New Jersey Native Son Wins Hobey Baker Award
Raymond Rolak
The 2014 Hobey Baker award winner was announced here at the Frozen Four festivities at the Loews Hotel. Johnny Gaudreau finished his Boston College junior season culminating with college hockey’s highest individual honor. Gaudreau became the third Eagle in program history to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The Hobey Baker award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding Division-I men’s college hockey player. Greg Carey of St. Lawrence University and Nic Dowd of St. Cloud State were runners-up.
Gaudreau, the high scoring forward, from Carneys Point, New Jersey led the nation in scoring. The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder had 36 goals and 44 assists. He’s the first player to reach 80 points since Colorado College’s Peter Sejna had 82 in 2002-03.
The Hockey East scoring champion was named the conference Player of the Year. A communications major, he was also awarded the Walter Brown Award as the best American born player in New England. At the NCAA Northeast Regional, he scored 3 goals and 3 assists in the Eagles 6-2 win over Denver, and added 2 more assists on the first two goals of the 4-3 win over Lowell in the regional final.
Upon receiving the Hobey Baker award, both Gaudreau and teammate Bill Arnold signed contracts with the Calgary Flames.
The award is named after the legendary Hobey Baker who excelled at Princeton and was killed during World War I on December 21, 1918. He was commander of the 141st Aero Squadron in France and perished in an aviation accident. Baker was known for his extraordinary ice hockey and collegiate football skills and his outstanding sportsmanship.
Editor’s Note: Raymond Rolak narrated the 1987 award winning documentary, “King of Hockey” the story of North Dakota’s Tony Hrkac and his journey of being presented the 1987 Hobey Baker Award.
