GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– Sophomores Jake Sanderson and Riese Gaber were named nominees for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award on Wednesday afternoon, as announced by the award committee.
Awarded annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey Baker’s tremendously popular fan-voting will run from now until Sunday, March 6 at midnight. College hockey fans can cast their vote by going to the voting website https://www.hobeybaker.com/vote
Gaber and Sanderson both pace the Fighting Hawks with 22 points this season, with Gaber also leading the team in goals (9) and power play tallies (5). The Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, native has points in 15 of the 21 games that UND has played this season and is currently riding a five-goal point streak.
Sanderson has emerged as one of the top defensemen in the nation, posting six goals and 16 assists in 17 games this season for the Fighting Hawks. Those 16 helpers are tied for 13th among all skaters in the nation while sitting third among blueliners and tops in the NCHC for defensemen. The sophomore is also averaging 1.29 points-per-game this season, ranking tops in the country for defensemen and on a better pace than all previous Hobey Baker winners on the blue line since Matt Carle in 2005.
Phase two of fan balloting will come from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 17 and closing March 27. The fans’ vote accounts for a full one percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of 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.
Men’s Hockey 1/12/2022 11:50:00 AM Alec Stocker Johnson, FightingHawks.com
