March 20, 2019
Two NAHL alumni, St. Clouid State forward Patrick Newell (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) and Clarkson forward Nico Sturm (Austin Bruins/Corpus Christi IceRays), were named among the 10 finalists for the 2019 Hobey Baker Award, the honor given to the nation's top college hockey player.
The 10 finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I head coaches and by online fan balloting. Next, the 27-member selection committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey Baker website at www.hobeybaker.com through Mar. 31 will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner.
The Hobey Baker Award is awarded annually to top NCAA men's ice hockey player in the nation. In addition to their performance on the ice, candidates must exhibit strength and character on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of the team, display outstanding skills in all phases of the game and show scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
The Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists will be announced on Apr. 4 while the 2019 Hobey Baker Award will be presented on Apr. 12 as part of the Frozen Four Weekend in Buffalo, NY.
The NCHC scoring champion for 2018-19, Newell is the Huskies' leading scorer this winter with 19 goals and 43 points in 36 games played. He currently owns a +32 ranking with six game winners and four power play goals this season. Newell has posted 13 multi-point games for the Huskies this season and was named the NCHC Player of the Month for February 2019. A two-time NCHC Player of the Week selection in 2018-19, Newell has named to this year's All-NCHC First Team and also earned All-NCHC Academic team honors for the fourth time in 2018-19. In four seasons with the Huskies, Newell has scored 36 goals, 80 assists and 116 points. He currently ranks 21st in the team records for career points scored and 10th for career assists in 142 career games played.
A junior center, Sturm is in the midst of one of the on the best seasons by a Golden Knight. The Green and Gold's co-captain has been extremely effective at both ends of the ice in helping to lead Clarkson to its second consecutive 20-win campaign, a return trip to Lake Placid for the ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament and another likely berth into the NCAA Tournament. Named ECAC Hockey's Best Defensive Forward for the second consecutive season and a First-Team All-League All-Star, Sturm, leads the Green and Gold offensively with 43 points through 36 games. The Augsburg, Germany native is tied for 9th in the NCAA in points per game (1.19). He has tallied 14 goals and a team-high 29 assists (tied for 6th in the nation). Sturm, who is also a finalists for ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, has recorded at least one point in 31 of the first 36 games, and has posted 12 multiple-point outings.
