DENVER – Three University of Denver hockey players have received nominations for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player.
Junior forwards
Jack Devine and
Massimo Rizzo and freshman defenseman
Zeev Buium are among 17 players from the NCHC and 84 nationally up for this year's award, which will be handed out at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Devine is having a career season as he is tied for first in the country in goals with 21 and ranks second behind Rizzo in scoring with 40 points while also adding 19 assists. The Glencoe, Illinois, native was the first player in the country to reach the 20-goal threshold, doing so in only 23 games on Jan. 19 against Omaha and became the quickest Pioneer in recent history to accomplish the feat. He has seven multi-goal games this year and has picked up multiple points in 14 outings.
Rizzo ranks first in the NCAA with 42 points and 32 assists. He has scored 10 goals this season and has recorded at least a point in 20-of-26 games this season. The Burnaby, British Columbia, native had points in each of firs first eight games of the season, including matching a personal best with a four-game goal streak from Oct. 20-27. Rizzo also went on a career-long seven-game assist streak from Nov. 24-Jan. 5 and totaled eight points in DU's two wins at Omaha on Jan. 19-20.
Buium is eighth overall in the nation in scoring with 33 points on seven goals and 26 assists, and he ranks tied for third among all freshmen in scoring and is first among rookie defensemen. The San Diego, California, native has produced at least a point in 19-of-24 games this season and went on a career-best 12-game point streak from Nov. 3-Jan. 9. Courtesy of College Hockey News, Buium's streak was the longest by a freshman defenseman in more than 21 years, besting the previous long of 11 games by Boston University's Lane Hutson last season from Dec. 11, 2022-Feb. 6, 2023 (online databases currently don't go back any further than 2002).
The Hobey Baker Award is given to the recipient that exhibits the exceptional character traits shown by the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship, as well.
The annual first round of fan voting began on Friday and takes into account a percentage of the total ballot. Fans can cast their vote by visiting
https://www.hobeybaker.com/vote.
The top 10 finalists will be announced on March 20, the three Hobey Hat Trick finalists will be named on April 4 and the award will be presented on April 12 at the Frozen Four. A second round of fan balloting is set for March 20-31 after the top 10 finalists are determined.
Each school is allowed to nominate up to three players for the award, while a committee ultimately votes on and selects the Hobey Baker Award finalists and winner.
The Pioneers have had two previous Hobey Baker Award winners in Matt Carle in 2006 and Will Butcher in 2017.
