First phase of Hobey Baker Award fan balloting now open

08 Apr 2016:  Friday Night at the Frozen Four at the Tampa Theater in Tampa, Florida (Jim Rosvold)
Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey accepts the 2016 Hobey Baker Award on April 8, 2016, during Friday Night at the Frozen Four at the Tampa Theater in Tampa, Fla. (photo: Jim Rosvold).

It’s time for the annual fan ballot contribution to determine the winner of the 2017 Hobey Baker Award.

Awarded annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey Baker’s highly popular fan-voting opened on Monday, Jan. 30.

College hockey fans can cast their vote by going to the Hobey Baker website. Follow the prompts to make your selection from this year’s crop of 66 players representing 40 schools.

This first phase of fan balloting will run now through March 5. Phase two of fan balloting will begin on March 16 from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists and will close March 26.

The fans’ vote accounts for a full 1 percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.

Award criteria include candidates emulating the exceptional character traits exhibited by the award’s namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America’s greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.

Key Hobey Baker announcement dates for 2017 include:
• Top Ten list of candidates: March 15
• Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists: March 30
• Hobey Baker Award announcement: April 7

The 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 7, during the Frozen Four in Chicago.