For the past 37 years the Hobey Baker Award has been given to the nation’s top collegiate men’s ice hockey player. This year the awarded was given to Denver University senior defenseman and captain Will Butcher. Butcher, a 2013 Colorado Avalanche fifth round draft pick, is just the second DU player to win the award and the first defenseman since 2009.
Will Butcher wins Hobey Baker Award
Butcher has accumulated a team high 30 assists which puts him at a tie for 15th in the NCAA. Butcher’s 30 assists paired with his seven goals to give him 37 points on the season in just 42 games. 37 points put Butcher in second among defenseman in points just three points behind Harvard’s Adam Fox. Also having an outstanding plus/minus of rating of plus 27 putting puts Butcher in a tie for fifth in the nation.. Butcher is also second among defenseman in plus/minus ratings behind Penn State’s Erik Autio.
Butcher had a great chance to win the award to begin with as he was the best player on his team. Not only was Butcher the best player on his team, Denver was also the best team in the conference, and ranked as the top team in the season ending poll. Tomorrow they will play in the finals of the Frozen Four, to see if they are truly the best team in the nation.
Even though Butcher has received one of the most prestigious award in college hockey he will have little time to think about that. Denver will play Minnesota-Duluth in the National Championship Game tomorrow at the United Center in Chicago.
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