were back-door goals or one-timers through traffic. I have gone through all his goals, and I only have him for three soft goals all year."
 
Candidates for the Mike Richter Award were determined by nominations from all 60 NCAA Division I men's hockey head coaches. The semifinalists, finalists and winner are selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. Criteria for the Mike Richter Award includes displaying outstanding skills on the ice, being in good academic standing, with consideration given to academic achievement and sportsmanship and a candidate's activities in the community.
 
The other four finalists are Spencer Knight (Boston College), Strauss Mann (Michigan), Dryden McKay (Minnesota State) and Jeremy Swayman (Maine).
 
The marks the second time Galajda has been named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, with the other occasion coming during his stellar freshman campaign during the 2017-18 season. The winner of this season's seventh annual award will be announced Friday, April 10.