Discover the standout skills and compelling cases for each of the three Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists vying for college hockey's ultimate individual prize.
Ten Hobey Baker Award nominees have now been filtered to three remaining. Here’s what each Hat Trick nominee has done this year, and a main reason they deserve the prized award.
Michigan forward T.J. Hughes (13) skates with the puck against Michigan State forward Tiernan Shoudy (13) during the second period of Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORKT.J Hughes, Forward, University of Michigan
Hughes and Michigan are still dancing as just one of the four teams remaining, with great help from the nation’s best offense, averaging 4.56 goals per game on the entire season. Second is Quinnipiac with 4.06. Just goes to show you how unstoppable the Wolverines have been.
T.J Hughes is the pulse of that attack. Hughes has the most points of the three nominees listed, only behind Ethan Wyttenbach, who was shockingly left off the hat trick list, although leading the nation with 59 points.
Hughes has gotten the pleasure of shining around some incredible teammates, as four of the top 21 players in points are Wolverines. Hughes has created or finished sequences with Jayden Perron, Michael Hage, and Will Horcoff. Hughes is the only one on that list who is not under NHL rights, but that could change sooner than later.
When it comes to the reason Hughes should get the award, the stats don’t lie. Hughes’ ability to playmake and score has given him a senior year to remember, as he looks for two more infinity stones between a national title and this very Hobey Baker award.
Apr 10, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Western Michigan Broncos forward Tim Washe (16) and Denver Pioneers defenseman Eric Pohlkamp (23) battle for the puck during the second period of the Frozen Four college ice hockey national semifinals at Enterprise Center. Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn ImagesEric Pohlkamp, Defense, Denver University
Zeev Buium did it last year, and now Eric Pohlkamp carries on the tradition: two consecutive years with a Hobey Baker nominee that plays defense for the Denver Pioneers.
Pohlkamp’s defensive work helped Denver earn the fourth best defense in the nation as well as the best remaining defense in the Frozen Four, with the Pioneers conceding just 2.1 goals a game on the year.
We saw Caroline Harvey win the Patty Kazmaier award, the Hobey Baker of the NCAA Women’s hockey realm. The Olympic Gold Medalist was a defenseman herself for the eventual National Champion Wisconsin Badgers.
Although Pohlkamp didn’t win any gold medal, the Minnesota native has similar offensive ability. From the blue line, he finished with 39 points in 41 games, 11 coming in the final 10 before the Frozen Four starts on Thursday.
The San Jose Sharks prospect’s reason to win? As listed above, the versatility. Earning this nomination really tabs him as the best two way defenseman in the country.
Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante (10) celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game against St. Cloud State on Friday, Jan. 10 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Credit: Clint Austin / Duluth Media GroupMax Plante, Forward, University of Minnesota Duluth
The Plante brothers delivered this season, bringing a Bulldogs program desperate to get back to a respected level exactly what they needed, as UMD was just a win away from an NCHC championship alongside a Frozen Four appearance, losing in the regional final to the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines.
You can dive even deeper into the Plante connection with UMD, written here.
More specifically, Max had an addiction to finding the back of the net. Plante’s 25 goals on the season were good for a share of second-best in the NCAA, only behind Dartmouth’s Hayden Stavroff.
The homegrown NCHC Forward of the Year from Hermantown finished his sophomore year on a five-game point streak, delivering seven points in the span.
Why should Max Plante win the Hobey Baker? His undeniable goal-scoring ability. Development is strong within the Detroit Red Wings prospect, scoring just nine goals last year before exploding this year.