Original Source: Nancy Marrapese-Burrell

Posted on: Apr 12, 2015

As much as it was bitterly disappointing for North Dakota to lose to Boston University in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals Thursday night at TD Garden, there was a silver lining for the team’s goaltender.

Bruins prospect Zane McIntyre, a junior, was named the winner of the 2015 Mike Richter Award on Friday, which goes to the most outstanding goalie in college hockey.

UMass-Lowell’s Connor Hellebuyck was last year’s inaugural winner.

McIntyre credited many people with helping him get this far in his career.

“Whether it’s past coaches in youth rinks or coaches now, especially my family, I have to give high [marks] and rewards to them,” said McIntyre. “My mom, Kelly, and my sister,Jade, and our extended family and especially Grandma Susie[who died in 2011]. The most important factor, too, is my teammates. Without them, none of this would be possible; without them, it would just be a dream but the dream became a reality and I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and especially our coaching staff as well.”

McIntyre, 22, said the decision to go to North Dakota changed his life in the most positive of ways.

“They’ve done a tremendous job taking a boy who was 19 years old . . . and really becoming a man,” he said. “A lot of that culture really starts with coach [Dave] Hakstol. What we have going at the University of North Dakota, everything is top notch — our facilities, our attitudes, what we expect year in and year out. It really shapes and molds you to be a complete person moreso than an athlete. It is really a lot of life lessons.”

McIntyre said after he has had time to process the season, he will decide whether to return to school for his senior season.

One person who is very impressed with McIntyre’s game is Richter, the former star for the New York Rangers who is in the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

“I think what separates the truly great players and the exceptional players like Zane is what is between their ears,” said Richter, who played at Wisconsin-Madison from 1985-87. “It is tough to get a sense for that until you start knowing the person. You’re not at this level unless you have a lot of talent. You just couldn’t compete but when you have that extra gear of the intangibles, that really starts to separate people.”