UND Athletics
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota freshman goaltender Jan Špunar was named NCHC Goaltender of the Year on Thursday afternoon, as announced by the league office.
Špunar becomes the third UND netminder to win the honor, as he joins Adam Scheel (2020-21) and Zane McIntyre (2014-15). The Olomouc, Czechia, native also is the first freshman in league history to glove the league’s top goaltender award.
In 17 conference games this year, Špunar posted a 12-3-1 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. He ranked second in goals-against in NCHC action and fourth in save percentage. The freshman was the only NCHC goalie with two shutouts in conference play this season.
Špunar finished the regular season with an overall record of 16-3-1 in 21 starts, finishing the regular season with only one regulation loss. He led the NCHC among qualifying goaltenders (33 percent of a team’s minutes) and ranked fourth nationally with a 1.93 GAA at the end of the regular season. The Czech also led all NCHC goalies with both a .917 save percentage and four shutouts during the regular season.
Špunar was tabbed First-Team All-NCHC on Tuesday and to the NCHC All-Rookie Team a day earlier, while he’s also a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year, which will be announced next Tuesday. He picked up one nod as NCHC Rookie of the Week during the year and was chosen NCHC Rookie of the Month for December. Špunar is also the lone netminder from the NCHC named a 2026 Mike Richter Award Semifinalist.
His 1.93 goals against average would be the best by a UND freshman in program history while his .915 save percentage currently sits third and his 18 wins are fourth among NoDak rookies.
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