Hobey Baker Watch: Feb. 25
The 2021-22 regular season of college hockey is coming to a close, and many teams around the nation are preparing for their respective conference tournaments.
Meanwhile, the Hobey Baker Award stays unclaimed for this season. There are only two realistic candidates, one goaltender and one skater as of now. Both players have been dominant this season and are running away with leads in their respective statistical categories.
First, it’s time to talk about Bobby Brink. Brink, the Denver Pioneers forward, is having an amazing season. Brink is currently first in points with 49 and averages the most points per game with 1.63.
But wait, there’s more. Brink is first in assists with 36 and also averages the most assists per game with 1.20. As far as goals go, Brink’s numbers aren’t bad at all with 13 this season.
Some of Brink’s best games of the season include a four-assist game against St. Cloud State back on Feb. 4. In Denver’s latest performance, a 6-4 loss on the road against Western Michigan, Brink scored a season-high two goals.
Brink, a junior forward, is an exciting player with incredible playmaking abilities. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick will certainly give the team a future to look forward to when he decides to join the NHL in hopes of helping the Philadelphia rebuild.
Brink is the best skater of the bunch, but now it’s time to talk about Yaniv Perets, who is perhaps the most impressive freshman in college hockey.
Perets, a native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, has been on fire since joining the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Perets has maintained a 0.810 goals-against average, which makes him far and away the leader in that category. His closest competitor in that category is Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay, who has a 1.257 goals-against average.
Perets also leads in save percentage. The Quebec native has posted a .955 save percentage, which puts him ahead of Northeastern’s Devon Levi who has a .948 save percentage.
There is so much to like about Perets. To be playing this well as a freshman in a different league after coming over from the BCHL’s Penticton Vees and simply dominating every game is incredible. The most goals Perets has allowed is three, which was back against Arizona State in November and on Feb. 12 on the road against Clarkson.
Perets typically gives up one goal per game, though he has many shutouts with eleven on the season so far. His last game was even a shutout, which was a 4-0 Bobcat victory against Yale. Perets would be a welcomed addition to any NHL team. There is little doubt that he will dominate with Quinnipiac for more seasons to come as well.
As of now, both Brink and Perets are the most likely candidates to win the Hobey Baker Award. Both are exceptionally qualified candidates, and there is a good case to be made for either player.
Nolan Wick is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email nhw5046@psu.edu.
