St. Paul, Minn. – U.S. men’s college hockey is quickly heading toward playoff time and the same can be said about the fan balloting for the Hobey Baker Award.

Awarded annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey will be awarded for the 30th time this year during the Frozen Four in Detroit, Mich.  The first phase of the Hobey Baker highly popular fan-voting phase concludes March 7, 2010. 

Although he never had an opportunity to represent his country at the Winter Olympics, Hobey Baker’s presence will be felt at the 2010 games starting next week in Vancouver.  This comes 100 years after Hobey Baker started for Princeton University.  The trophy that now bears his name is awarded annually to college hockey’s top player.

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.