Two NAHL grads among 10 finalists for Hobey Baker Award
The top 10 candidates for the 2012 Hobey Baker Memorial Award were recently announced and two graudates from the North American Hockey League (NAHL) were among the finalists.
The 10 finalists were selected by voting from all 58 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting at www.hobeybakeraward.com.
Former NAHL players Shawn Hunwick (University of Michigan) and Tim Kirby (Air Force Academy) are both up for the award. Hunwick played in the NAHL during the 2006-07 season for the Alpena IceDiggers, while Kirby played two seasons in the NAHL from 2006-08 for the Southern Minnesota Express.
Hunwick and the University of Michigan Wolverines will face Cornell University in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Hockey Championship on Friday, while Kirby and the Air Force Academy Falcons will face the #1-ranked Boston College Eagles on Saturday.
The next step for the Hobey Baker Award will be a 23-member selection committee and an additional round of fan balloting (at www.hobeybakeraward.com from March 16 to 25) will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner.
The Hobey Hat Trick will be announced on March 29 and the winner will be announced Friday, April 6 from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., during the Frozen Four.
2012 Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalists
Spencer Abbott, F, Sr., Maine
Jack Connolly, F, Sr., Minnesota-Duluth
Brian Dumoulin, D, Jr., Boston College
Troy Grosenick, G, So., Union
Shawn Hunwick, G, Sr., Michigan
Tim Kirby, D, Sr., Air Force
Torey Krug, D, Jr., Michigan State
Justin Schultz, D, Jr., Wisconsin
Austin Smith, F, Sr., Colgate
Reilly Smith, F, Jr., Miami