Isaac Howard
Isaac Howard was known as a dangerous scoring threat on every shift while helping Michigan State to the Big Ten conference regular season and playoff titles. The junior forward from Hudson, Wisconsin was amongst the national scoring leaders all season finishing with 52 points (fifth in the nation) on 26 goals (tied third in the nation) and 26 assists. He had the nation’s best points per game average, chiming in at 1.41 points per game. Howard scored the majority of his goals at even strength but did add five power play tallies and notched four game winning goals. A prolific shooter, he fired 169 shots on goal to rank fifth in the country, while logging just over 19 minutes of ice time per game. He took only five minor penalties in his Hobey Baker season. Numerous accolades followed including Big Ten Scoring Champion, First Team all-conference and the league’s Player of the Year. Additionally, he was a First Team All-American in the west. “Ike,” as he is known around the team, was a first-round draft pick (31st overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022. He spends some off-ice time with the Spartans Triumph Together program assisting kids in Children’s Hospital. Howard’s rights were traded from Tampa to the Edmonton Oilers where he signed a two-year entry level contract in the summer of 2025. He spent his first pro season split between Edmonton and their American League farm team Bakersfield.
Top Ten:
Has 24 goals, 23 assists for 47 points in 35 games – is 5th in the nation in shots on goal
Tampa Bay draft (1st round, 2022) – had 13 multiple point games
Played his freshman season at Minnesota Duluth – Communications major
Career Stats
2025 Runner Up
Sophomore, Defense, San Diego, California
A highly gifted skater with tremendous play making capabilities, Zeev Buium (Boo-yum) has proved to be one of the premier defensemen in college hockey. Tied with fellow Hobey nominee Mac Gadowsky for first in the nation in points by a D-man, the two are also tied for 14th overall in national scoring. Buium excels at initiating offense and is tied for second in assists amongst all players nationally. For the second straight year he has garnered First Team all-conference honors and is a finalist for NCHC Player of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year.
- Has 10 goals, 32 assists for 42 points in 36 games – secured points in 27 of 36 games played
- Has won two straight gold medals for Team USA at the World Junior Championships
- Draft of Minnesota (1st round, 2024) – Communications major
Sophomore, Forward, Amherst, Massachusetts
A relentless competitor and clutch performer, Ryan Leonard has been a driving force in elevating the Eagles to the nation’s number one ranking. His elite scoring prowess ties him for eighth in the nation in scoring, but he leads the country with 29 goals and nine game-winners. A high-volume shooter, Leonard is second in the nation in shots averaging 5.2 per game. Leonard has garnered several Hockey East awards including Scoring Champion, First Team all-conference and Player of the Year.
- Has 29 goals, 18 assists for 47 points in 35 games – currently riding a 16-game point streak
- Communications major – his +29 is third in the nation – Washington draft (1st round, 2023)
- Won gold medal as Team USA captain at 2025 World Junior Championships