Hobey Baker Watch List: Week Five

Story posted November 17, 2015 in CommRadio, Sports by Zach Green

We are through five weeks of the college hockey season and once again, it’s time we take a look at the early season Hobey Baker race. This marks the end of the first third of the NCAA regular season, and conference games all across the nation will be beginning shortly if they haven’t already. The grind of the college hockey season will start to affect the younger players who have not experienced a season this long before. It will be interesting to see how they fair at the end of their first season.

1. Thatcher Demko (G, Boston College)

Demko was not his dominant self this weekend, giving up four goals to the Michigan State Spartans in Boston College’s 6-4 victory at home. His numbers are still untouchable and on pace to break the goaltending records set by previous Hobey Baker winner Ryan Miller. The Canucks prospect looks poised to be the next star goaltender in both the NHL and for team USA. Demko will look to recapture the magic that had him winning shutout after shutout over the next few weeks. Thatcher and the Eagles of Boston College travel to Durham to take on the University of New Hampshire.

2. Jimmy Vesey (LW, Harvard)

Jimmy Vesey stayed hot this past week tallying a goal and two assists for the Crimson who were beaten by No. 3 Quinnipiac, 4-1, and defeated the Princeton Tigers 3-0. Vesey appears to be exactly what most experts predicted he would be before the season, as he is involved in most of Harvard’s goals, and is carrying the team on his back. His raw point totals are not nearly as high as some of the other players in the NCAA, but that can be attributed to Harvard having started their season later than other teams. The Crimson are off this week on a much needed break before they travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame in the Shillelagh tournament.

3. Jake Walman (D, Providence)

Jake Walman currently leads the nation in goals with nine putting them in the back of the net at a pace of one per game. He is the main man for Providence on the power play scoring four power play goals so far. Walman stayed hot this weekend scoring twice in top-ranked Friars 3-3 tie with No. 11 Boston University Terriers. Walman looks to lead his Friars in a home and home series against John Stevens and the Northeastern Huskies.

Honorable Mentions:

Tyler Kelleher (F, New Hampshire)

Greg Gibson (F, Robert Morris)

Dennis Kravchenko (F, UMass)

 

Zach Green is a sophomore majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email zag5035@psu.edu