Badgers' McClellan Wins HCA Goaltender Award

Kyle McClellan won a monthly goaltender award after he went undefeated in goal in December.

Before the Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team took on Notre Dame on Friday, the Hockey Commissioners Association announced that Badgers goaltender Kyle McClellan was named the National Goaltender of the Month for December.

In December the Badgers went a perfect 6-0 with McClellan in goal for five of them. He went 5-0-0 with a 0.80 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage. Three of those results were shutouts.

McClellan was back in goal on Friday against the Irish, a game that ended with the Badgers beating the Irish, 2-1, in a resumption of Big Ten action for both teams. McClellan had 33 saves and was named the game’s first star.

He worked three of the Badgers’ four Big Ten wins in December, as he saved 29 shots against Ohio State on Dec. 1 in a 3-0 victory and 21 saves in a 6-1 win over the Buckeyes the following day.

He was back between the pipes for the Badgers’ 6-3 win over Penn State on Dec. 8, a game the Badgers won, 6-3.

Finally, McClellan was in the goal for both games in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off where the Badgers faced Air Force and Northeastern in Milwaukee. The Badgers won both games by 3-0 shutouts and McClellan saved 55 shots. He was named the most outstanding goaltender of that tournament.

He was also named a Big Ten First Star of the week and a Big Ten Third Star of the week in December.

McClellan is one of the top goaltenders in the country. Entering the Notre Dame series he had 14 wins, a 1.62 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage and five shutouts, all of which lead the nation.

The Badgers wrap up their two-game series with the Irish on Saturday at 4 p.m.. The game will be streamed on Peacock.