The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is very pleased to announce the top ten candidates for the 2015 award honoring college hockey’s top player. Alphabetically, they are: Daniel Ciampini, Union, Jack Eichel, Boston University, Matt Garbowsky, RIT, Zach Hyman, Michigan, Tanner Kero, Michigan Tech, Joey LaLeggia, Denver, Zane McIntyre, North Dakota, Mike Reilly, Minnesota, Jimmy Vesey, Harvard, and Cody Wydo, Robert Morris.

The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 59 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting at www.hobeybakeraward.com. Next, the 27-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting (at www.hobeybakeraward.com from March 19-29) will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award include: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

The Hobey Hat Trick (three finalists) will be announced on April 2, 2015 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 10, 2015 from Boston, MA during the NCAA Frozen Four. The award announcement will take place at America’s oldest hockey arena, Matthews Arena (built in 1910) and once known as Boston Arena, a rink where Hobey Baker played. The announcement will be televised live on NESN and the NHL Network and can be followed on the Hobey Baker website at 5:00 p.m. ET. Following, in alphabetical order, is a look at each finalist.

Daniel Ciampini – Union College, Senior, Forward, Concord, Ontario A prolific goal scorer, Ciampini (CHAM-pee-nee) has bagged 49 goals in the past two seasons including 26 goals this year for the defending national champions. Dangerous on the power play, his nine goals with the man advantage are second best in the nation. Ciampini finished second in ECAC scoring and is currently tied for fourth nationally in points.

• Finished the season with 26 goals, 24 assists for 50 points in 39 games
• Is an Economics major – is one of 20 candidates for Senior CLASS Award
• Started a program at a local hospital allowing young patients to attend Union games

Jack Eichel – Boston University, Freshman, Forward, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts The first freshman Hobey candidate in 12 years, this 18-year old sensation leads the nation in scoring, collecting 61 points in just 34 games. Eichel (IKE-ul) was the Hockey East scoring champion, a member of the All-Rookie Team and has received numerous weekly and monthly honors along the way. His plus-minus of +42 also leads the nation.

• Has 20 goals, 41 assists for 61 points in 34 games – his 41 assists leads the nation
• Is a General Studies major – mentors a brain cancer youth and helps with Autism Speaks
• Was captain of the U.S. World Junior Team – considered a top three NHL draft pick

Matt Garbowsky – Rochester Institute of Technology, Senior, Forward, St. George, Ontario Garbowsky lit up the Atlantic Hockey Association topping the conference in points and goals and has been a part of 45% of all RIT goals this season. The Tigers team captain was a unanimous pick for the AHA First Team. An outstanding centerman, he has more face-off wins than any other player in Division I hockey. His plus-minus of +24 is tied for fifth in the nation.

• Has 26 goals, 24 assists for 50 points in 36 games – has had 11 multiple-point games
• Is tied for 4th in the nation in points and tied for 2nd in goals – Business major
• Spearheads fundraising efforts for Coaches Care, Wounded Warriors, Sled Hockey

Zach Hyman – University of Michigan, Senior, Forward, Toronto, Ontario A breakout season for the Wolverines assistant captain, as Hyman almost tripled his point total from a season ago. His consistent play earned him First Team Big Ten honors, while leading the conference in scoring. Hyman produced 49 points and ranks fourth in the nation in points per game averaging 1.44. His plus-minus of +21 is second in the conference.

• Has 19 goals, 30 assists for 49 points in 34 games – has 14 multiple-point games
• Florida draft pick (5th round) – History major with highest GPA on team
• A published author of several children’s books – promotes literacy with school visits

Tanner Kero – Michigan Tech University, Senior, Forward, Hancock, Michigan A hometown product at Tech, Kero has already landed a truckload of awards having been named the WCHA Player of the Year, Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, WCHA scoring champion and First Team all-conference. The co-captain has been instrumental in helping Tech climb back to national prominence. His plus-minus of +23 is second in the conference.

• Has 19 goals, 26 assists for 45 points in 38 games – has had 12 multiple-point games
• Is a Mathematics major (actuarial science) with 3.72 GPA – is a 3-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete
• Volunteers with Koaches Kids (reading at schools) and at several fun runs

Joey LaLeggia – University of Denver, Senior, Defense, Burnaby, British Columbia An accomplished and well-rounded overall defenseman, LaLeggia (La-LEDGE-ee-uh) has already been named First Team all-conference for the third time and is a finalist for two other NCHC awards he won last year: Defensive Player of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year, while also adding Player of the Year consideration this season.

• Has 13 goals, 25 assists for 38 points in 34 games – finished 2nd in NCHC scoring race
• Is 3rd in the nation for points by defenseman – Edmonton draft pick (5th round)
• Named first or second team all-conference all four years; was national rookie of year as freshman

Zane McIntyre – University of North Dakota, Junior, Goalie, Thief River Falls, Minnesota McIntyre has already become UNDs all-time leader in career goals against average and save percentage. He has been named First Team NCHC and is a finalist for Player of the Year honors as well as a second time finalist for Goalie of the Year. He has played in all but one game this season for North Dakota and ranks as the third busiest goalie in the nation.

• Currently has a record of 27-7-3 with one shutout – his 27 wins leads the nation
• Has a goals against average of 1.97 (9th nation) – save percentage of .932 (6th nation)
• Majoring in Psychology and pre-occupational therapy – Boston draft pick (6th round)

Mike Reilly – University of Minnesota, Junior, Defense, Chanhassen, Minnesota As the highest scoring defenseman in the nation, Reilly is a slick playmaker who has 36 assists, tied for second overall in the nation. Particularly dangerous with the man advantage, Reilly has 21 points on the power play, also tied for 2nd in the nation. For the second straight year, he was honored by the Big Ten as Defensive Player of the Year and First Team all-conference.

• Has 6 goals, 36 assists for 42 points in 36 games – leads Minnesota in scoring
• His twin brothers Connor and Ryan play for Minnesota; sister Caitlin for Ohio State
• Columbus draft pick (4th round) – Applied Economics major

Jimmy Vesey – Harvard University, Junior, Forward, North Reading, Massachusetts Harvard’s first Hobey finalist in ten years has had a huge season, winning the ECAC scoring title while piling up 53 points. He also leads the nation with 27 goals. Vesey (VEE-see) was off to the races early earning points in each of the first 20 games of the season and followed it up with the double-overtime series clinching goal in the ECAC quarter final win over Yale last Sunday.

• Has 27 goals, 26 assists for 53 points in 34 games – ranks 3rd in the nation in points
• Finalist for Walter Brown Award for third straight year as top player in New England
• Nashville draft pick (3rd round) – Government major – assists with Special Olympics

Cody Wydo – Robert Morris University, Senior, Forward, Allen Park, Michigan While helping the Colonials to their first conference championship, Wydo set several school records becoming their all-time scoring leader. Honored with First Team AHA recognition for the second straight season, he finished third in the circuit in scoring. The team captain has tallied 50 goals over the past two seasons including 19 this season.

• Has 19 goals, 22 assists for 41 points in 36 games – has two hat tricks this season
• Finance and Accounting major with 3.67 GPA – Senior CLASS Award finalist
• Three times All Academic – youth hockey volunteer coach

Hobey Notes
• Nominees by conference: AHA – 2, Big 10 – 2, ECAC – 2, NCHC – 2, Hockey East – 1, WCHA – 1,
• By class: Senior 6, Junior 3, Freshman 1
• By position: Forward 7, Defense 2, Goalie 1
• By nationality: U.S. – 6 (2 each: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota), Canada – 4 (Ontario-3, British Columbia-1)
• All ten finalists are making their first appearance as a candidate
• Minnesota and Union have finalists for the 2nd straight year; Robert Morris has a finalist for the first time; all six college hockey conferences are represented
• Hobey Baker Award Banquet will be held May 28, 2015 in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Visit www.hobeybakeraward.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheHobey
• The Hobey Baker website also has the top ten video and in-depth bios