Hobey Baker Watch: Week 10
The top 50 nominees for the Hobey Baker Award have been released, and there are a handful of the nation’s top point-getters off the list, most notably Wisconsin’s Cole Caufield, tied for first with 28 points, and Bowling Green’s Brandon Kurse (25 points).
Last week, we looked at Caufield, Odeen Tufton and Dryden McKay. This week we examine a fresh set of faces who could take home college hockey’s highest individual honor.
Shane Pinto, F, North Dakota
Shane Pinto, the 6-foot-2-inch sophomore and Senators’ second-round pick from 2019 is enjoying another outstanding season. He currently sits fourth in the nation with 23 points.
This year, Pinto has tallied 11 goals and 12 assists. He has been on a hot streak as of late, netting two points in the last four games. In North Dakota’s past series with Omaha, he had three goals and one assist.
After splitting their series with Omaha last week, the Fighting Hawks get a week off before they return home to face Denver. Pinto was held pointless the last time these two squared off.
Nick Perbix, D, St. Cloud State
Perbix, a junior and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick from 2017, is having a breakout year. He’s close to matching his career high in terms of points—20 from 2018-19—as he has 17.
What helps Perbix is his balanced attack, tallying five goals and 12 assists this year, which has him tied for first among defensemen in points. In the Huskies’ most recent series against Miami (OH), Perbix had four assists, two in each game.
Perbix will look to keep his current run of form going when St. Cloud State welcomes the Western Michigan Broncos this weekend.
Jack LaFontaine, G, Minnesota
Jack LaFontaine, the 2016 Hurricanes’ third-round pick, is having himself quite the bounce-back year for the Golden Gophers. He’s already matched his win total from a year ago—nine—starting the season a perfect 9-0.
LaFontaine is 13-3-0 this year with a 1.38 goals-against average, a .948 save percentage and three shutouts. His 13 wins are a nation high among goalies, and he has not allowed more than three goals in a game all year.
Minnesota’s most recent sweep of Ohio State puts LaFontaine’s win streak at three; he’ll look to extend that when the Golden Gophers take on the No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers.
Matt Scalzo is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mms7477@psu.edu.