Red Wings Prospect Report: Augustine up For Honors; Sandin Pellikka Off Schneid

The honors just keep on coming for Detroit Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine. The Michigan State Spartans freshman netminder is among 10 semifinalists earning nomination for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Division I hockey.

Michigan State has set program records for conference wins (15) and points (48) and the first-year goaltender is a big reason for those developments. Augustine, 19, the youngest netminder in the NCAA, ranks in a tie for fourth in shutouts (3) and fifth in victories (19). He’s sixth in winning percentage (.714). Augustine’s 899 saves rates fifth among NCAA goaltenders, while his 1706:20 minutes played in the MSU goal crease is 14th nationally.

Congrats to our freshman netminder Trey Augustine, one of the semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/nFcYYHkSAN

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 14, 2024

“It’s definitely been a challenge adapting to the pace of play up there but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of getting used to it now and feel like I’m getting more comfortable game by game,” Augustine said.

The 41st player chosen in the 2023 NHL entry draft when the Red Wings were calling his name, Augustine won a world junior gold medal with the USA earlier this year. He wound up leading the tournament in both goals against average (1.75) and save percentage (.936). Augustine was a perfect 4-0 – including wins in the semifinal vs. Finland and the final vs. host nation Sweden. He was playing in his second world juniors, winning silver in 2023.

Big Star In Big Ten

Augustine was also earning recognition last week as the Big Ten second star. Backstopping MSU to a pair of wins over rival Michigan, the netminder from South Lyon, Mich. would stop 66 of 69 shots he faced.

The Richter Award list will be further trimmed down to three finalists in early March. The winner will be announced at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. on April 12.

Sandin Pellikka Lights The Lamp

Red Wings draftee Axel Sandin Pellikka, 18, is the hottest shooter among teenage defensemen in the SHL. Still, it had been awhile since he was illimunating a red lamp.

…and Pellikka is back as a goalscorer!

10th goal of the season🚨🔥

(that's one goal behind the all-time U19D record from 1978-79)#LGRW pic.twitter.com/rh4gfGLpPk

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) February 22, 2024

During a 5-3 victory over MoDo, the player Detroit chose 17th overall in the 2023 draft would tally a goal and two assists. It was Sandin Pellikka’s 1oth goal of the SHL season, but his first since Dec. 7.

Red Wings Pick Gibson Is Rolling

It’s been a productive second half of Feburary for Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Andrew Gibson. Over his past five games the player Detroit tabbed with the 42nd selection of the 2023 draft is good for four goals and seven points.

The 6-foot-4, 206-pound rearguard has nine multi-point games this season. They include four three-point games and a four-point outing. He’s showing 11-29-40 totals from 56 games. Gibson, who turned 19 on Feb. 13, is sitting with a plus-36 rating, tying him for fifth in the OHL.