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October 10, 2006
The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is presented
to a deserving recipient on the day before the last
college hockey game of the season. But that doesn’t
mean that college hockey fans, players and media members
don’t think about it all season. In yet another
new coverage item presented by Inside College Hockey
for the 2006-07 season, we proudly debut Hobey Tracker
with a look at the top three candidates, those whose
stock is rising and other players worthy of consideration.
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THE
BIG BOARD |
1. Brian Elliott
Wisconsin
Senior | Goalie |
Last
Weekend: Another start, another shutout.
Elliott was in goal for Bucky's opener against Northern
Michigan in Green Bay and stopped 23 shots in a
3-0 win.
The Buzz: Last year, he was arguably
the best player on the nation's best team. Strong
efforts against NoDak and BC over the next three
weeks, and Elliott becomes the Hobey race's version
of Troy Smith. |
 2.
Jonathan Toews
North Dakota
Soph. | Forward
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Last
Weekend: Three goals and two assists in
the Sioux's sweep of Quinnipiac, including a hat
trick and a helper Saturday.
The Buzz: He scored 39 points in
44 games last year as a 6-foot-1, 180-pound 17-year-old,
but was overshadowed by T.J. Oshie. This year, he's
6-foot-2 and 202 pounds and, based on his effort
vs. the Q, poised impose his offensive will on others. |
3. Brian Boyle
Boston College
Senior | Forward |
Tuesday:
Two goals and two assists for the towering
pivot as the nation's top-ranked team eased past
Northeastern.
The Buzz: Prior to last season's
52-point breakout effort, Boyle only scored 35 points
in 75 career games. Can he repeat the effort without
the help of Chris Collins and Stephen Gionta? Based
on opening night, it appears he can. |
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| BULL
MARKET |
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Joe Fallon
Vermont
Junior
Goalie |
Although
it may not seem like it, INCH knows there are players
in college hockey not named Joe Fallon. At this
point, he deserves all of the praise he's been given.
His outstanding start at the Ice Breaker Invitational
has people nationwide talking about him. |
| BEAR
MARKET |
Reid Cashman
Quinnipiac
Senior
Defenseman |
For
players with Hobey hopes who don't often play on
a big stage, games against a top opponent in their
11,000-seat Taj Mahal of a rink is a prime chance
to make a statement. Cashman, who was scoreless
and minus-5 at NoDak last weekend, squandered that
opportunity. |
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HIDDEN
HOBEY |
| Niagara's
talented trio |
Most
of you are unfamiliar with Niagara forwards Sean
Bentoviglio, Ted Cook and Les Reaney, but it wouldn't
be a shock to see one of them among the 10 Hobey
finalists. Linemates Cook and Reaney each tallied
40 points as freshmen last season, while Bentoviglio,
a senior, had 38 points in 33 games. In the Purps'
split at Clarkson (loss) and St. Lawrence (win),
each player garnered four points – Cook had
2-2—4, while the other two had 1-3—4. |
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