75058 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 3/31/17 3:48 PM Page 1 4.7.2017 AON GRAND BALLROOM, NAVY PIER • CHICAGO 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Autograph Session Begins Live TV coverage on NHL Network 4:10 p.m. Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hockey Humanitarian Award Announcement Presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management • 2017 Hobey Baker Legend of 4:40 p.m. College Hockey Award • All-American Hockey Team • 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award • National Rookie of the Year Award 75058 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 3/31/17 3:48 PM Page 2 PAST HOBEY BAKER AWARD WINNERS 1981 – Neal Broten University of Minnesota 1982 – George McPhee Friday, April 7, 2017 • 5:00 p.m. Bowling Green State Univ. 1983 – Mark Fusco Harvard University 1984 – Tom Kurvers Zach Aston-Reese – Northeastern University Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth 1985 – Bill Watson Senior - Forward - Staten Island, New York Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth Whether its special teams play or five-on-five, Aston-Reese has been a 1986 – Scott Fusco Harvard University consistent and dominant performer this season. The Hockey East Player 1987 – Tony Hrkac of the Year and First Team all-conference sniper is part of a three-way tie University of North Dakota for most points in the nation while topping all skaters in the country with 1988 – Robb Stauber University of Minnesota 31 goals. His balanced play included 31 goals and 32 assists for 63 points 1989 – Lane MacDonald in 38 games. He contributed 13 power play goals (tied for third in nation) Harvard University and added 4 short-handed tallies. His 1.66 points per game pace has him 1990 – Kip Miller Michigan State University tied for best in the nation. A Graphic Design major, Zach spends time 1991 – David Emma working with Boston area elementary schools by reading to students. He Boston College signed a pro contract with Pittsburgh and is playing in Wilkes-Barre (AHL). 1992 – Scott Pellerin University of Maine 1993 – Paul Kariya University of Maine 1994 – Chris Marinucci Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth Will Butcher – University of Denver 1995 – Brian Holzinger Bowling Green State Univ. Senior - Defense - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 1996 – Brian Bonin The NCHC Player of the Year becomes the first defenseman since Hobey University of Minnesota 1997 – Brendan Morrison winner Matt Gilroy (2009) to become a hat trick finalist. Butcher is a com- University of Michigan plete player, equally efficient at both ends of the ice. His 36 points (on 7 1998 – Chris Drury goals and 29 assists) places him second in the nation in points by a Boston University 1999 – Jason Krog defenseman, while his plus/minus of +25 is ninth overall in the nation. His Univ. of New Hampshire outstanding season garnered honors as Offensive Defenseman of the Year 2000 – Mike Mottau in the NCHC and First Team all-conference for the second straight year. Boston College 2001 – Ryan Miller The Pioneers captain helped Denver to a regular season championship, Michigan State University and enters the Frozen Four ranked #1. Will is a Business major, a draft of 2002 – Jordan Leopold Colorado (5th round) and volunteers with Hockey Saves, assisting military University of Minnesota 2003 – Peter Sejna personal in playing hockey. Colorado College 2004 – Junior Lessard Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth 2005 – Marty Sertich Mike Vecchione – Union College Colorado College Senior - Forward - Saugus, Massachusetts 2006 – Matt Carle University of Denver Sitting tied at the top of the nation in scoring with his fellow hat trick 2007 – Ryan Duncan finalist, Vecchione (VECK-ee-oh-nee) is the ECAC Player of the Year and University of North Dakota 2008 – Kevin Porter was a finalist for the Best Defensive Forward, proving his value as a 200 University of Michigan foot player. Also named First Team all-conference, he was second in the 2009 – Matt Gilroy nation in goal scoring and tied for second with four short-handed goals. Boston University 2010 – Blake Geoffrion He culminated his Dutchmen career as the program’s all time points and University of Wisconsin assist leader. Vecchione finished with 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points 2011 – Andy Miele in 38 games and tied for first averaging 1.66 points per game. Terrific on Miami University 2012 – Jack Connolly the draw, Mike was 61.8% on faceoffs, 4th best in the nation. He topped Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth the county in both multiple point games (21) and game-winning goals 2013 – Drew LeBlanc (7). A History major, Mike is active in many local events and spearheaded St. Cloud State University 2014 – Johnny Gaudreau the efforts to serve Thanksgiving meals to the needy at a local YMCA. Boston College Vecchione signed a pro contract with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free 2015 – Jack Eichel agent. Boston University 2016 – Jimmy Vesey Harvard University www.hobeybaker.com 75058 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 3/31/17 3:48 PM Page 3 The Hobey Baker Story obey Baker had all the attributes of a Plays Tonight.” Yet Hobey remained unaffected. Sam has had the cheek to develop a first-class Hfabulous athlete: a great physique, fan- Shouts of “Here he comes!” would greet his hockey player. We had always smiled a cynical tastic reflexes, instant coordination of hand and arrival onto the ice and continue throughout grin at the thought. A few minutes of Baker on eye, iron discipline, blazing courage. But he the games whenever he touched the puck. He the ice convinced the most skeptical. The blond was different. Hobey Baker was the college was simply a pleasure to watch. haired boy was a favorite with the crowd.” athlete supreme: The gentleman sportsman, In his era, Hobey Baker was universally rec- The winter of 1916 Hobey’s mind was on a the amateur in the pure sense, playing the game ognized as the best amateur hockey player in very different sort of competition. Believing for the sport, who never fouled, despised pub- the United States. At a time when low scoring American involvement in the World War was licity and refused professional offers. To this games were the rule, Hobey set new standards, close at hand, he took up flying. In 1917 Hobey day, he is offered as a striking example of the averaging more than four goals per game. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army. finest that America has produced. was penalized only twice in his college career. As a member of the famous Lafayette Es- Hobart Amory Hare Baker was born to an His speed and skills dazzled the audiences and cadrille, he was with the first group of Ameri- aristocratic Philadelphia family January 15, the press. The Boston Journal enthused, he “is can pilots sent to France. He was as 1892. At age eleven, he was enrolled at St. Paul’s without a doubt the greatest amateur hockey adventurous a pilot as he had been an athlete, School, the famous preparatory school in player ever developed in this country or chosen on occasion to exhibit aerial acrobatics Concord, New Hampshire, especially favored Canada. No player has been able to weave in with his friend Eddie Rickenbacker. In combat by the first families of Philadelphia for the and out of a defense, change his pace and di- flying, he found even more danger and training of their sons. Although remembered as rection, with the uncanny skill and generalship excitement than he had in contact sports — and industrious rather than brilliant, Hobey was of Baker. He is the wonder player of hockey.” Hobey needed both. He was officially credited always in the first third of his with bringing down three class and proved diligent and enemy planes and was deco- conscientious. rated with the Croix de Guerre St. Paul’s pride was its ice for “exceptional valor under hockey team. The school had fire.” introduced the sport to America Following the armistice, his only eight years before Hobey’s orders home in hand, Hobey an- arrival. Its teams were outstand- nounced to his fellow officers he ing and fared well against col- was going to take “one last flight lege and semi-professional clubs. in the old Spad.” His mates were Hobey Baker made the squad at quick to argue with the young age fourteen and was soon its captain who was challenging hero. the oldest tradition of the air This was the age of seven- service — never take a “last” man hockey—no forward pass- flight lest it be just that. But they ing or substitutions allowed. were not able to dissuade him Ironically, these seeming restric- and were even more upset tions best showcased Hobey’s when the plane he insisted on speed, stickhandling and en- flying was a borrowed one, just durance. Also, with someone out of the repair shop. like Hobey on the squad, the Tradition was not to be coach was free to experiment denied the final victory that with strategies and maneuvers. For example, he At a dinner following his senior year, he was gray, dismal day over Toul, France. Just a quar- aligned the two defensemen side by side rather crowned with the laurel “King of Hockey.” In ter mile out, the engine quit and the plane than the classical tandem positions of point and spite of all the well-deserved praise heaped crashed. Hobey Baker, age 26, died in the am- cover-point. Offensively, the standard rush line upon him, he was totally unspoiled by it and bulance a short time later. of four abreast, two wings and two forwards, he was modest almost to a fault. In 1919 he received a posthumous Army was altered so the left forward remained on the After his college years at Princeton Hobey citation from General Pershing for distin- center line from cage to cage and allowed the tried his hand in the real world of Wall Street guished service and exceptional gallantry.