Two Huskies up for Hobey Baker Award
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech hockey players Tanner Kero and Jamie Phillips are candidates for the 2015 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey’s top player. Initial fan voting is now open at www.hobeybakeraward.com.
Kero, a senior forward from Hancock, Mich., leads the No. 8-ranked Huskies with 24 points on eight goals and 16 assists. He is tied for fourth in the country in assists and sixth in points and was named to 50th Great Lakes Invitational All-Tournament Team after scoring a goal and two assist in the two games. Kero has six multiple point games through the first 20 games. He currently is tied for the nation’s lead with two shorthanded goals.
Phillips, a junior goaltender from Caledonia, Ont., has the most wins in the nation between the pipes. He is third in total minutes played and ranks fifth in both goals against average (1.67) and save percentage (93.9). The Winnipeg Jets draft pick has posted shutouts vs. Ferris State (33 saves) and Alaska Anchorage (19 saves). He has saved over 30 shots eight times this season, including a career high 38 vs. Minnesota Duluth.
The first phase of fan balloting runs from Jan. 7 through March 8, 2015. Phase two of fan balloting will begin on March 19 from the list of the Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists. The fans’ vote accounts for a full one percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.
Fans can vote via the Hobey Baker website: www.hobeybakeraward.com. Click on the “Vote for Hobey” icon and follow the prompts to make your selection from this year’s outstanding crop of college hockey players. Detailed bios are available for each candidate.
Award criteria include candidates emulating the exceptional character traits exhibited by the award’s namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America’s greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
Key Hobey Baker announcement dates for 2015 include:
- Top Ten list of candidates: March 19
- Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists: April 2
- Hobey Baker Award announcement: April 10
The 2015 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 10, 2015 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championships in Boston, Mass.
(Information/Photo Courtesy of MTU Athletics)