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November 28, 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 introduce Hobey Tracker with
a look at the top three candidates, those whose stock
is rising, and other players worthy of consideration.
| THE
BIG BOARD |
1. Nathan Davis
Miami
Junior | Forward |
Last
Week: Three points and one goal that was
disallowed in a win at St. Lawrence and a loss at
Clarkson.
The Buzz: It's not a matter of
Davis being a solid front-runner at this point;
it's just that his credentials over the longest
period of time give him the edge over a very close
group of pursuers. He owns a five-game point streak,
with 4-5—9 over that stretch. |
2. Trevor Smith
New Hampshire
Soph. | Forward |
Last
Week: One goal and two assists in the Wildcats'
wins against Boston College, Northeastern, and Merrimack.
The Buzz: Smith only has
four points in UNH's last four games. But he certainly
started strong, scoring goals in each of the 'Cats'
first six games and posting three or more points
four times in his first nine contests. His emergence,
along with that of linemates Jerry Pollastrone and
Matt Fornataro gives coach Dick Umile another no.
1 line behind Jacob Micflikier, Mike Radja and Brett
Hemingway. |
| 
3. Michel
Léveillé
Maine
Senior | Forward |
Last
Week: Scoreless in a Saturday loss at Vermont.
The Buzz: Prior
to his zero-point effort in Burlington last weekend,
Léveillé –
who had been in the top spot on the Big Board since
Halloween – had five goals
and two assists in three games. So why the sudden
drop? Three straight Black Bear losses don't help.
Despite his efforts, the losing streak gives the
appearance that Léveillé has stalled
out, too. |
Dropped
out:
David Brown – As was the case a couple
weeks ago when the Notre Dame goalie bumped BC's
Cory Schneider from the top three, Brown doesn't
slip because he's played poorly. It's because Smith
has been a red-hot player for a red-hot team. |
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BULL
MARKET |
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T.J. Hensick
Michigan
Senior
Forward |
Check
out a rundown of his game-by-game statistics, and
you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who can match
his high level of consistency. Need proof? Hensick
enters the week with a four-game point streak, but
it's not just a run-of-the-mill stretch –
he's scored two points in each of those contests,
a run that's included games against U-M's most bitter
rival (Michigan State), the defending NCAA champions
(Wisconsin), and the nation's top-ranked team (Minnesota).
The biggest hindrance to his Hobey candidacy may
sit in his own locker room. The Wolverines are so
loaded with top-flight players, will Hensick eventually
have to share the spotlight or step out of it altogether? |
| BEAR
MARKET |
Jonathan Matsumoto
Bowling Green
Junior
Forward |
Matsumoto
started the season well, with eight points in his
first five games, and showed he was worthy of his
election to the Preseason All-CCHA Second Team.
Things have gone south for Matsumoto and the rest
of the Falcons since then. After starting the year
2-0-1, Bowling Green is 1-10-0 in their last 11
games. Matsumoto has just one point in his last
five games and has been kept off the scoresheet
in the last three. |
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HIDDEN
HOBEY |
Dean Strong
Vermont
Sophomore
Forward
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One reason
he's hidden is because of performances by teammates
Torrey Mitchell and Joe Fallon, but Strong seems
to always come through in the clutch. Strong's overtime
goal on Tuesday night at Harvard was his fourth
game-winning goal of the season, which ties him
for the national lead with Jerry Pollastrone of
UNH. Strong is second on the Catamounts in scoring
with 17 points in 13 games. |
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