If you missed the official announcement,
the finalists are Matt Gilroy (Boston University), Brad Thiessen (Northeastern) and Colin Wilson (Boston University).
First of all - YEY HOCKEY EAST!!! All three Hobey finalists hail from schools within Hockey East. That is a huge accomplishment for the league. In the NHL, there's usually a big rivalry of sorts between the Eastern and Western conferences and who's teams are better and it's usually up for some serious debate considering members of each conference don't play against each other as often as they do within their own conference or even division. Well magnify that by 10 and you might be close to understanding the rivalry between Hockey East, the WCHA and the CCHA - the three dominant conferences in college hockey with the ECAC trying to make a case for themselves. With four teams advancing to the NCAA tournament (BU, New Hampshire, Northeastern & Vermont), tying the CCHA for the most bids for a conference but beating them in seed rankings, and three of those teams advancing to the Regional Final and then two of them moving on to the Frozen Four...PLUS four players from HE named to the list of Top Ten Hobey semi-finalists and then three of them comprising the Hobey Hat Trick...I don't think that, this year, there is any question that Hockey East is the best league in the college ranks! :)
Now that that's out of the way...
If you'll recall from my
Hobey Baker breakdown - written two months ago - all three of the finalists were in my top six - yey me!! Here's what I had to say then and what I'm saying now...
Let's review the criteria:
This is not just an award for the player with the most points or best save percentage, but rather recognizes a player who best exemplifies "strength of character both on and off the ice, contribution to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game" with consideration also given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
When I think of a Hobey Baker winner, I think of someone who is a game changer, instrumental to his team's success. Someone with not only the skill to be a difference maker but also the leadership abilities to say to his teammates "Don't worry boys…we got this" and then actually back it up and provide that calming confidence when it's needed most. Someone who his teammates can respect and admire for his commitment to the sport and also the team, always giving 100%.
- From my blog back in mid-February
Now, for the finalists:
Brad Thiessen – Northeastern – Jr – G
Then...#6 - Brad is without a doubt the Huskies most valuable player this season and his ability to make key saves and keep his team in the game is why Northeastern is receiving so much national attention heading into the final stretch of the season. Unfortunately, his stats (.929 save percentage and 2.25 GAA with a record of 20-8-2) aren't all that fabulous, but he does face a tremendous amount of shots on a nightly basis and provides a calming influence between the pipes that filters out to the rest of his teammates. There are some people predicting him to win the Hobey, but at this point, I don't see him making it to the final three unless he completely dominates the last three weeks of the season against BU, UMass-Lowell and BC.
Now...#3 - Still kind of surprised he made the cut considering his team didn't win any tournaments this season, faltered in the semis of the HE tournament and had a first round exit in the NCAAs. BUT, the argument can be made that without Thiessen - HE Player of the Year - Northeastern wouldn't have even been in the hunt.
Colin Wilson – Boston University – So – F
Then...#1 - Simply put – I will be shocked if he doesn't win the Hobey. Colin can take over a game and what's even better is he makes the players around him even better. He netted his first collegiate hat trick on Friday night against Maine and was the best player for BU in the Beanpot Championship game with three assists. He is currently fourth in the country in scoring with 13g, 27a – 40 points in only 28 games after missing time to participate in the WJCs. This Predators' prospect has been incredibly consistent this year, picking up right where he left off last year as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He is hard working, attacks the net, mobile, has great vision, great hands, an adept passing ability and is absolutely driven to succeed. He is, in my opinion, by far the best collegiate hockey player this season.
Now...#2 - Unfortunately, Colin's dominance has wained over the past few months and he hasn't been as clutch as I thought he could be. Please don't get me wrong, he's still a rockstar earning 12 points over the last 13 games including the eventual game winner against BC in the HE semis and has earned 52 points over the course of the season, but there have been many times that he's been invisible on the ice and was even benched for a bit during the HE Championship Game. Passed over for the HE Player of the Year and then again for the Walter Brown Award given to the best American born college player in New England, I don't see him getting the win here either.
Matt Gilroy – Boston Univeristy – Sr – D
Then...#3 - I can't say enough about how awesome this guy is. His stats aren't anything to write home about with 5g, 16a – 21 points in 30 games (although as a defenseman, they're not half bad), but what a leader. I truly feel that BU is as cohesive as it is because of Matt's leadership both on and off the ice. He is a tremendous example of perseverance and dedication to success. He had the chance to sign with an NHL team last year, but because of an extreme sense of loyalty to a team/coach that gave him a chance when no one else would, the opportunity to win a national championship, play with his younger brother – Kevin – and earn a college degree, he decided to stay for his final year at BU. He is a true role model in every sense of the word. I don't think he'll win the Hobey (voters like stats), but I sure would be happy if he did.
Now...#1 - Going back to the criteria and my description of a Hobey Baker Winner, Matt fits the bill to a T! There was a game in late February against UMass on the road and the Terriers found themselves in the very unusual position of being down 3-0 in the second period and Matt literally took the team on his shoulders and got things going with two power play goals and tacked on two assists as BU won the game 6-3. He hasn't looked back and was by far the best player on the ice for BU during the NCAA Regionals. He will soon be a three-time All American and recently won the Walter Brown Award (can you believe he was a walk on!?) and while his stats still don't crack the Top 50 - 8g, 28a - 36pts in 43 games - I'm hoping the voters can look past the numbers and look at the total package and what he brings to the table in regards to character and leadership because he certainly deserves this award.
The winner will be announced next Friday during the Frozen Four in Washington, DC and will air on ESPNU at 7pm ET.
Talk soon!
Julie
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