As the NCAA men’s hockey regular season nears its end, the competition for the Hobey Baker Award remains open with several standout players in contention. The award is presented annually to the top men’s Division I player in college hockey.
Last year’s recipient, Isaac Howard of Michigan State University, now plays for Bakersfield, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Other finalists from 2025 included Boston College’s Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Zeev Buium of Denver (Vancouver Canucks).
The list of this season’s top 10 finalists will be revealed on March 18. The three Hobey Hat Trick finalists are set to be announced on April 3, and the winner will be named during the Frozen Four on April 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Among this year’s leading candidates is Trey Augustine, a junior goaltender at Michigan State University. Augustine has posted a record of 22-6-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and .932 save percentage over 28 games. He was selected by the Detroit Red Wings as the No. 41 pick in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Michael Hage, a sophomore forward at the University of Michigan, is tied for fifth among NCAA players with 43 points in 32 games this season. Hage was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens as their first-round pick (No. 21) in 2024.
Boston College sophomore James Hagens has tallied 38 points in just 28 games and was chosen by the Boston Bruins as their first-round selection (No.7) in last year’s draft.
Freshman Porter Martone from Michigan State University recently recorded his first collegiate hat trick and now sits tied for eighth nationally with 41 points through 28 games. Martone was picked sixth overall by Philadelphia Flyers in last year’s draft.
Gavin McKenna from Penn State University has also drawn attention after being ranked No.1 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s upcoming draft. The left wing scored eight points—including seven assists—in an overtime sweep against Ohio State University last week and ranks second among NCAA freshmen with a total of 43 points so far this season.
Other notable contenders include Max Plante (University of Minnesota Duluth), who ranks near the top nationally with both goals and total points; Eric Pohlkamp (Denver University), who leads all defensemen with his offensive production; Hayden Stavroff (Dartmouth University), who tops all players with 26 goals; Charlie Stramel (Michigan State University); and Ethan Wyttenbach (Quinnipiac University), whose freshman campaign includes an NCAA-leading total of 54 points across just 34 games.
The field remains competitive as teams prepare for postseason play and individual performances continue to shape Hobey Baker Award discussions ahead of next month’s finalist announcements.
