Tag: Matthew Galajda

Notre Dame’s Matthew Galajda earns weekly Big Ten honor again

This is getting to be a regular thing.

Notre Dame really is riding a hot goaltender in Matthew Galajda heading into the Big Ten Tournament. Last week, he was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week. He has earned that honor for the second consecutive week. Ben Meyers of Minnesota also made the conference’s weekly stars in back-to-back weeks, and rounding out the list is Justen Close, Meyers’ teammate.

Galajda, who also has two Third Stars of the Week this season, was the winning goaltender in both of the Irish’s recent wins over Michigan. Over the two games, Galajda made 59 out of a possible 61 saves, giving him a .967 save percentage to go with a 1.00 GAA. His recent strong play was a key factor in the Irish’s five-game winning streak that ended the regular season.

This season, Galajda is second in the Big Ten in both GAA (1.88) and save percentage (.932). He and fellow Irish goaltender Ryan Bischel are two of four conference netminders to have surrendered less than 40 goals this season.

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Notre Dame’s Matthew Galajda is Big Ten’s Second Star of the Week

Nice honor for the Irish goaltender.

Notre Dame goaltender Matthew Galajda made noise early in the season by being named the Big Ten’s Third Star of the Week twice. Now, he’s taken it a step further by becoming the conference’s Second Star of the Week. His honor was sandwiched between Luke Hughes of Michigan and Ben Meyers of Minnesota. This is the eighth time this season an Irish player has been named a Big Ten Star of the Week.

Galajda and the Irish completed a road sweep of Michigan State over the past weekend. In victories of 3-1 and 4-2, Galajda made 63 out of a possible 66 saves. That calculates to a .955 save percentage and a GAA of 1.50. His 73 career wins are tied for 13th all-time on the Division I men’s list.

Galajda is leading the Big Ten with a 1.99 GAA and is tied for second in save percentage at .927. If the Irish are a tough out in the conference tournament, Galajda likely will be a major reason why.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Bischel And Galajda Named To Richter Award Watch List

Notre Dame’s goaltenders have been key in the team’s success this year and were recognized nationally this week.

The following is courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics:

SOUTH BEND, Ind.  – The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced Fighting Irish goaltenders Ryan Bischel and Matthew Galajda have been named to the Watch List for the 2022 Mike Richter Award, which has been given annually to the top goalie in NCAA Division I men’s hockey since 2014.

Bischel, a junior, and Galajda, a graduate student, are two of 28 goalies who have been named to the Watch List and are the only set of teammates to make the list. They also represent two of the six Big Ten players up for the award.

Bischel has started 11 games this season, posting a 7-4-0 record to go along with a .923 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average. He posted his first career shutout in Notre Dame’s 5-0 win over Niagara, stopping all 19 shots he faced (Jan. 2). He then made a career-high 38 saves in Notre Dame’s 4-2 win at Penn State (Jan. 7).

Galajda has gone 10-3-0 in 13 starts this season while posting a .929 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average. He posted shutouts against RIT (Oct. 22) and Wisconsin (Nov. 13) to move into a tie for third in NCAA Division I men’s hockey history with 21. He posted a career high 40 saves in Notre Dame’s recent 8-2 victory over Boston College (Jan. 19).

Former Notre Dame goaltender Cale Morris was the 2018 recipient of the Mike Richter award, while Galajda, playing for Cornell, was a finalist in both 2018 and 2020.

A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts and media — will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four.

Next Up For Notre Dame

  • Notre Dame has the Big Ten bye this weekend and will then play host to 11th-ranked Minnesota on Jan. 28-29 at Compton Family Ice Arena to open the stretch run (tickets).
  • Both the Friday (7:30 p.m. ET) and Saturday (6 p.m. ET) games against the Gophers will be on Peacock.

Notre Dame’s Ryder Rolston named Big Ten Second Star of the Week

Nice honor for the sophomore.

Notre Dame is off to an 11-4 start, and one major reason for that is Ryder Rolston. The sophomore forward is second on the Irish with 16 points, and he has earned a lot of those points lately. That recent effort has been rewarded as he was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week. He was sandwiched between First Star Michael Pastujov of Michigan and Third Star Pierce Charleson of Michigan State.

During the Irish’s two meetings with Ohio State over the past weekend, Rolston had a goal and an assist in both. One of those goals was his third game-winning goal of the season. The games also brought his point streak to seven games, which is a high for his career.

Rolston is the third Irish player to be named a Big Ten Star of the Week this season, joining two Third Stars by Matthew Galajda and one First Star by Max Ellis.

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