Five players from New England colleges are finalists for the 2020 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the NCAA announced on Wednesday.
Sacred Heart senior defenseman Jason Cotton, Providence sophomore right wing Jack Dugan, Boston University junior defenseman David Farrance, Massachusetts junior right wing John Leonard and Maine junior goaltender Jeremy Swayman represent half of the 10 finalists for this year’s award that is given annually to college hockey’s top player.
New England has been a hotbed for the Hobey Baker Award in recent years, starting with Boston University center and Chelmsford, Mass., native Jack Eichel in 2015.
A year later, North Reading, Mass., native and Harvard star Jimmy Vesey won. After a one-year hiatus for the region, Northeastern’s Adam Gaudette of Braintree, Mass., won in 2018. The 2019 award was won by Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar. All four players are now playing in the NHL.
Cotton is the first finalist in the history of the Sacred Heart program. A native of Parker, Texas, he led Atlantic Hockey in goals and points with 20 and 37, respectively. Of his 20 goals, four came on the power play and three while shorthanded.
Dugan led Division I in assists and points. The Rochester, N.Y., native finished his season with 10 goals and 42 assists for 52 points in 34 games for the Friars. The Vegas Golden Knights draft pick is expected to sign with the organization in the coming days.
Farrance, hailing from Victory, N.Y., posted 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points in 34 games. His goal and point total led all defensemen in college hockey. The Nashville Predators third-round draft pick saw an uptick in production by 23 points from his sophomore season.
Leonard, looking to become the second Minuteman in as many years to win college hockey’s top individual honor, lit the lamp 27 times and added 10 helpers in 33 games. His goal total was four clear of the next nearest player in college hockey. The Amherst, Mass., native and San Jose Sharks prospect is expected to forgo his final season of eligibility to sign a NHL entry-level contract.
Swayman, already named the winner of the Walter Brown Award and Hockey East Player of the Year, had a remarkable final year in the collegiate circuit. The Anchorage, Alaska, native’s .939 save percentage ranked second in Division I. He faced more shots, by quite a large margin, than any other goaltender in the country. Earlier this week, Swayman signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins, the organization that drafted him in 2017.
The other candidates for the Hobey Baker: Morgan Barron, Cornell University; Jordan Kawaguchi, University of North Dakota; Dryden McKay, Minnesota State University; Marc Michaelis, Minnesota State University; and Scott Perunovich, University of Minnesota Duluth.
NCAA Transfer Portal
With the college hockey season ending, names of players entering the NCAA Transfer Portal are starting to leak out.
The most notable local to do so to date is Maine forward Tim Doherty of Portsmouth, R.I. In 34 games with the Black Bears in 2019-20, Doherty had 14 goals and 23 assists. In three years with Maine, Doherty scored 34 goals.
The NCAA Transfer Portal isn’t public information, but Wisconsin forward Sean Dhooge, Mercyhurst goaltender Garrett Metcalf and Michigan Tech goaltender Robbie Beydoun have also entered, per reports on Twitter from Mark Divver and Mike McMahon.
According to NEHJ sources, expect Boston College goaltender Ryan Edquist and Providence goaltender Gabe Mollot-Hill to enter the transfer portal.
