St. Paul, Minn. — The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee is very pleased to announce the top ten candidates for the 2019 award honoring college hockey’s top player. Alphabetically, they are: Joe Duszak, Mercyhurst; Adam Fox, Harvard; Taro Hirose, Michigan State; Quinn Hughes, Michigan; Mason Jobst, Ohio State; Cale Makar, Massachusetts; Patrick Newell, St. Cloud State; Chase Priskie, Quinnipiac; Jimmy Schuldt, St. Cloud State; and Nico Sturm, Clarkson.
The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches plus online fan balloting. Next, the 29-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey website hobeybaker.comMarch 21-31 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 4, 2019 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 12, 2019 from Buffalo, NY during the NCAA Frozen Four. The award announcement will take place at HarborCenter. 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.
Joe Duszak – Mercyhurst University– Junior, Defense, Franklin Square, New York
A slick, puck-moving defenseman, Duszak (Dew-zack) had a banner season leading the Atlantic Hockey Conference in scoring. His point production has placed him third overall in the national scoring charts, is tied for third overall in the nation in assists and he leads all blue-liners in points. Duszak was named First Team all-conference after second team honors last year.
· Completed his season with 16 goals, 31 assists for 47 points in 37 games
· Signed a pro contract as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs
· Business Management major – active in HeartWalk and Habitat for Humanity
Adam Fox – Harvard University– Junior, Defense, Jericho, New York
Claiming First Team All-American honors in his first two college seasons, Fox continues to shine for the Crimson. He leads all skaters in the nation in assists (37) and points per game (1.48) while currently sitting tied for fourth in the nation in scoring. Dangerous on the man advantage, he is fourth in the nation in power play points becoming the focal point on Harvard’s top ranked power play. Named Ivy League Player of the Year and First Team ECAC, he’s also a finalist for ECAC Player of the Year.
· Has 9 goals, 37 assists for 46 points in 31 games – has 23 power play points
· Calgary draft (3rdround), rights traded to Carolina (2018) – tops Harvard at +24
· Psychology major – participates in community initiatives assisting children with cancer
Taro Hirose – Michigan State University– Junior, Forward, Calgary, Alberta
As a key cog on the Spartans’ famed KHL line, Taro Hirose (Tar-oh Her-O-see) soared to the top of the national scoring charts in early January and remained there for the rest of his season. A highly skilled passer and skater, the assistant captain claimed the Big Ten conference scoring title, was named First Team all-conference, and culminated with Player of the Year honors.
· Completed his season with 15 goals, 35 assists for 50 points in 36 games
· Signed a pro contract as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
· Finance major – participated in several community outreach programs
Quinn Hughes – University of Michigan– Sophomore, Defense, Orlando, Florida
One of the premier puck moving defensemen in the nation, Hughes’ dashing style made him a constant scoring threat. Leading Michigan in scoring, the speedy defenseman is fifth in the nation in assists by a defenseman. He was named Big Ten First Team all-conference, Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for Player of the Year.
· Completed his season with 5 goals, 28 assists for 33 points in 32 games
· Vancouver draft (7thoverall), signed a pro contract with Vancouver after the season
· Sport Management major – volunteers with visits to Mott Children’s Hospital, participates in Mock Rock charity fundraiser and works with ALS Awareness
Mason Jobst – Ohio State University– Senior, Forward, Speedway, Indiana
Known as a hard-working, 200-foot player, Jobst (yahbst) is the active leading career scorer in the NCAA with 164 points in 149 career games. The two-time team captain topped the Buckeyes in scoring, helping them secure their first Big Ten regular season title. Jobst has been an all-conference player three straight seasons including First Team this year. He was a finalist for Big Ten Player of the Year and has become the conferences’ all-time leading scorer.
· Has 17 goals, 19 assists for 36 points in 35 games – chipped in with 8 power play goals
· Real Estate major and has already flipped several houses
· Has contributed volunteer time with Teddy Bear Toss and First Responders activities
Cale Makar – University of Massachusetts– Sophomore, Defense, Calgary, Alberta
An elite skating, offensive-minded defenseman, Cale Makar (mah-Car) has become the first defenseman to lead Hockey East in scoring since 1999. Along the way, the assistant captain of the Minutemen helped UMass to their first regular season title. His scoring exploits have him fourth in the nation in points and he was a unanimous First Team Hockey East selection.
· Has 15 goals, 31 assists for 46 points in 36 games – second nationally in points per game by a defenseman (1.28) – his plus-minus of +30 is third in the nation
· Colorado draft (4thoverall) – won gold medal at 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships
· Sport Management major – has been active in a variety of UMass community events
Patrick Newell – St. Cloud State University– Senior, Forward, Thousand Oaks, California
For the majority of the new year, St Cloud State has been ranked number one. Leading the way is the NCHC scoring champion, Patrick Newell. He was named First Team all-conference while being a finalist for Forward of the Year. Newell logs plenty of icetime on special teams and has tallied six game winning goals for third in the nation.
· Has 19 goals, 24 assists for 43 points in 36 games – plus-minus of +32 leads the nation
· Economics major – four-time NCHC All Academic
· Volunteers with new student move-ins and Skate with the Huskies
Chase Priskie – Quinnipiac University– Senior, Defense, Pembroke Pines, Florida
A career season has led to Priskie becoming the active career leader amongst NCAA defensemen in goals and points (39 goals, 116 points). His 17 goals on the season tops all defensemen in the country. He is tied for first in the nation with 10 power play tallies and tied for fourth with 23 power play points. Priskie was named to the ECAC First Team and was a finalist for Best Defensive Defenseman.
· Has 17 goals, 22 assists for 39 points in 34 games – excels as power play quarterback
· Washington draft (6thround) – two-time team captain at Quinnipiac
· Business major – active in youth hockey practices and visiting local schools
Jimmy Schuldt – St. Cloud State University– Senior, Defense, Minnetonka, Minnesota
The only repeat Hobey top ten finalist, Schuldt (Shult) is a complete package with excellent skills at both ends of the rink. The three-time team captain helped St. Cloud to the NCHC regular season title and led all defensemen in the conference scoring. Already named First Team all-conference in the NCHC, he is a finalist for four more league awards including Player of the Year.
· Has 10 goals, 23 assists for 33 points in 36 games – never missed a game, 153 straight
· Finance major – four-time NCHC Scholar-Athlete Award winner
· Active in the community with Special Olympics; coaches Dynomites inner city hockey
Nico Sturm – Clarkson University– Junior, Forward, Augsburg, Germany
It has been a banner couple of seasons for Sturm both on and off the ice. Presently tenth in the nation in scoring with 43 points in 38 games, Sturm is one of the elite faceoff artists in the country cracking the top 20 two straight years. For the second straight season, he has been named ECAC Best Defensive Forward as well as earning First Team all-conference honors.
· Has 14 goals, 29 assists for 43 points in 36 games – ECAC finalist for Player of the Year
· Business Financial Information Analysis major – 3.94 GPA
· Active in several outreach programs such as Hockey Fights Cancer and Headway Found.
Hobey Notes
- Nominees by conference: Big Ten 3, ECAC 3, NCHC 2, HE 1, AHC 1
- By class: Senior 4, Junior 4, Sophomore 2
- By position: Forward 4, Defense 6 (Hobey Baker Award record)
- By nationality: U.S. – 7 (two each: Florida, New York, one each: California, Indiana, Minnesota) Canada – 2 (Alberta) Germany – 1
- One repeat finalist from 2018 (Jimmy Schuldt)
- Harvard has a finalist for the fifth straight season and St. Cloud State has a finalist for the second straight year
- Hobey Baker Award Banquet will be held May 22, 2019 in St. Paul, Minn.
- Visit hobeybaker.comor on Facebook at: facebook.com/TheHobey
- The Hobey Baker website also has the top ten video and in-depth bios
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The Hobey Baker Top Ten videois available in a High Definition format at www.hobeybaker.com/media
Also available on the website is an audio version that runs 6:46 total and includes an intro on Hobey Baker or you can use the top ten only segment which runs 5:46 in length.
Upcoming Hobey Baker Media Releases are as follows:
· Hat Trick of three Finalists – Thu., April 4 at 11 a.m. CT
· Winner – Fri., April 12 at 6:00 p.m. ET from HarborCenter in Buffalo, NY – Live TV on NHL Network; streamed at www.hobeybaker.com
