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Hobey Baker Award

2022 Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists Announced

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With the collegiate hockey season coming to a close, the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award have been announced. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but still became NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. In 2020 the award was given to Scott Perunovich, who is dealing with some unfortunate injury issues to start his career but still looks like a future contributor to the St. Louis Blues blueline.

In 2021, Cole Caufield took home the award after leading the nation in scoring at the University of Wisconsin. Caufield made an immediate impact by helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final a few months later and, while struggling early this season, is now back to his scoring ways under new coaching.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

Earlier this year, 77 players from the NCAA ranks were nominated for the award, and ten finalists were announced earlier this month. Those ten players have been narrowed to just three, your Hat Trick Finalists.

Bobby Brink – University of Denver (Philadelphia Flyers)

The 34th overall selection in 2019, Brink has shown once again that if you give him a chance to get acclimated to a new league, he’ll dominate it. The DU junior had 14 goals and 56 points in just 39 games, blowing by his total from the first two years of his college career. Listed at just 5’9″ 166-lbs, he led the entire nation in scoring on both a total and per-game basis, and now has Denver into the Frozen Four. They’ll take on Michigan on April 7, a game that will have general managers all across the NHL waiting by their phones to call up whichever prospects are eliminated.

Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University-Mankato (undrafted)

McKay is a Hat Trick Finalist for the second year in a row, after losing the award to Caufield in 2021. His placement this year will certainly come with some raised eyebrows because of the performance that Devon Levi had, but there’s no doubt that McKay was once again one of the most valuable players in the country. Undrafted, the 24-year-old netminder put up a .934 save percentage in 41 games, winning 37 of them. If he can win a national championship, his college career will go down as one of the best of all time. McKay has gone 112-19-4 with a .932 save percentage over his four seasons and will have plenty of interest from clubs when he’s eliminated, even if he isn’t quite the prototypical NHL goaltender build.

Ben Meyers – University of Minnesota (undrafted)

Captain of the Golden Gophers, Olympian, and sixth-leading scorer in the nation, Meyers has come a long way since the undersized forward that barely got drafted into the USHL. Despite doubters at every level, he continues to improve and will now be a huge focus for NHL teams next month. In 33 games this season he had 17 goals and 41 points, while adding another four points in four Olympic games with Team USA. While he technically could return for a senior season, it’s going to be difficult to turn down the offers that come his way in a few weeks–especially if a good number of other Minnesota players decide to turn pro.

NCAA Notes: Sanderson, Kleven, Gabriele, Tsekos, UFAs

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Though a recent hand injury was an unexpected variable in the situation, there was very little doubt that Ottawa Senators top prospect Jake Sanderson would sign with the team at the conclusion of his season. After North Dakota was bounced from the NCAA Tournament by Notre Dame on Thursday – due in no small part to Sanderson’s injury absence – his signing now seems imminent. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the 2020 No. 5 overall pick is expected to sign his entry-level contract in the coming days. Sanderson may only be 19, but he has little left to gain from the college level. With 26 points in 23 games, Sanderson was not only one of the top scorers for the Fighting Hawks but one of the NCAA’s most productive defensemen. That doesn’t even speak to his top-notch defense either, which may be an even stronger part of his game than his offense. The only question facing Sanderson now is whether he will see NHL action this season, a decision that will be made by the Senators’ medical staff once his contract is signed.

Sanderson’s pair mate at North Dakota and fellow Senators prospect Tyler Kleven is reportedly facing a more difficult decision. Garrioch reports that Senators GM Pierre Dorion suggested to both Sanderson and Kleven that they turn pro after the collegiate season, but Kleven is less convinced. While the two have nearly identical resumes – two years with the USNTDP, two World Junior selections, two years at North Dakota – Kleven is a less developed prospect than Sanderson at this point. While the 6’4″ defenseman may always rely on a heavy, defense-first game, there is a case to be made for finally getting out from under Sanderson’s shadow and trying to develop more of a two-way game at North Dakota next season rather than following him to Belleville and staying in his same role. With that being said, Kleven excels at what he does well and has the size and hockey sense to jump to the pro level already.

  • Another top prospect defenseman considering signing his entry-level contract but taking a late-season injury into account is the Boston Bruins’ Mason Lohrei. The USHL’s reigning Defenseman of the Year continued his meteoric rise from being a surprise second-round pick in 2020 to starring for Ohio State this season. Lohrei was second on the Buckeyes in scoring with 29 points in 31 games, demonstrating high-level puck-moving ability, and at 6’4″ and 200 pounds already has pro size. An older freshman at 21, it would not be a shock to see Lohrei turn pro but given that he still has room to grow and would likely be slated for the AHL next season, he could also easily return to Ohio State, especially after the team so narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament berth this year. The Bruins are doing their part to help convince Lohrei to make the transition to the pros now though, adding a familiar face to their AHL lineup. The Providence Bruins have announced that fellow Ohio State defenseman and frequent pair mate of Lohrei’s, Grant Gabriele, has signed an amateur tryout and a contract for the 2022-23 season. The Bruins saw plenty of Gabriele while watching Lohrei and noticed that the senior defender had pro ambitions of his own, recording 20 points in 37 games while playing a solid two-way game. Even Lohrei returns to Ohio State next season, Providence will benefit from at least one Buckeye blue liner.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have dipped into the college free agent pool as well with an AHL contract for Zach Tsekos. The Colorado Eagles announced that they were adding the skilled center on an ATO for the remainder of the year and then a contract for 2022-23. Less a prospect and more an immediate minor league depth option, the 25-year-old Tsekos just completed a whopping six-year college career, spending two seasons with Sacred Heart and three seasons with Clarkson. Productive each and every year, Tsekos still saved his best for last with 31 points in 35 games. Tsekos has been nothing if not consistent in his NCAA career and if that translates to the pro level then he could become an NHL option down the road for Colorado.
  • The first round of NCAA Tournament games are now complete and a pair of prime undrafted free agents have already seen their seasons come to an end and are now on contract watch. UMass’ Bobby Trivigno and Michigan Tech’s Brian Halonen, both Hobey Baker Award finalists and quite possibly the two best individual efforts in college hockey this season, have both seen their teams eliminated. The senior forwards are likely already fielding contract offers and it should only be a matter of time before their first pro steps are revealed. Meanwhile, other top free agents like Minnesota’s Ben Meyers and Western Michigan’s Ethen Frank are still alive in the tournament – at least until Sunday when one will be eliminated as the two teams square off.

Top-10 Finalists Announced For 2022 Hobey Baker

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With the collegiate hockey season coming to a close, the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award have been announced. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but still became NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. In 2020 the award was given to Scott Perunovich, who is dealing with some unfortunate injury issues to start his career but still looks like a future contributor to the St. Louis Blues blueline.

In 2021, Cole Caufield took home the award after leading the nation in scoring at the University of Wisconsin. Caufield made an immediate impact by helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final a few months later and, while struggling early this season, still looks like a key building block for the future.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

Earlier this year, 77 players from the NCAA ranks were nominated for the award, and today that number has been reduced to just ten. These ten players will be narrowed to just three, a process that anyone can be a part of by participating in the fan vote. Votes will be added to the decision from a selection committee to produce three finalists, from which a winner will be crowned.

The top-10 finalists are as follows, with the NHL organization who owns their draft rights in parenthesis:

Matty Beniers, University of Michigan (Seattle Kraken)

Bobby Brink, University of Denver (Philadelphia Flyers)

Luke Hughes, University of Michigan (New Jersey Devils)

Devon Levi, Northeastern University (Buffalo Sabres)

Nathan Smith, Minnesota State University-Mankato (Winnipeg Jets)

Dryden McKay, Minnesota State University-Mankato (undrafted)

Ben Meyers, University of Minnesota (undrafted)

Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac University (undrafted)

Bobby Trivigno, University of Massachusetts-Amherst (undrafted)

Brian Halonen, Michigan Technological University (undrafted)

2022 Hobey Baker Nominees Announced

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With the collegiate hockey season more than half over, voting for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award has opened with 77 players nominated for the award. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. In 2020 the award was given to Scott Perunovich, who, after some unfortunate injury issues to start his career, has become a regular part of the St. Louis Blues blueline.

In 2021, Cole Caufield took home the award after leading the nation in scoring at the University of Wisconsin. Caufield made an immediate impact by helping the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final a few months later and, while struggling this season, looks like a key building block for the future.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

The fan vote will be added to the opinions of NCAA head coaches to come up with a 10-man finalist group on March 16, which will then have another fan vote and go through a selection committee. The nominees are as follows:

Nick Abruzzese – Harvard University
Corey Andonovski – Princeton University
Max Andreev – Cornell University
Jacob Barczewski – Canisius College
Drew Bavaro – Bentley University
Jacob Bengtsson – Lake Superior State University
Matty Beniers – University of Michigan
Trenton Bliss – Michigan Technological University
Louis Boudon – Lake Superior State University
Carson Briere – Mercyhurst University
Bobby Brink – University of Denver
Easton Brodzinski – St. Cloud State University
Nathan Burke – Bowling Green State University
Will Calverley – Rochester Institute of Technology
Declan Carlile – Merrimack College
Gabe Carriere – University of Vermont
Hank Crone – Northern Michigan University
Gustavs Davis Grigals – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Drew DeRidder – Michigan State University
Max Ellis – University of Notre Dame
Ryan Fanti – University of Minnesota Duluth
Sean Farrell – Harvard University
Domenick Fensore – Boston University
Kevin Fitzgerald – St. Cloud State University
Ethen Frank – Western Michigan University
Riese Gaber – University of North Dakota
Matthew Galajda – University of Notre Dame
Cole Guttman – University of Denver
Brian Halonen – Michigan Technological University
Jordan Harris – Northeastern University
Austin Heidemann – Mercyhurst University
Billy Jerry – Long Island University
Kent Johnson – University of Michigan
Jachym Kondelik – University of Connecticut
Matthew Kopperud – Arizona State University
Philip Lagunov – University of Vermont
Devon Levi – Northeastern University
Ture Linden – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Andrew Lucas – University of Vermont
Connor MacEachern – Pennsylvania State University
Mitchell Martan – Canisius College
Keaton Mastrodonato – Canisius College
Jack McBain – Boston College
Aidan McDonough – Northeastern University
Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University, Mankato
Marc McLaughlin – Boston College
Zach Metsa – Quinnipiac University
Ben Meyers – University of Minnesota
Joseph Nardi – Northern Michigan University
Max Newton – Merrimack College
Owen Norton – Mercyhurst University
Nick Perbix – St. Cloud State University
Yaniv Perets – Quinnipiac University
Clayton Phillips – Pennsylvania State University
Kaden Pickering – St. Lawrence University
Jackson Pierson – University of New Hampshire
Blake Pietila – Michigan Technological University
Owen Power – University of Michigan
Brady Risk – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jake Sanderson – University of North Dakota
Isaiah Saville – University of Nebraska Omaha
Carter Savoie – University of Denver
Owen Savory – University of Massachusetts Lowell
Owen Sillinger – Bemidji State University
Nathan Smith – Minnesota State University, Mankato
Jack St. Ivany – Boston College
Jaxson Stauber – Providence College
Matt Stienburg – Cornell University
Colin Theisen – Arizona State University
Bobby Trivigno – University of Massachusetts Amherst
Braeden Tuck – Sacred Heart University
Ryan Tverberg – University of Connecticut
Zach Uens – Merrimack College
Kevin Wall – Pennsylvania State University
Taylor Ward – University of Nebraska Omaha
Colton Young – Colgate University
Emil Zetterquist – St. Lawrence University

College Hockey Round-Up: 11/16/21

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College hockey in the NCAA has been growing rapidly in recent years into one of the top developmental pathways for NHL talent in the world. Yet, it is still limited by the NCAA’s amateurism rules, which in most cases do not allow any individuals with “professional” experience in their sport to participate in college athletics. In hockey, this prohibits anyone who has played in a Canadian major junior league or European pro league from taking their talents to the NCAA.

However, change could be on the horizon. The NCAA held a Constitutional Convention on Monday, during which they unveiled a working draft of a new, decentralized and deregulated set of rules for the NCAA that will put the power of structure and governance into the hands of each of the three divisions. That will mean little at first, but will almost certainly lead to sweeping changes down the line at the Division I level as they reconsider how they want to be run once separate from Division II and III, which are materially different. Could amateurism rules be one of the major alterations? It sure seems likely. The NCAA has already embraced publicity rights or “NIL” for student-athletes and the rewritten constitution stresses the importance of student-athlete welfare. Division I is also the most financially-driven segment of the NCAA and will have to address a number of fiscal decisions. Is limiting hockey athletes from Division I hockey because they received a stipend in Canada or a few game checks in Europe the best for the athletes? The game? The revenue stream? Probably not on all counts. For now, the 2021-22 season moves along unaffected, but the structure of college hockey could look much different in the not-too-distant future.

Recent Results

While many are already tired of the narrative, it continues to hold true. No. 1 Michigan is the class of the NCAA this season and heavy favorite to win the title. The rest of the top five are certainly not slouches, but they simply pale in comparison to the star-studded Wolverines, who swept rival Michigan State as well as Penn State in recent weeks. They share the best points percentage with only No. 5 Quinnipiac and have the nation’s top offense. Until further notice, no one is passing Michigan up as the top team in the NCAA.

No. 2 St. Cloud State, No. 3 Minnesota State, and No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth are certainly not slouches. The Huskies are a reigning finalist with the best scoring margin and second-best defense in the country. The Mavericks are a top-five offense, uncharacteristic for a typically conservative team, and share the top scoring margin claim with St. Cloud. Duluth has won two and appeared in three of the past four championships and just narrowly missed another appearance last year. Yet, all three programs picked up unexpected losses in recent weeks – the Mavericks’ loss to Ferris State chief among them – which has kept them in Michigan’s shadow.

It is actually No. 5 Quinnipiac that might be the most impressive team behind Michigan of late. The Bobcats top record was boosted by a 4-0 run over the past two weekends of action, while their top-ranked defense remained stout. The top five in the country is new territory for Quinnipiac, but the ECAC program may just be getting started. With a good strength of schedule to go with a leading record, a couple more statement wins could leapfrog the team into the No. 1 conversation (or at least No. 2).

No. 6 North Dakota is also on a run following a surprising loss to Penn State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game back on October 30. The Fighting Hawks bounced back with sweeps of No. 11 Denver and Miami, establishing themselves as a real threat for the title. No. 14 Notre Dame also went undefeated in its four games over the past two weeks and holds the nation’s top penalty kill. The Fighting Irish just need to beat some fellow top dogs if they want to move up.

Two teams shooting up the rankings are No. 15 UMass Lowell and No. 17 Ohio State. Both teams are taking advantage of some top teams in turmoil in their respective conferences to make a name for themselves. The Riverhawks are undefeated in their past four games, all against Hockey East competition, sweeping Boston University and adding wins against No. 18 Northeastern and No. 19 Boston College. They hold a top-five record in college hockey right now. Ohio State meanwhile has been menacing defensively with a top-five mark, helping to sweep Penn State and split with No. 7 Minnesota. Suddenly the Buckeyes are the third-highest ranked team in the Big Ten and have already shown that they can skate with the Gophers just ahead of them.

Early Hobey Favorites

It’s never too early for MVP talk and even just six weeks into the season there are already some names making cases for the Hobey Baker Award. Denver’s Carter Savoie (EDM) remains out in front with a league-leading 1.7 points per game that fuels the Pioneers’ third-ranked offense. However, there are others closing the gap in the scoring race. Taylor Ward of No. 9 Omaha is quickly becoming a top name to watch on the college free agent market. The senior forward leads the country in goals and is tied with only top-five NHL Draft selection Kent Johnson (CLB) of Michigan in points per game, behind Savoie. Fellow undrafted prospects Drew Worrad of Western Michigan and Matthew Kopperud of Arizona State are also in the scoring race, followed closely by none other than reigning No. 1 overall pick Owen Power.

Power and Johnson and not alone as Wolverines excelling statistically. Matthew Beniers (SEA) is tied for third in goal scoring. Luke Hughes (NJD) is third in scoring among defensemen, while leading the NCAA in plus/minus at +16. His defense partner, Jacob Truscott (VAN), is in second at +14. The problem of course is that the top-ranked team in the country is so stacked that it will be difficult for any one player to make a case for the Hobey Baker. A standout on a top team where NHL talent is more sparse will have a better shot, such as Savoie or Ward or Jake Sanderson (OTT) of North Dakota, who trails only Power in defensive scoring.

In net, there are several goaltenders off to strong starts, but perhaps not quite in the Hobey Baker conversation just yet. Devon Levi (BUF) is on his way though, leading the pack with a .943 save percentage and a second-place goals against average of 1.57. St. Cloud’s David Hrenak (LAK) leads that category with a 1.50 GAA to go along with a .939 SV% that comes in behind only Levi. Perhaps the two most valuable goaltenders thus far though are not even drafted prospects. Matt Murray is back in the starter’s net for UMass and keeping the Minutemen in games with his third-ranked .927 SV% and top-ten GAA. Longtime standout Dryden McKay of Minnesota State unsurprisingly holds a top-five GAA and top-ten SV% as well. Both could draw interest from NHL clubs later this spring, a nice consolation if they aren’t Hobey Baker finalists.

Trouble Brewing In Beantown

The hotbed of college hockey has grown cold with two historic programs struggling immensely this season. Sure, No. 16 Harvard and No. 18 Northeastern wish they were ranked higher, but it is No. 19 Boston College and unranked Boston University who are of real concern. Perennial favorites loaded with NHL talent, both the Eagles and Terriers are falling well short of expectations.

BC is 6-5-1 to begin the year and only their preseason rank and their (barely) winning record is keeping them ranked. The Eagles have dropped games to lowly programs like Bentley, Colorado College, and Merrimack while picking up half of their wins against the likes of Holy Cross, Vermont, and Merrimack again. Boston College has ten NHL draft picks on the roster, which ranks sixth in college hockey. It’s actually slightly low for the team and doesn’t include any first rounders, but even in an off year the Eagles should be outperforming their current record, especially considering the light schedule. Of the two, BC is more likely to turn their season around, but showed few signs of life in their last game, a convincing loss to UMass Lowell.

BU is in far worse shape. The Terriers have struggled to find sustained success for several years now, but this is a new low. The team is 4-7-1 and has long since left the national rankings. In fact, they received only three voting points in the latest poll. Boston University was swept by Northern Michigan and split series with Merrimack and Sacred Heart, which account for two of their three regulation wins on the year. With 14 NHL prospects in the program, the Terriers trail only Minnesota for the most in the NCAA. Unlike BC, the group includes two first-round picks, as well as four second-round picks, and an average draft position in the late third round. If all of those players have the seal of approval of pro clubs, it isn’t a recruiting problem for BU. Head coach Albie O’Connell’s seat was already hot entering this season; it’s on fire now. Recently hired assistant Jay Pandolfo, who left the Boston Bruins for his alma mater, could be getting the call soon.

With the growth of the college game, it is refreshing to see some other programs with top rankings and national headlines so far this season, but there will always be a draw for historic programs like BC and BU. For the good of NCAA hockey, hopefully the two Boston powerhouses and their talented rosters figure it out soon.

Montreal Canadiens Recall Cole Caufield

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April 26: It took another ten days, but the Canadiens are finally giving Caufield a shot. The team has assigned Alexander Romanov to the taxi squad in order to give them the cap space needed to recall the young sniper, who will make his NHL debut tonight against the Calgary Flames. Because several other forwards are currently dealing with injuries, Caufield is technically an emergency recall according to CapFriendly, meaning they can bring Romanov back down the line.

April 16: It’s happening, Montreal Canadiens fans. The team has officially recalled Cole Caufield from the AHL and placed him on the taxi squad. Montreal plays tomorrow evening against the Calgary Flames, where the Hobey Baker Award winner could potentially make his NHL debut. The team also recalled Cayden Primeau to the active roster under emergency conditions.

Of note, the Laval Rocket recently had several upcoming games postponed, meaning Caufield could just be up with the taxi squad to get some practice time in. After his early performance in the AHL however–the 20-year-old forward scored three goals (including two game-winners) and four points in two appearances for Laval–Canadiens fans are hoping he’s in the NHL lineup before long.

There’s been no stopping Caufield so far in his hockey career. Despite never reaching the size and strength of some other top prospects, the 5’7″ forward continues to outproduce almost everyone he comes in contact with. Caufield broke records set by people like Phil Kessel and Auston Matthews with the U.S. National Team Development Program, he was a point-per-game freshman in the NCAA and just recently led the entire nation in scoring with 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games for Wisconsin.

It seemed as though professional hockey may slow him down, but that certainly wasn’t the case in his debut for Laval. Caufield recorded five shots on goal, scored on the powerplay and at even strength, and added a helper in his professional debut, flying all over the ice with the puck. He came back with another four-shot performance on the next night, once again providing must-see action for the Rocket.

Now the next step is getting his first game with the Canadiens, who are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Flames on Wednesday. The team has scored just five goals in their last three games and could certainly use a bit of punch from their star prospect.

Top-10 Finalists Announced For 2021 Hobey Baker

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The college hockey season may have looked a little different this year, but award voting will go on anyway. Today, the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award were announced. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. Last year the award was given to Scott Perunovich, but his NHL debut has been postponed thanks to a major shoulder injury.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

Earlier this year, more than 50 players from the NCAA ranks were nominated for the award, and today that number has been reduced to just ten. These ten players will be narrowed to just three, a process that anyone can be a part of by participating in the fan vote. Votes will be added to the decision from a selection committee to produce three finalists, from which a winner will be crowned.

The top-10 finalists are as follows, with the NHL organization who owns their draft rights in parenthesis:

Shane Pinto, University of North Dakota (Ottawa Senators)

Matthew Boldy, Boston College (Minnesota Wild)

David Farrance, Boston University (Nashville Predators)

Cole Caufield, University of Wisconsin (Montreal Canadiens)

Dylan Holloway, University of Wisconsin (Edmonton Oilers)

Spencer Knight, Boston College (Florida Panthers)

Jack LaFontaine, University of Minnesota (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dryden McKay, Minnesota State University-Mankato (undrafted)

Keith Petruzzelli, Quinnipiac University (Detroit Red Wings)

Odeen Tufto, Quinnipiac University (undrafted)

The three Hattrick Finalists will be named on April 1, though Caufield is expected to run away with the award. The 20-year-old sniper had quite the season, leading the nation in scoring with 28 goals and 49 points in just 30 games.

2021 Hobey Baker Nominees Announced

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With the collegiate hockey season (such as it is this year) entering the home stretch, voting for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award has opened with 50 players nominated for the award. The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2014, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning from 2016-18.

2019’s winner was University of Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie and is now dominating the league with the Colorado Avalanche. Last year the award was given to Scott Perunovich, but his chance to debut late in the season with the St. Louis Blues was taken away. Perunovich currently sits on the Blues’ taxi squad but could find his way into the lineup soon enough.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller, and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

The fan vote will be added to the opinions of NCAA head coaches to come up with a 10-man finalist group, which will then have another fan vote and go through a selection committee. The nominees are as follows:

Owen Power – University of Michigan
Grant Cruikshank – Colorado College
Alex Limoges – Pennsylvania State University
Ronnie Attard – Western Michigan University
Alex Jefferies – Merrimack College
Jordan Harris – Northeastern University
Tyce Thompson – Providence College
Joseph Nardi – Northern Michigan University
Nick Swaney – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Noah Cates – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Marcel Godbout – Sacred Heart University
Ethen Frank – Western Michigan University
Keaton Mastrodonato – Canisius College
Shane Pinto – University of North Dakota
Brennan Kapcheck – American International College
Nick Perbix – St. Cloud State University
Declan Carlile – Merrimack College
Jakov Novak – Bentley University
Cam York – University of Michigan
Jordan Kawaguchi – University of North Dakota
Alex Steeves – University of Notre Dame
Jack LaFontaine – University of Minnesota
Mareks Mitens – Lake Superior State University
Jonny Evans – University of Connecticut
David Farrance – Boston University
Tyrone Bronte – University of Alabama-Huntsville
Taylor Ward – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Josiah Slavin – Colorado College
Kent Johnson – University of Michigan
Eduards Tralmaks – University of Maine
Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Keith Petruzzelli – Quinnipiac University
Lukas Kaelble – Lake Superior State University
Odeen Tufto – Quinnipiac University
Ryan Steele – Sacred Heart University
Matt Kiersted – University of North Dakota
Adam Dawe – University of Maine
Veeti Miettinen – St. Cloud State University
Nathan Smith – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Braeden Tuck – Sacred Heart University
Chayse Primeau – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Cade Borchardt – Minnesota State University-Mankato
Alex Young – Colgate University
Zach Solow – Northeastern University
Spencer Knight – Boston College
Cole Koepke – University of Minnesota-Duluth
Logan Hutsko – Boston College
Matt Boldy – Boston College
Ashton Calder – Lake Superior State University
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup – University of Maine

UPDATE Feb 2: There are some notable omissions from the group, including Wisconsin Badgers forward and Montreal Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield, who currently leads the nation in scoring. Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal tweets that Caufield is expected to be added after “an email got lost in the shuffle,” though he still does not appear on the fan vote page.

Scott Perunovich Named 2020 Hobey Baker Award Winner

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Late on Saturday night, the NCAA announced (Twitter link) the winner of the 2020 Hobey Baker Award for the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player.  Blues prospect Scott Perunovich took home the prize, beating out Bruins prospect Jeremy Swayman and undrafted free agent Jordan Kawaguchi.

Perunovich becomes the sixth player from Minnesota-Duluth to win the award which is a record among NCAA teams.  The 21-year-old was named the NCHC’s top offensive defenseman for the third straight season after recording six goals and 34 assists in 34 games this season for the Bulldogs.

It has been an interesting journey for Perunovich when it comes to his NHL path.  Initially undrafted in his first two years of eligibility, he was vaulted onto the radar after his first college year which convinced St. Louis to pick him in the second round (45th overall) back in 2018.  Since then, his stock has only risen and he now stands as one of their top prospects.

Last month, Perunovich agreed to terms with the Blues on two separate entry-level deals, foregoing his senior season in the process.  Which contract ultimately gets signed will depend on what happens to the current season which is on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  If play resumes, Perunovich will burn the first year of his deal this season and will be eligible to play for St. Louis in the playoffs if they want to use him.  If not, the contract will begin in 2020-21.

2020 Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists Announced

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The second round of voting has closed, and the Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists have been announced. 78 players were nominated for the award this year, and a fan vote was added to the opinions of NCAA head coaches to determine the final ten names, which has now been reduced to just three.

The trophy is given to the top NCAA player in the country and has an impressive line of winners over the past few years. In 2013-14, Johnny Gaudreau took home the award as a junior for Boston College, followed by Jack Eichel in his only year for Boston University in 2015-16. Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher and Adam Gaudette don’t bring quite the same impact but are still NHL regulars after winning between 2016-18.

Last year’s winner was UMass defenseman Cale Makar, who has gone on to be one of the most impressive rookies in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche. Makar leaves big shoes to fill by this year’s finalists.

The award also has several top NHL alumni in its small fraternity, including Neal Broten, Tom Kurvers, Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Ryan Miller and Brendan Morrison. With that group behind them, this year’s winner is certainly not someone to take lightly.

The finalists are as follows:

Jordan Kawaguchi – University of North Dakota (undrafted)

Kawaguchi, 22, was a phenomenal offensive player for UND this season, recording 45 points in 33 games. That total put him second in the country behind only Jack Dugan of Providence College—who is noticeably absent from this group—and ahead of some of the more experienced senior forwards around the NCAA. Undrafted out of the BCHL despite some eye-popping offensive numbers, the 5’9″ forward will be returning for a fourth year at North Dakota before starting his professional career.

Scott Perunovich – University of Minnesota-Duluth (agreed to terms, St. Louis Blues)

Perunovich, 21, ended the season with the second-most points among any defenseman in the country, scoring 40 in just 34 games. Through three seasons at UMD Perunovich has absolutely dominated the college landscape, driving play every time he touches the ice. He has already decided to leave before his senior season, agreeing to two different contracts with the Blues–one that starts if the 2019-20 season ever resumes, and one that will start in 2020-21.

Jeremy Swayman – University of Maine (signed, Boston Bruins)

Swayman, 21, is perhaps the surprising finalist only because as a goaltender he doesn’t get the opportunity to compare offensive numbers to the other candidates. Well, perhaps we should be looking a little closer at his jaw-dropping numbers in net after he posted a .939 save percentage in 34 starts for Maine. Swayman has been an excellent goaltender since entering the program in 2017, but after dropping his goals-against average to just 2.07 this season he has taken a huge step forward. Even as a fourth-round pick, he will enter the Bruins’ system as one of the most interesting goaltending prospects to keep an eye on.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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