BUFFALO, N.Y. — University of Massachusetts sophomore defenseman Cale Makar was named the winner of the the 2019 Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
The announcement Friday evening at the HarborCenter was one of the least dramatic in the history of the award. While fellow Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists Adam Fox of Harvard and Jimmy Schuldt of St. Cloud State were good players in their own right, Makar was indisputably the top player in college hockey this season.
“It’s very special. I’m very honored to accept an award like this. Honestly, it could have gone to any of those top 10 candidates, but I’m very fortunate they selected me,” said Makar.
Makar, from Calgary, Alberta, leads the Minutemen in scoring with 16 goals and 33 assists all the while propelling his team to heights never reached before in program history. UMass won its first Hockey East Regular Season Championship, advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time, and is a win away from the first ever national championship.
UMass’ 31 wins this season topped the previous three seasons combined. For a program that had only made the NCAA Tournament once before, Makar and his teammates have taken a giant step forward.
The fourth overall pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Draft is expected to become a superstar at the professional level. Makar is expected to sign with Colorado immediately following Saturday night’s game.
“He’s got elite mobility in all directions, high-end hockey sense, and the skill and shot to be a threat on the power play. He’s an all-situations defender,” said one Eastern Conference NHL scout.
“His elite skating, ability to do everything at top speed, coupled with his hockey sense, separates him. He’s tougher than people give him credit for. Quick hands and a heavy shot,” added another NHL scout who’s watched him extensively over the past two seasons.
UMass head coach Greg Carvel and Makar both realize there’s still some unfinished business in terms of the most important thing, the team. Still, it didn’t stop Carvel from making a request initiated by his 6-year-old son.
“Cale doesn't want to talk about the future. He's very much in the now. But, I asked him to sign a picture for my son. He did that a couple days ago. I think being able to always know that we had an impact on a guy that's going to be a superstar at the next level has been memorable,” said Carvel, now in his third season as head coach of the Minutemen.
Makar had the best plus/minus, +33, of any defenseman in college hockey this season. It’s tough to argue anyone had more of a positive impact on his team than Makar. His teammates were quick to praise their team’s alternate captain.
“Obviously, he's a pretty special player. When he's on the ice, you know there's a pretty good chance we're going to possess the puck. He makes things a lot easier,” said Jacob Pritchard, the team’s second leading scorer with 47 points.
“Like Pritch said, it's obviously really special to be able to play with a guy like Cale. He's a great player, great person off the ice. He pushes you to be better. That's what he's done for the team all year. We're happy to have him on our team,” said defenseman Mario Ferraro, who played on the same pairing as Makar last season.
Makar’s significance on the program has not been lost on Carvel, who knows a thing or two about NHL players from his time scouting and as an assistant coach with the the Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators.
“I think my favorite memory will be coaching Cale Makar. It's been a special opportunity. He's a really special kid. I think he's everything that you want out of the Hobey Baker winner,” said Carvel, who won the Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in Division I, it was announced Tuesday.
Makar becomes the first Canadian to win the Hobey Baker Award since North Dakota’s Ryan Duncan, also a Calgary, Alberta, native, did so in 2007.
“In my wildest dreams, probably, but it’s definitely not something that could happen in two years,” said Makar, when asked if he thought this could ever happen when he was heading to Amherst two years ago.
Makar will suit up for one more game in a UMass uniform Saturday night before taking his game to the next level. It’s not hard to surmise that Makar will play a key role in whether the Minutemen can win the program’s first ever national championship when they take on Minnesota Duluth Saturday night at 8 p.m.
