78578 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 4/3/18 10:38 AM Page 1 4.6.2018 ROY WILKINS AUDITORIUM AT RIVERCENTRE • SAINT PAUL 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Autograph Session Begins Live TV coverage on NHL Network 4:15 p.m. Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hockey Humanitarian Award Announcement 4:45 p.m. • 2018 Hobey Baker Legend of • All-American Hockey Team College Hockey Award • National Rookie of the Year Award • 2018 Hobey Baker Memorial Award 78578 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 4/3/18 10:38 AM Page 2 PAST HOBEY BAKER AWARD WINNERS 1981 – Neal Broten University of Minnesota 1982 – George McPhee Bowling Green State Univ. 1983 – Mark Fusco Friday, April 6, 2018 • 5:00 p.m. Harvard University 1984 – Tom Kurvers Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth 1985 – Bill Watson – University of Denver Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth Henrik Borgström 1986 – Scott Fusco Sophomore - Forward - Helsinki, Finland Harvard University A big skilled winger, Borgström had a banner season and was honored by 1987 – Tony Hrkac University of North Dakota the NCHC as their Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and First Team 1988 – Robb Stauber all-conference. Additionally, he led the conference in scoring and pro- University of Minnesota vided defending national champion Denver with 11-game and eight- 1989 – Lane MacDonald game point streaks. Borgström sits tied for fourth in the nation in scoring Harvard University 1990 – Kip Miller and tied for ninth in goals. He finished the season with 23 goals and 29 Michigan State University assists for 52 points in 40 games. Along the way, Henrik scored eight 1991 – David Emma power play goals and had 14 multiple point games. His freshman season Boston College was equally magnificent garnering 43 points and All American honors. 1992 – Scott Pellerin University of Maine Off the ice, Henrik spent considerable time assisting local youth hockey 1993 – Paul Kariya programs in the Denver area. He recently signed a pro contract with the University of Maine team that drafted him in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the 1994 – Chris Marinucci Florida Panthers. Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth 1995 – Brian Holzinger Bowling Green State Univ. Ryan Donato – Harvard University 1996 – Brian Bonin Junior - Forward - Boston, Massachusetts University of Minnesota 1997 – Brendan Morrison It’s been a wild season for scoring whizz Ryan Donato. Bagging 26 goals University of Michigan in just 29 games for Harvard, Ryan also helped Team USA at the 2018 Win- 1998 – Chris Drury Boston University ter Olympics leading the team in scoring with five goals and an assist. A 1999 – Jason Krog powerful skating two-way center, he was named the ECAC Player of the Univ. of New Hampshire Year and First Team all-conference. Donato got off to a rip-roaring start col- 2000 – Mike Mottau Boston College lecting points in his first 14 games and finished the season with 26 goals 2001 – Ryan Miller and 17 assists for 43 points in just 29 games. He ranked first in the nation Michigan State University averaging .9 goals per game and first in shots averaging 6.03 per game. 2002 – Jordan Leopold University of Minnesota A Sociology major, Ryan assisted with a couple of cancer fund-raisers and 2003 – Peter Sejna a local school clean-up effort. Following his college season, Donato, a 2014 Colorado College second round draft pick of the Boston Bruins, turned pro with his home- 2004 – Junior Lessard Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth town Bruins and had seven points in his first seven games (4-3). 2005 – Marty Sertich Colorado College Adam Gaudette – Northeastern University 2006 – Matt Carle University of Denver Junior - Forward - Braintree, Massachusetts 2007 – Ryan Duncan The nation’s leading scorer tore up Hockey East this season leading the University of North Dakota 2008 – Kevin Porter conference in scoring on the way to being named Player of the Year and University of Michigan First Team all-conference. A complete, hard-working player, he saw spe- 2009 – Matt Gilroy cial teams duty and averaged almost 30 minutes per game. Twice named Boston University 2010 – Blake Geoffrion National Player of the Month (Jan. & Feb.), Gaudette was also named University of Wisconsin winner of the Walter Brown Award given to the top American born player 2011 – Andy Miele in New England. He played almost all season with another Hobey Baker Miami University 2012 – Jack Connolly top ten candidate Dylan Sikura, and scorched opposing goalies for 30 Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth goals and 30 assists for 60 points in 38 games. He produced 20 multiple 2013 – Drew LeBlanc point games and also led the nation in power play points (27) and points St. Cloud State University 2014 – Johnny Gaudreau per game, averaging 1.58 per outing. A Communications major, Boston College Gaudette was active in a variety of community service projects including 2015 – Jack Eichel cancer fund-raisers, on-campus move-in weekend and reading at local elementary schools. A 2015 fifth Boston University 2016 – Jimmy Vesey round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, Adam recently signed a pro contract with the Canucks. Harvard University 2017 – Will Butcher University of Denver www.hobeybaker.com 78578 Announcement.qxp_Layout 1 4/3/18 10:38 AM 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.