Peyton Jones Named to Mike Richter Award Watch List

After capturing the national spotlight during last season’s Big Ten Tournament, Peyton Jones has been named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List for the 2017-18 season.

The award has been presented to the most outstanding goalie in the NCAA for the past four seasons, and has been claimed by current NHLer Connor Hellebuyck and prospects Zane McIntyre and Thatcher Demko. Denver’s Tanner Jaillet claimed the award last season en route to the National Championship.

Jones set several program records last season with 36 games started and 23 wins. He recorded a 2.60 goals-against average and .904 save percentage as the Nittany Lions reached new program heights, including their first Big Ten Tournament Championship and NCAA appearance.

Jones was at his best in the most pressure-packed moments, putting forth the performance of a lifetime in the Big Ten Tournament as he was awarded the Tourney’s Most Outstanding Player Award.

Jones joins a pair of Big Ten netminders — Wisconsin’s Kyle Hayton and Minnesota’s Eric Schierhorn — in the running for the award. He will also face off this weekend against another Richter Award hopeful in Clarkson’s Jake Kielly.