(From left) Henrik Börgstrom, Ryan Donato, and Adam Gaudette are this year's Hobey Baker finalists.
The three 2018 Hobey Baker finalists were selected from the initial list of Top Ten candidates by the 27-member Selection Committee and an additional round of online fan balloting to determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award includes: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.
This year’s Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 6, 2018 from the legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minn., during the NCAA Frozen Four. The 38th annual announcement will be televised live on the NHL Network at 6 p.m. ET, and streamed at www.hobeybaker.com. Here is more on this year’s three finalists:
Henrik Borgström / University of Denver
Sophomore, Forward / Helsinki, Finland
Denver's Henrik Borgstrom with an absolutely filthy display of stickhandling skills on the entire Huskies line pic.twitter.com/JkpiPDTpvE
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) February 25, 2017
The big skilled winger had a banner season and was honored by the NCHC as their Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and First Team all-conference, while leading the conference in scoring in only his second season of college hockey. Providing Denver with 11-game and eight-game point streaks, Borgström sits tied for fourth in the nation in scoring and tied for ninth in goals. Henrik recently signed a pro contract with the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers.
- Finished season with 23 goals, 29 assists for 52 points in 40 games – had 14 multiple point games – scored 8 power play goals, 3 game winners, averaged 1.30 points per game
- Spent considerable time assisting local youth hockey programs
- Had 43 points as a freshman at DU and earned All American status
Ryan Donato / Harvard University
Junior, Forward / Boston, Massachusetts
The nation's leading (per game) goal scorer by a wide margin, check out all 26 goals from @DonatoRyan this season at Harvard...and more! #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/fnZJM3utpF
— Harvard Men's Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) March 26, 2018
It’s been a wild season for scoring whizz Ryan Donato. Bagging 26 goals in just 29 games for Harvard, Ryan also helped Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics leading the team in scoring with five goals and an assist. A powerful skating two-way center, he was named the ECAC Player of the Year and First Team all-conference. Following his college season, Donato, a 2014 second round draft pick of the Boston Bruins, turned pro with his hometown Bruins and has five points in his first five games (3-2).
- Finished season with 26 goals, 17 assists for 43 points in 29 games – ranks first in nation averaging .9 goals per game and first in shots averaging 6.03 per game
- Had 7 power play goals – had points in first 14 games of season – was 53.1% on faceoffs
- Sociology major – assisted with cancer fund-raisers and school clean-up projects
Adam Gaudette / Northeastern University
Junior, Forward / Braintree, Massachusetts
A look at the @NCAAIceHockey's leading scorer @Hockey_Gaud, who will make his #Canucks debut this week! pic.twitter.com/XBVCuXqz6U
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 26, 2018
The nation’s leading scorer tore up Hockey East this season leading the conference in scoring on the way to being named Player of the Year and First Team all-conference. A complete, hard-working player, he saw special teams duty and averaged almost 30 minutes per game. Twice named National Player of the Month (Jan. & Feb.), Gaudette was also named winner of the Walter Brown Award given to the top American born player in New England. A 2015 fifth round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, Adam recently signed a pro contract with the Canucks.
- Finished season with 30 goals, 30 assists for 60 points in 38 games – averaged 1.58 points per game to lead the nation – had 20 multiple point games
- Had 11 power play goals (4th in nation) and 27 power play points (1st in nation)
- Communications major – worked on cancer projects and read at elementary schools
