April 7, 2006
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Former University of Denver junior All-American Matt Carle was named the winner of the 26th Hobey Baker Memorial Award; it was announced today by the Hobey Baker Award Executive Committee at Bradley Center.
Carle, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, is the first DU player to win college hockey's most prestigious individual honor and the fifth defenseman, the first since Minnesota's Jordan Leopold in 2002. Carle edged fellow Hobey Hat Trick finalists Chris Collins, a forward from Boston College, and Brian Elliott, a goaltender from Wisconsin. Other DU finalists for college hockey's top honor include Ed Beers (1982), Dallas Gaume (1986), Dave Shields (1990) and Wade Dubielewicz (2002).
The Hobey Baker Award, named for the legendary Princeton hockey player who died in World War I, recognizes strength of character both on and off the ice. Carle was selected from a group of 10 finalists by the votes of a 25-member selection committee, along with the results of Vote for Hobey, an online fan ballot.
Carle recently completed his junior season with the Pioneers where he was named WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All WCHA. He became the first player in WCHA history to garner both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Awards in the same season. He leads the nation with 1.08 assists per game and is tied for 10th in scoring at 1.36 points per game. He leads all NCAA Division I blueliners in points (53), assists (42) and is second with 1.36 points per game. Carle finished tied for second in league scoring and is tied for third in WCHA overall scoring. He led all WCHA defensemen in points, goals and assists in league play.
"It's kind of a shock right now," Carle said. "I'm just happy to be up here representing my team and my great school at the University of Denver. We kind of had a rough loss there at the end of the season. Hopefully this will put a bright spot on the season for the guys back home and it's a great honor for myself, too."
Carle set DU's single-season assist record for defensemen at 42 and his 53 points rank second on DU's single-season points list for defensemen. He was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 5, Dec. 19 and Feb. 13. In addition, Carle was named to the All-WCHA All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season. A real estate and construction management major, he carries a 3.30 grade-point average. Carle participates annually in the "Skate with the Pioneers" event for terminally ill children, and has volunteered at the Alaska Food Drive and a holiday children's charity drive.
Carle helped DU to back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2005 and became the first American born hockey player to capture a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championships and win an NCAA title in the same season. He netted a career-high 53 points on 11 goals and 42 assists in 39 games this season. He leaves DU as the fourth-most prolific scoring defenseman in school history after netting 122 points on 29 goals and 93 assists in 112 career games.
In 2004-05, Carle was a consensus All-American after scoring 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists. In 2003-04, he was named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team after scoring 25 points on five goals and 25 assists in 30 games.
Carle was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the second round (47th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He is a current member of the Sharks after signing a NHL contract on March 19. He scored two goals in his first three NHL games.
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player. Carle will be honored at the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Banquet on May 11 at 317 On Rice Park in St. Paul, Minn. For banquet ticket ordering information or more information on the award, including a complete list of past winners, please visit the Hobey Baker Award web site at hobeybaker.com.
