ST. PAUL, Minn. — As college hockey fans awaited last week’s announcement of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation’s top men’s college hockey player, the question wasn’t whether a Hockey player East would be included. It was more like how many.
The answer turned out to be two, with a Boston College sophomore Gauthier cutter and freshman at Boston University Macklin Celebrini joined by Jackson Blakewho signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday after completing his sophomore season in North Dakota.
In 2023, the three finalists were from the Big Ten, with Michigan Adam Fantilli claiming the prize against that of Minnesota Logan Cooley And Matthew Knies. The idea that there could be three Hockey East finalists in 2024 wasn’t far-fetched, as the BU sophomore said. Lane Hutson – arguably the best defenseman in the country – and freshman at B.C. Will Smith were among the top 10 finalists.
Smith, a Lexington native selected fourth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Sharks, may have had the best case after leading the NCAA in points with 69 (23 goals, 46 assists). He also received an unlikely endorsement. Asking the B.C. coach Greg Brown on Smith, from NHL.com Jessie Pierce prefaced his question by saying that Jack Eichelwho won the Hobey in 2015 as a freshman at BU, told him he voted for Smith.
“That’s really nice of Jack,” Brown said. “For Will to lead the nation in scoring as a freshman is extremely impressive. I guess he has a lot of ability, but his spatial awareness and the way he creates space for his teammates is something really special for a young kid.
“He has a great ability to pass the puck with exactly the force it needs to be passed with. If he needs a rocket to get across a small area, he does it. Or if he needs to display it in an area in front of people, he does that extremely well as well.
Skating on a prolific line with classmates Gabe Perreault And Ryan Leonard may have left some voters reluctant to single out Smith. Perreault entered Thursday night’s game averaging 1.68 points per game, third behind Smith with 1.77 and Celebrini with 1.73. Leonard was just one of three players to eclipse 30 goals, with his 31 trailing only Gauthier (37) and Celebrini (32).
The winner of the 2024 Hobey Baker Award will be announced Friday during the ceremony broadcast on NHL Network at 6 p.m.
Seconds for everyone
For the first time, all four Frozen Four head coaches are behind the bench at their alma maters.
Michigan coach Brandon Naurato played four seasons for the Wolverines, reaching the Frozen Four as a junior in 2008 and finishing his career in Ann Arbor with 32 goals and 32 assists.
David Carle was drafted by Denver, but was unable to play for the Pioneers after being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during medical examinations prior to the 2008 NHL draft. Denver honored his scholarship by making him a student assistant, restarting his coaching career.
BU Coach Jay Pandolfo reached the Frozen Four in each of his four seasons as a player for the Terriers, winning a national title as a junior in 1995. He led BU to the national semifinals in each of his two seasons as coach- chief.
“I’m just grateful to be back here as coach,” Pandolfo said. “I am grateful for the opportunity I had when I played at Boston University, playing for Jack Parker, playing with a lot of really good players, a lot of competitive players, a lot of high character players. We had great teams.
“Saying that, when we are here, it is very difficult to win. This is the sixth time, but the five times I’ve been there before, I’ve only won once. It’s very hard to win this tournament. The margin for error is very slim.
Brown was the captain of the 1990 team that reached the national semifinals. This was the last time BC and BU reached the Frozen Four in the same season.
“It’s a much bigger event today than it was back then,” Brown said. “We were sneaking around, there was hardly any press, no social media. So it’s an event now. The red carpet stuff, the attention from the NHL, from everyone. It’s become a big event now and we’re excited for the guys to get to experience it.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
