Princeton, N.J. — Minnesota State freshman netminder Dryden McKay has been named College Hockey News' 2018-19 Rookie of the Year.

McKay is 24-6-2 with a 1.66 goals against average and .931 save percentage. The goals against average is best in the country among freshman, and second-best overall, behind only Quinnipiac junior Andrew Shortridge. The save percentage is tied for fifth nationally, though the only goalie ahead of him with more minutes played is Northeastern's Cayden Primeau.

Named a top ten semi-finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in the nation this year, McKay has averaged allowing just one goal per game over his last 11 outings, which includes five WCHA playoff games.  A five-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week this year, McKay was named the HC Goaltender of the Month for February and also garnered WCHA Goaltending Champion honors after turning in the league's best goals against average for the year (1.36 GAA in 22 GP).

Minnesota State (32-7-2), which captured the 2018-19 WCHA regular-season title and the WCHA postseason tournament title this year, is headed to the NCAA East Regional this weekend, where it will play a first-round game against Providence Saturday.

McKay, a 5-foot-11 native of Downers Grove, Ill., is the third goalie to win CHN's Rookie of the Year honor, following Jon Gillies (2013) and Richard Bachman (2008).

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