Trinity netminder Bobak winner of 2024 Sid Watson Award as best player in NCAA Division III men’s college hockey

Devon Bobak put up stellar numbers this season in the Trinity crease (photo: Trinity Athletics).

Devon Bobak, a sophomore goaltender from Trinity, is the recipient of the 2024 Sid Watson Award.

The award, voted on by the nation’s Division III head coaches, is presented to the best player at the men’s NCAA Division III level by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Bobak is the ninth NESCAC player to receive this award but the first from Trinity.

During his sophomore campaign, the Northwood, Ohio, native holds a 24-3-1 record with a career-best 1.25 goals-against average, a career-best .943 save percentage and a career-high 550 saves. Bobak logged a program-record seven shutouts on the season, including back-to-back shutouts against Tufts in the NESCAC championship and Elmira in the NCAA quarterfinals. Nationally, Bobak ranks third in goals-against average and eighth in save percentage. Bobak led the NESCAC in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts on the year.

Goaltending success is nothing new for Bobak. He was chosen all-NESCAC second team a year ago as a freshman. He was fourth in the nation for goals-against average (1.41) and posted a .934 save percentage, with five shutouts.

The runner-up for this year’s Sid Watson Award was Artem Buzoverya, a senior forward from Hobart.

Sponsored by the American Hockey Coaches Association, the Sid Watson Award honors the memory of former Bowdoin head coach and athletic director Sid Watson. A three-time AHCA coach of the year, Watson served Bowdoin for more than 30 years, winning 326 games in 24 seasons as head coach.