Blake Pietila named CCHA Player of the Year
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech goaltender Blake Pietila has been named the CCHA Player of the Year the league announced on Thursday. Pietila was a unanimous choice by the CCHA coaches as an All-CCHA First Team pick and was also honored as the CCHA Goaltender of the Year. He is Tech's first conference player of the year as a goaltender and the fifth overall.
Pietila, a native of Howell, Michigan, broke Michigan Tech records for shutouts in a season (10) and career (20) while becoming the all-time wins leader with 58—a record he shares with Bruce Horsch. Pietila leads the nation in shutouts while ranking second nationally with 23 wins, third in save percentage (.929), and fifth in goals-against average (1.99).
Pietila has appeared in 36 games for the Huskies going 23-10-3 overall. He is a top three finalist for the Mike Richter Award and Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist. Pietila was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Month for October, January, and February, the CCHA Goaltender of the Week seven times, and the Most Valuable Player of the Desert Hockey Classic.
Pietila played in 24 CCHA games this season, going 14-7-3 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. He led the league in wins, save percentage, and shutouts (6), while finishing second in goals-against average and minutes played (1425:48). Ranking third in total saves (625), he allowed two or fewer goals in 16 conference games.
Voting for the 2022-23 All-CCHA Teams and CCHA Players/Coach of the Year awards were conducted by the eight head coaches at each CCHA member institution, based on CCHA conference games only. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or themselves.
Michigan Tech Conference Player of the Year
1970-71—Rob Murray
1975-76—Mike Zuke
2014-15—Tanner Kero
2015-16—Alex Petan
2022-23—Blake Pietila