The nation’s leader in points and goals was only the second Hobey Baker Award candidate from Europe. His consistency was amplified by the fact that he recorded points in all but one game. In 42 contests, the Tiger sniper bagged 36 goals, 46 assists, and 82 total points. His 15 power play goals ranked third in the nation, and his eight game winners were tied for second. The WCHA Player of the Year helped Colorado College to its first regular season title since 1996, recording 27 multiple point games en route to the top of the college hockey scoring list. Signed as a free agent, he spent four years in the St. Louis Blues system and played 49 NHL games. Raised in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, he returned to Europe and spent six seasons playing in the Swiss A League with Zurich (3 seasons) and Davos (2 seasons). He is currently in his second season with Rapperswil-Jona.
Top Ten:
Player Stats
| Type | Season | Team Name | League | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Season | 2014-2015 | HC La Chaux-de-Fonds | NLB | 10 | 15 | 25 | 2 | |
| Hobey Winning Season | 2002-2003 | Colorado College | NCAA | 36 | 46 | 82 | 12 |
2003 Runner Up
Chris Kunitz was a dominant forward for the Ferris State Bulldogs from 1999 to 2003. In his senior and final season in 2002-2003, he had a spectacular year with 35 goals and 44 assists for a total of 79 points, leading the entire nation in scoring. His standout performance earned him a spot as a Top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. That same year, he was named the CCHA Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American, helping Ferris State win its first CCHA regular season championship.
Following his impressive college career, Kunitz went on to have a long and decorated career in the NHL, despite going undrafted. He played for 15 seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Chicago Blackhawks. He won four Stanley Cups, including one with the Ducks in 2007 and three with the Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017). Kunitz was known as a gritty and hardworking player, and his most memorable moment came in 2017 when he scored the double-overtime game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to send the Penguins to the Stanley Cup.
David LeNeveu was an exceptional goaltender for the Cornell University Big Red from 2001 to 2003. In his junior and final season in 2002-2003, he had a stellar year, recording a 1.20 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage. His remarkable performance earned him a spot as a Top 3 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. That same year, he was named a First-Team All-American, the ECAC Goaltender of the Year, and the ECAC Player of the Year, leading the Big Red to a Frozen Four appearance for the first time in 23 years.
Following his successful college career, LeNeveu was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002. He played one game in the NHL during the 2006-2007 season, but spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL and the ECHL, where he was a steady presence in net for multiple teams. After his time in North America, he played a season in Europe before retiring from professional hockey.