The Hobey Baker Memorial Award: A Legacy of Excellence in College Hockey
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award stands as the most prestigious accolade in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey. This annual award recognizes the top player in the country, not only for their hockey skills and statistics but also for embodying sportsmanship, character, and other qualities that define an exceptional athlete.
The Man Behind the Award: Hobey Baker
To understand the significance of the Hobey Baker Award, it's essential to know the story of the man it honors. Hobey Baker was a legendary figure in American hockey history, renowned as America’s greatest amateur athlete more than a century ago. His hockey career began at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, before he continued his career at Princeton University. At Princeton, he led his team to a 27-7 record and three Intercollegiate League championships. Baker redefined hockey with his coast-to-coast dashes, a novel approach in an era when the game featured seven players and disallowed forward passes.
During World War I, Hobey Baker served as a lieutenant in the Army and was part of the Lafayette Escadrille, one of the first groups of American pilots sent to France. Tragically, after the war ended, but before returning home, Baker took one last flight, during which his engine failed, resulting in a fatal crash.
The Creation of the Award
The Hobey Baker Award was not created during Hobey Baker's lifetime. The creation of the Hobey Baker Award was spearheaded by Charles R. Four hockey players were considered as namesake's of the award. His extraordinary credentials and personal history made him the clear choice when the award was established to honor the best in college hockey.
The Trophy Itself
The Hobey Baker trophy is a symbol of excellence. It stands 16 inches high and weighs 40 pounds, crafted from bronze and etched acrylic. Sculptor Bill Mack, a Minnesota native, designed the trophy. Mack sought a model for the trophy and chose hockey player Steve Christoff. After analyzing over 50 poses, they settled on a player stopping quickly. Christoff was photographed from various angles, and these photos were used to create a charcoal drawing. Mack then used this drawing to create a stick figure, covered it in clay, and plaster-baked the design in an oven.
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The original trophy was presented at the first Hobey Baker Memorial Award banquet in 1981. Each year, the Foundation creates two trophies: one for the Hobey Baker Award winner and another for the winner’s college. The original Hobey Baker trophy is on display at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Selection Process
The selection process for the Hobey Baker Award involves three key steps:
- Nominations: The head coaches of NCAA Division I ice hockey schools nominate the top three players in their respective leagues and the top three players in the nation. College hockey fans can also participate by voting online.
- Hobey Hat Trick: The field is narrowed from 10 finalists to three through voting for the “Hobey Hat Trick.”
- Winner Selection: The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Selection Committee selects the winner from the final three players.
Notable Achievements and Award History
Since its inception, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award has been presented 45 times. Mark and Scott Fusco, both of Harvard University, are the only brothers to have won the award, in 1983 and 1986, respectively.
Other Prestigious Awards in College Hockey
Besides the Hobey Baker Award, several other awards recognize outstanding achievements in college hockey:
- Mike Richter Award: Established in 2014, this award is named after the New York Rangers Hall of Fame goaltender and University of Wisconsin and Team USA player Mike Richter. It is awarded to the best NCAA Division I male goaltender. From 2014 through 2020, it was presented by “Let’s Play Hockey”.
- Spencer Penrose Award: Named in honor of the former Brown University coach and AHCA spiritual leader, this award recognizes an individual who loves the purity of the sport.
- The Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award: Established in 2007, this award honors the memory of Derek Hines, a former Army hockey player who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
- The Terry Flanagan Award: Established in 2007, the award honors the former Harvard player and Yale and Olympic head coach. It is voted on by the nation’s Division I assistant coaches.
- John MacInnes Award: Presented by the AHCA, this award recognizes coaches who have an concern for the complete development of their players.
- The Lamoriello Award: The Lamoriello Award is given by the Retired Coaches group within the AHCA to honor a former college coach or player who has distinguished himself in his profession after college.
ECAC Hockey: A Storied Conference
ECAC Hockey is a conference with a rich history and tradition. Its origins trace back to the early days of structured college hockey, largely involving schools from New England and New York. According to the College Hockey Historical Archives, in 1961, the NCAA Tournament selection committee chose St. Lawrence and Rensselaer to represent the East, bypassing the Boston area schools.
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ECAC Hockey boasts elite student-athletes and teams from 12 prestigious institutions: Brown University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Quinnipiac University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, Union College and Yale University. The league has undergone changes over the years but has been instrumental in supporting the growth of college hockey while maintaining its conventional stability.
The winner of the regular-season title is awarded the Cleary Cup, named after Bill Cleary, a former Harvard student-athlete, coach, and administrator who was a driving force behind the conference structure of ECAC Hockey. The tournament championship game winner receives the Whitelaw Cup, named for long-time former commissioner Robert M. Whitelaw.
ECAC Hockey is home to some significant moments in college hockey history, including:
- The 1969-70 Cornell team, the only team in NCAA ice hockey history to achieve a perfect unbeaten and untied record (29-0) en route to the Division I men's title.
- Harvard's Mark Fusco becoming the first defenseman to win the Hobey Baker Award in 1983.
- Clarkson becoming the first program to compile 1,000 wins in 1994.
- St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh reaching 400 wins at the same institution in 2007, the third Division I college hockey coach to do so.
- Quinnipiac beating Union in what was then the longest game in NCAA hockey history (3-2) in 2010.
The NHL draft annually features a wealth of ECAC Hockey draftees. Many former league standouts occupy roles as general managers, coaches, scouts, and administrators in the National Hockey League.
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