Hobey Baker Award Watch: Week 4
The Hobey Baker race is alive and well. The award is given to the best player in college hockey at the end of each season. Last week, Bobby Nardella, Cale Makar, and Tanner Laczynski were our early season picks for the award. For the sake of conversation, we've added three new candidates that could win the award. As of right now, it's anyone's trophy since it's still so early in the season, but this week our nominees include Adam Fox, Max Veronneau and Max Johnson.
Adam Fox - Harvard
One game. That's all that Adam Fox has played thus far this season but it is hard to deny his eligibility for the award. The junior defenseman for Harvard scored a five-point game this past weekend as the Crimson fell to Dartmouth in a chaotic 7-6 game. Based on previous seasons, Adam Fox could come into his own as an elite player in college hockey.
The 2016 third-round selection by the Calgary Flames had an impressive junior year for Harvard scoring 28 points in 29 games. In his freshman year, he averaged just over a point per game as he scored 40 points in 35 games.
If he wants to win the award and help Harvard win, he will need to improve the defensive aspect of his game. Fox sits at 5’10”, which is slightly undersized for the NHL level. He hopes to improve in his own end as well as quarterbacking the powerplay.
Max Veronneau - Princeton
When talking about the Hobey Baker Award it is impossible to leave Max Veronneau out of the conversation. Similar to Fox, Veronneau has only played a single game thus far this season and that was a 4-2 defeat to the Penn State Nittany Lions. He recorded an assist in that game for the Tigers.
Last year's Hobey Baker Award nominee is returning for his fourth and final season with Princeton. Last season he notched an incredible 55 points in 36 games, which was good for second in the nation.
Fortunately for him, most of his linemates return as well, so similar production is expected. It's important for Veronneau to continue to be solid defensively. He finished last year with a +23 but quite frankly had a rough first two years being a -9 and -3 respectively.
Max Johnson - Bowling Green
Max Johnson has started the year exceptionally well for Bowling Green. In seven games played Johnson has scored 13 points, which are tied for the NCAA lead.
Bowling Green, while not necessarily know as an elite hockey program, has surprised some people thus far this year. Johnson played a huge role in Bowling Green’s blowout win over Ohio State this past weekend, recording a hat trick in an 8-2 win against the Buckeyes. Johnson is only in his sophomore season, so Bowling Green has to be ecstatic to see what he can bring for years to come.
So while early in the season, these three players, along with many others, have made a strong case for the Hobey Baker award. Only time will tell if they keep up this rate of production as the games get more and more difficult.
Kyle Cannillo is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email kmc6659@psu.edu.
