THE HOBEY EFFECT

So what is it that was so special about Thursday, May 25? Two things. First, The Hobey Baker Award was hosting their annual banquet in St. Paul, MN, honoring 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner Will Butcher. Secondly, it was game 7 between Pittsburgh and Ottawa in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final. While the Hobey banquet was in progress, three former Hobey Baker Award top ten candidates were featured in a heated battle to see who would go to the Stanley Cup finals. Penguins veteran Chris Kunitz (Ferris State – Hobey top ten in ’03), snapped a 34 game scoreless streak, striking for his first playoff goals by scoring twice and assisting on one other in Pittsburgh’s 3-2, double overtime win. Kunitz had the overtime winner. Teammate Justin Schultz (Wisconsin – Hobey top ten in ’11 and ’12) scored the other Pittsburgh goal and added an assist after missing the previous four games with an upper body injury. One of the two Ottawa goals was scored by Ryan Dzingel (Ohio State – Hobey top ten ’14), who was limited to mostly fourth line duty through the series. So what was it? Coincidence? A twisted fate of irony? The hockey gods smiling down on a special night? The Hobey effect?

Thirty-Seven Annual Awards Banquet Program