Countdown to Hobey:
North DakotaYear: 2007See School Profile Page

While it is uncommon for a sophomore to be nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, it is even more unusual to win the prize. North Dakota forward Ryan Duncan became only the third sophomore player in the award’s history to be recognized as college hockey’s top performer. The high-scoring forward from Calgary, Alberta, helped the Fighting Sioux to their third straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance. In 43 games, the diminutive Duncan (5’8 and 155 pounds) scored 31 goals, second best in the nation, and had 26 assists for 57 points, making him fourth in the nation in scoring. Those efforts helped North Dakota to a 17-4-4 run that season as one of college hockey’s hottest teams. In addition to receiving the Hobey Baker Award, Duncan was named WCHA Player of the Year, First Team WCHA, and a first team West All American. Duncan was a business major and a WCHA All Academic student-athlete with a 3.20 GPA. A pro hockey free agent, he returned for his final two seasons at North Dakota, and then spent two seasons with Salzburg of the Austrian Elite League. He spent the 2011-12 season with Portland in the AHL and returned to Salzburg for the 2012-13 season. Now in 2013-14, he is playing for Munich in the German elite league.

Top Ten:

Scoring whiz Ryan Duncan has helped the Fighting Sioux’s late season rally and is fifth in the nation in points with 51, including 29 goals, third-best in the country. The WCHA Player of the Year and First Team WCHA honoree won the league scoring title as well. He hasn’t missed a game in two years and was the MVP at the Dartmouth Christmas tourney. All Academic WCHA – dad Bob played for Fighting Sioux Second in nation in PPG with 16 – led WCHA in points, goals, power play goals and game winning goals Had 6 winning goals to lead nation – has 29g, 22a for 51 points in 38 games

Player Stats

TypeSeasonTeam NameLeagueGoalsAssistsPointsPIM+/-
Current Season2018-2019EC SalzburgEBEL182947301
Current Season2018-2019EC SalzburgChampions HL34785
Hobey Winning Season2006-2007Univ. of North DakotaNCAA3126573414

2007 Runner Up

David Brown
Notre Dame

Notre Dame won their first ever CCHA regular season title largely because of sensational goaltending from Brown. He shaved almost a goal a game off his average of a year ago earning a stingy 1.64 goals against average – best in the nation. His save percentage of .928 was sixth-best in the nation and he tossed in five shutouts, third-best in the country. He won the CCHA Goalie Award, was named First Team CCHA and was a finalist for Player of the Year.

  • Record of 27-5-3 – has most wins in nation – played fifth-most minutes in nation
  • Management Consulting major – volunteers with Buddy Walk and reading to kids
  • Drafted by Pittsburgh – owns seven career and single season school records
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Eric Ehn
Air Force

Aiming high has not been an issue with Ehn (een).  He is tied for the national lead in scoring with 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 37 games.  His assist total ranks second in the country for the Falcons’ first-time Hobey Baker nominee (Hobey himself was a fighter pilot in World War I).  Ehn set the Atlantic Hockey Association record for points.

  • Led Atlantic Hockey in points, goals and assists – has 8 power play goals
  • Systems Engineering Management major – All Academic
  • Has won an excellent 63 percent of faceoffs – is his squadron’s barbecue chef
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Top 10 Finalists