Inside College Hockey | Go-To Guys: The Goalies

February 18 , 2003
Go-To Guys: The Goalies

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Last week: Hobey Baker Award

If college hockey had a Vezina Trophy, it would have to be named after legendary Cornell netminder Ken Dryden. Perhaps it's fitting, then, that another Big Red goalie – Dave LeNeveu – leads our list of national goalie of the year candidates, presented in this week's edition of Go-To Guys, Inside College Hockey's look at the sport's award candidates. LeNeveu, a sophomore from Fernie, B.C., leads the nation in every major goaltending statistic and has his team on the verge of a conference title.

.It's an impressive crop – especially in the East – and a number of noteworthy puck-stoppers didn't make our list. Want to make a case for somebody we left out? Let us know and we'll share your thoughts.

Inside College Hockey editors and staff, in consultation with coaches and media from around the country, compiled this list of how we would vote today – not necessarily how we think the race will turn out. And stay tuned, because a lot can change each weekend.

GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR – Feb. 18, 2003
1. Dave LeNeveu Cornell	The best player on an impressive team. Leads the nation in goals-against average (1.28), save percentage (.936) and winning percentage (.881, 18-2-1). 18-2-1, 1.28, .936
2. Joe Exter Merrimack	No team relies on its goaltending more than Merrimack. The unanimous pick to finish last in Hockey East, the Warriors are near .500 largely because of Exter's efforts. 11-12-5, 2.88, .918
3. Mike Betz Ohio State	Leads CCHA in GAA and save percentage and playing well when it matters most; he's given up six goals in his last five starts. 16-5-3, 2.03, .913
4. Mike Brown Ferris State	The Bulldogs play great team defense and give him a lot of support, but he's played more minutes (1872:24) than any goalie in the nation, and faced more shots (933) than all but Exter and Michigan Tech's Cam Ellsworth. 23-8-1, 2.40, .920
5. Jim Howard Maine	Rookie has lived up to his billing -- and then some. His stock may have slipped at World Juniors, but when he's wearing the script "Maine" on his chest, he's been fantastic. 13-4-0, 2.11, .927
Comfortable standing on their head	Wade Dubielewicz (Denver), Mike Ayers (New Hampshire), Yann Danis (Brown), Al Montoya (Michigan), Sean Fields (Boston University)
Worth noting	Travis Weber (Minnesota), Scott Munroe (Alabama-Huntsville), Dov Grumet-Morris (Harvard), Isaac Reichmuth (Minnesota-Duluth), Curtis McElhinney (Colorado College), Eddy Ferhi (Sacred Heart)

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