SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Josh Kotai of Augustana men's hockey has been named to the Watch List for the 2026 Mike Richter Award, announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association on Wednesday afternoon.

Kotai is one of 29 goalies named to the award's watch list. The Richter Award has been awarded annually since 2014 to the top goaltender in men's Division I hockey. 

A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media — will pare this list down to approximately a dozen semifinalists within the    next three    weeks and then ultimately choose a winner    from three finalists who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four. A similar award to recognize the top female goalie in the NCAA is also presented by the HCA.

Joining Kotai on the watch list from the CCHA are Rorke Applebee (Lake Superior State), Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (Northern Michigan), Owen Bartoszkiewicz (Michigan Tech) and Alex Tracy (Minnesota State).

This season marks the second consecutive time Kotai has been added to the list. Kotai holds an 12-6-3 record between the pipes in 2025-26 with a save percentage of .944 and a goals-against average of 2.04.