As college hockey powers Boston University and Boston College prepare to play outdoors at a sold-out Fenway Park, it’s time for college hockey fans everywhere to help determine the 2010 winner of the Hobey Baker Award.

Awarded annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey Baker’s highly popular fan-voting phase opens on Friday, Jan. 8, by visiting the Hobey Baker website: hobeybaker.com.  Click on the Vote for Hobey Baker icon and follow the prompts to make your selection from this year’s outstanding crop of college hockey players.

This first phase of fan balloting will run now through March 7, 2010. 

Hobey Baker is coming to Massachusetts.  Oh, but he’s no stranger to New England.  As a hockey player back in the 1900s, Baker got his start at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire before going on to Princeton University and the St. Nick’s Athletic Club.  Baker dazzled crowds everywhere with his grace and unparalleled skills.  Now, the trophy bearing his name honors the nation’s top collegiate hockey player and has been awarded several times over the years to players in the region.

Thanks to the generous support of Warrior Hockey, the original Hobey Baker trophy will be on display at The Sports Museum located on Levels 5 and 6 of the TD Garden in Boston, Mass.  Opening in late January 2010, the exhibit featuring the trophy as its centerpiece will celebrate the legacy of Hobey Baker and the legendary college players from New England who have won the award.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award, presented by Mazamba, announced today the 2009 recipient of college hockey’s top individual prize is Matt Gilroy from Boston University.  The announcement came during the NCAA Frozen Four championship at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., as part of Friday at the Frozen Four festivities.   Video link courtesy of ESPN.

In order to give college hockey fans a better sense of events leading up to the presentation of the Hobey Baker Award, a committee member is writing a running blog from our nation’s capital during the Frozen Four weekend.

Miller became the first Hobey-winning goalie to start in an NHL All-Star Game earlier this year.