Hobey Baker Watch: Week 3
The Hobey Baker Award is the Heisman Trophy of college hockey. After 40 years of the award, this year shapes up to be one of the most interesting races ever. Through the first couple of weeks, here are some players to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Cole Caufield, RW, Wisconsin
Caufield, the Canadiens’ first-round pick last year, is tied for second in the nation in points with eight. The sophomore trails only his teammate Linus Weissbach, who leads the nation with 10.
After netting an assist in his first four games, he broke his scoring drought against a porous Penn State defense. Caufield scored four goals in the Badgers’ 7-3 win in Game 2 to complete the series sweep.
After being held pointless against Arizona State, he will look to bounce back in the upcoming series against Ohio State.
Jordan Kawaguchi, C, North Dakota
Kawaguchi returns for his senior year and remains unsigned to any NHL team. Last year, he was one of the best players in college hockey, netting 45 points, the second most in the nation. He was National Player of the Year by USCHO.com and earned the Hobey Baker hat-trick honor for being one of the top three players in the nation.
Kawaguchi is the captain of No. 1 North Dakota and hopes to win the Hobey Baker this year after being so close just a year ago. His season starts this week in the NCHC bubble against Miami on Wednesday and has a top-four showdown with No. 4 Denver on Friday.
Owen Power, D, Michigan
Owen Power, a freshman on the Michigan Wolverines, is one of the best players in college hockey. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 214 pounds, Power possesses a rare combination of size, speed and skill.
Through six games this year, Power has four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus/minus rating of plus-three. In his first game against Arizona State, he scored his first career goal, then added his first two assists at Michigan.
Power has been on a bit of a cold streak, as he has only one point in the last five games. He will have the chance to get back on track this week against Penn State, a team that has struggled in the defensive end.
Dark horse: Linus Weissbach, LW, Wisconsin
Weissbach, a 2017 seventh-round entry draft pick by the Buffalo Sabres, is the nation’s leader in points with 10 points. He has five goals and five assists through eight games. Weissbach has had at least one point in all of Wisconsin’s series this year.
He will hope to continue his hot start and help the Badgers find winning ways, as they sit at 4-4. Last time out, they were swept by Arizona State. Next week, they will travel to play Ohio State and Michigan State.
Matt Scalzo is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mms7477@psu.edu.
