The NCAA announced the three finalists for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award on Thursday, a list that includes all USHL alums
The NCAA has officially announced the Hobey Hat Trick finalists after narrowing down the Hobey Baker Top 10 list last month.
Cutter Gauthier from Boston College, Macklin Celebrini from Boston University, and Jackson Blake from North Dakota have been named as the three finalists up for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award.
Next week's Frozen Four will see Celebrini and No. 1-seed Terriers take on No. 1-seed Denver on April 11, while Gauthier and No. 1-seed Boston College will face the upset-minded No. 3-seed University of Michigan later in the evening.
Blake and North Dakota were eliminated by the Wolverines in the NCAA Regional Semifinals.
The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 12, before the National Championship game on Saturday.
Here is a rundown of the finalists.
Cutter Gauthier, C, Boston College (ANA)
The sensational sophomore from Boston College, who was previously a standout for the NTDP U18 team, has been nothing short of brilliant this season.
Gauthier stands tall as the country's top scorer with 37 goals, ten of which have been game-winning goals, and a whopping 205 shots. With a total of 64 points, he is a mere three points behind his teammate, Will Smith (SJS), and is second in power-play goals with 13.
Gauthier's exceptional performance has been consistent since helping Team USA to a gold-medal finish at the 2024 World Junior Championship in Sweden. In the second half, the Anaheim Ducks prospect has 24 goals and an impressive 41 points in 22 games.
Gauthier was instrumental in Boston College's triumph over Michigan Tech and Quinnipiac during the NCAA Regionals. With two goals and three assists between the two contests, the 20-year-old has proved to be an invaluable asset to BC.
Gauthier has his sights set on the Hobey Baker Award, an achievement that has eluded Boston College since Johnny Gaudreau won it in 2013-14.
Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (2024)
Celebrini's freshman campaign with the Terriers has been nothing short of phenomenal, especially considering the fact that he is the youngest player in college hockey.
With 32 goals and 32 assists in just 37 games, the 17-year-old has 64 points, which ties him for the second-most in the nation with Gauthier. Celebrini's average of 1.73 points per game this season is second only to BC's Will Smith (1.77), and he has also won 53.0% of his faceoffs (302/570).
In the NCAA Regionals, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft tallied one goal and four assists in two games. Celebrini is looking to become the second consecutive freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, following in the footsteps of Michigan's Adam Fantilli who won it last year.
Celebrini also hopes to become the first BU player to win the honors since Jack Eichel in 2014–15.
Jackson Blake, RW, North Dakota (CAR)
The former Chicago Steel forward had an impressive sophomore season in Grand Forks, scoring 22 goals and 38 assists in just 40 games.
Blake's 60 points were the third-highest in the country, averaging 1.50 points per game and scoring five game-winning goals and five power-play tallies.
Throughout the season, Blake achieved 17 multi-point games, including a season-best five points in a 6-0 win over Minnesota Duluth in February. His point total was more than 20 points higher than the next closest skater on UND.
Although his stats may not be as robust as those of Gauthier and Celebrini, Blake aims to become the first UND player to win the Hobey Baker Award since Ryan Duncan in 2006-07.
