St. Paul, Minn. — The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee is pleased to announce the top ten candidates for the 2022 award honoring college hockey’s top player. Alphabetically, they are: Matty Beniers, University of Michigan; Bobby Brink, University of Denver; Brian Halonen, Michigan Tech University; Luke Hughes, University of Michigan; Devon Levi, Northeastern University; Dryden McKay, Minnesota State University; Ben Meyers, University of Minnesota; Yaniv Perets, Quinnipiac University; Nathan Smith, Minnesota State University; and Bobby Trivigno, University of Massachusetts.

The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 59 Division I college hockey head coaches plus online fan balloting. Next, the 30-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey website hobeybaker.com March 17-27 will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award are: 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 March 31, 2022 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 8, 2022. The announcement will be televised live on the NHL Network and streamed on the Hobey Baker website at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Following, in alphabetical order, is a look at each finalist.

Matty Beniers – University of Michigan – Sophomore, Forward, Hingham, Massachusetts

When he arrived in Ann Arbor as a highly touted freshman, he scored two goals in his first college hockey game and hasn’t stopped. Gifted offensively with a sniper-like shot, Beniers has followed that inaugural season with a 40-point performance and laid claim to the Big Ten scoring title, First Team all-conference honors and is a finalist for Player of the year.

  • Currently has 19 goals, 21 assists for 40 points in 33 games – had 14 multiple point games
  • First draft pick in history by Seattle Kraken (1st round, 2nd overall in 2021)
  • Played for Team USA at Beijing Olympics – his 10 power play goals is 4th in nation

Bobby Brink – University of Denver – Junior, Forward, Minnetonka, Minnesota

A creative offensive player with elite hockey sense, Brink leads the nation in several categories: most points, most assists and he is the only player in the nation averaging one and half points per game. His breakout season earned him the NCHC scoring title and First Team accolades, while being a finalist for Player of the Year and Forward of the Year in the nine-year old conference.

  • Currently has 14 goals, 41 assists for 55 points in 36 games – his +25 is 15th in nation
  • Has recorded points in 26 of the last 28 games – has 16 multiple point games
  • Philadelphia draft (2nd round, 2019) – Business Administration major, 3.56 GPA

 

Brian Halonen – Michigan Tech University – Senior, Forward, Delano, Minnesota

Known as a power forward with a shoot first mentality, Halonen made history by becoming the first player to lead the newly formed CCHA conference in points (36) and goals (16) in conference play, earning him First Team all-conference recognition. His 132 shots on goal ranks eighth in the nation while his 18 even strength goals are the most in the country.

  • Currently has 21 goals, 23 assists for 44 points in 36 games – had 11-game point streak
  • Mechanical Engineering major – has 10 siblings
  • Was a high school teammate with fellow Hobey top ten finalist Ben Meyers

Luke Hughes – University of Michigan – Freshman, Defense, Canton, Michigan

It’s been an incredible year for the first-year defenseman, beginning with Hughes becoming the third brother of his family to be a first-round NHL draft pick. He followed that up as the highest scoring defenseman in the nation, collecting 36 points in 37 games. The Big Ten honored him as co-Freshman of the Year, All Rookie Team and Second Team Big Ten.

  • Currently has 17 goals, 19 assists for 36 points in 37 games – has 8 goals in last 10 games
  • New Jersey draft (1st round, 4th overall, 2021) – brother Quinn (1st overall, Vancouver, 2019, Univ. of Michigan); brother Jack (7th overall, New Jersey, 2018, USNTDP)
  • Skated for USA in 2022 World Junior Championships

Devon Levi – Northeastern University – Sophomore, Goalie, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

Not many goalies can make this claim: Levi began his college career with two shutouts in his first two starts. After being sidelined as a freshman due to injury, his debut was just the beginning of a fabulous season. The Huskies went on to claim their first ever Hockey East regular season title as Levi hauled in a truckload of awards including: Goalie of the Year, Rookie of the Year, First Team Hockey East, All Rookie Team and was a finalist for Player of the Year.

  • Current record is: 21-8-1 – goals against average 1.47 (3rd in nation) – saves percentage .954 (1st in nation) – has recorded 10 shutouts (2nd in nation) – Computer Science major
  • Allowed 2 or less goals in 24 of 30 games played; had streak of 14 games of 2 or less
  • Florida draft (7th round, 2020), rights traded to Buffalo – made Canada Olympic roster

Dryden McKay – Minnesota State University – Senior, Goalie, Downers Grove, Illinois

For the third straight year, McKay is a top ten Hobey Baker finalist. His Mavericks just won a regular season conference title for the fifth straight year, an NCAA record. McKay set an NCAA record with 33 career shutouts, besting 2001 Hobey Baker winner Ryan Miller’s mark. McKay is also a three-time finalist for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie.

  • Current record is: 34-4-0 – goals against average 1.28 (2nd in nation) – saves percentage .933 (tied 4th in nation) – has recorded 9 shutouts (3rd in nation)
  • Played in all but 10 games in his Minnesota State career (129 of 139)
  • Allowed 2 or less goals in 32 of 38 games played – Finance major with 3.83 GPA

Ben Meyers – University of Minnesota – Junior, Forward, Delano, Minnesota

A dynamic, 200-foot player, Meyers co-captained the Golden Gophers to a regular season Big Ten title, finishing second in conference scoring with 36 points in 30 games. His sensational season earned him Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team all-conference honors. Meyers played for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics finishing second in team scoring. In his four games since his return to the Gophers lineup, he has tallied five goals and five assists.

  • Currently has 16 goals, 20 assists for 36 points in 30 games – is 58.4% on faceoffs
  • High school teammate with fellow Hobey top ten finalist Brian Halonen
  • Has 11 multiple point games – is 8th all-time in Minnesota high school history scoring

Yaniv Perets – Quinnipiac University – Sophomore, Goalie, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

Producing the best statistical goaltending record in the storied history of the ECAC, Perets established league records for goals against average, saves percentage and shutouts. He had an amazing 0.89 goals against average helping the Bobcats to the regular season crown. Plenty of awards followed as ECAC Player of the Year, Goalie of the Year and First Team all-conference.

  • Current record is: 20-4-2 – goals against average 0.89 (1st in nation) – saves percentage .952 (2nd in nation) – 11 shutouts (1st in nation)
  • Set ECAC conference record going 369 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal
  • Business major with 4.0 GPA – allowed 2 or less goals in 24 of 26 starts

Nathan Smith – Minnesota State University – Junior, Forward, Hudson, Florida

A skilled, elite playmaking forward, Smith is tied for second in the nation in scoring with teammate Julian Napravnik with 48 points each. Smith has picked up points in 28 of 33 games this season and has had scoring streaks of 10 and 11 games. A First Team all-CCHA selection, he represented the U.S. at the recent Beijing Olympics.

  • Currently has 18 goals, 30 assists for 48 points in 33 games – is 57.7% on faceoffs
  • Is tied for 4th in the nation with 30 assists – Management major
  • Winnipeg draft (3rd round, 2018) – named to 2021 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team

Bobby Trivigno – University of Massachusetts – Senior, Forward, Setauket, New York

Trivigno’s tenacious and dynamic play allows him ice time in all situations. After helping UMass to its first ever national title last year, he has followed that up with 45 points in 34 games to rank fifth in the nation in scoring. Having won the Hockey East scoring title, he was named the circuit’s Player of the Year and First Team all-conference.

  • Currently has 18 goals, 27 assists for 45 points in 34 games – 13 multiple point games
  • Team captain and Most Outstanding Player at 2021 Frozen Four
  • Sport Management major – participates in numerous off-ice and community projects

Hobey Notes

  • Nominees by conference: Big Ten 3, CCHA 3, Hockey East 2, ECAC 1, NCHC 1,
  • By class: Senior 3, Junior 3, Sophomore 2, Freshman 2
  • By position: Forward 6, Defense 1, Goalie 3
  • By nationality: U.S. – 8 (three candidates: Minnesota; one each: Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Massachusetts and New York)   Canada – 2 (Quebec)
  • Repeat finalist is Dryden McKay for third straight year
  • Minnesota and Quinnipiac have finalists for the second straight season, Minnesota State for third straight season
  • Five of the ten finalists are NHL draft picks with two in the first round (Beniers, Hughes)
  • Three finalists competed in 2022 Beijing Olympics: Beniers & Meyers, USA; Levi, Canada
  • Hobey Baker Award Banquet will be held August 11 in Lake Elmo, Minn.
  • Visit hobeybaker.com or on Facebook at: facebook.com/TheHobey
  • The Hobey Baker website also has the top ten video and in-depth bios

The Hobey Baker Top Ten video is available in a High Definition format at www.hobeybaker.com/media   Total running time is 6:20.

The 2022 Hobey Baker Award winner will be honored along with this year’s Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey, Gino Gasparini, at the annual banquet and golf outing to be held August 11 in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. For more information visit the Hobey website at: www.hobeybaker.com.

Upcoming Hobey Baker Media releases are as follows:

  • Hat Trick of three Finalists – Thu., March 31 at 11 a.m. CT
  • Winner – Fri., April 8 at 6:00 p.m. ET – Live TV on NHL Network; streamed at hobeybaker.com