And your 2011 Hobey Baker winner is...

[solbes]

All right, we're down to 10 finalists for this years award. They are:

Cam Atkinson, Boston College, junior forward

Carter Camper, Miami (Ohio), senior forward

Jack Connolly, Minnesota Duluth, junior forward

Matt Frattin, North Dakota, senior forward

Andy Miele, Miami (Ohio), senior forward

Gustav Nyquist, Maine, junior forward

Chase Polacek, RPI, senior forward

Paul Thompson, New Hampshire, senior forward

Paul Zanette, Niagara, senior forward

Justin Schultz, Wisconsin, sophomore defensemen

One defenseman? Weird. Anyway the 10 finalists are cut down to the last 3 on Thursday. It would not at all be surprising to see representatives in the F4 given a little extra consideration, since it adds drama to the announcement on Friday April 8th.

So maybe a little extra gas in Matt Frattin and Jack Connolly's tanks. I can't see Andy Miele being denied either, so that would be my guess for top 3. Voting will be concluded by the time they play the semis so I see it coming down to Frattin and Miele.

Who do you guys think will be the final 3?

[scsavre]

Miele, Frattin JC.

If Frattin wins they out to just throw the award away and any respect it ever had with it. It would be an embarrassment to past winners.

if it was joint points and play. give it to him.

1. Candidates must exhibit strength of character both on and off the ice.

2. Candidates must contribute to the integrity of the team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game.

3. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportmanship.

4. Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules: be full time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; and complete 50% or more of the season.

[Shorelunch]

The Hobey Hat Trick (the final three) is announced at 2pm. My guess is that it will be Frattin, Miele and Atkinson.

I think Frattin had "overcome is diversity" from last year. He definitely made his mistakes (we all did in college). However, he could of signed a pro contract and said so long, but instead, paid his own tuition and became a good citizen. He's obviously one of the best players in hockey this year (probably the best) and America loves the "from down n out to back on top" stories. We'll see. I have no problem either way, whether he wins or not - understand both sides of the argument. Remember - the award is for 2010-11 season.

[&JAG]

Agree w/ the Frattin comments regaurding the Hobey. Yet, I think the whole went back home got it together and came back with no scholarship story is great. Not for the reasons he got booted but, we all make mistakes. Some just get caught more than others. I used to live in St. Cloud and ran with a couple guys on the team back in the day. Lets just say what Frattin did is at par or less than what I saw going down on a weekly basis in cloud town... No excuses for him though.

[scsavre]

Player of the year. Fine. There is no lack of good players to win the hobey. Its not just skill on the ice. Skill isn't even the top criteria. I say no way to frattin. But I think they will give it to him. I don't buy the turnaround story. If I'm not mistaken isn't he on scholarship again. He only had to pay for school when he came back last year.

He even looked like a punk on that b reakaway last wekend. If that makes sense to anyone.

[&JAG]

All true. I vote Frattin though I like comeback kids!!

[cbrooks]

The Hobey Hat Trick (the final three) is announced at 2pm. My guess is that it will be Frattin, Miele and Atkinson.

I think Frattin had "overcome is diversity" from last year. He definitely made his mistakes (we all did in college). However, he could of signed a pro contract and said so long, but instead, paid his own tuition and became a good citizen. He's obviously one of the best players in hockey this year (probably the best) and America loves the "from down n out to back on top" stories. We'll see. I have no problem either way, whether he wins or not - understand both sides of the argument. Remember - the award is for 2010-11 season.

+1

[solbes]

Frattin can flat out score goals, we saw plenty of that this year. If there is truly an on and off the ice component, he's going to get penalized in that area some. Miele, Camper, and Connolly are all listed as being "active in community service". For Frattin, it says he was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs

I'm still 50/50 on Frattin or Miele for the award. This award loves the WCHA, but Miele's got some serious numbers behind him too.

[solbes]

Just read that Atkinson Tweeted last night that he had been selected for the Hat Trick. What a DB!

Anyway, looks like they made the announcement early.

http://www.uscho.com/2011/03/30/atkinson-frattin-miele-make-up-2011-hobey-hat-trick/

[cbrooks]

Haha. Yeah that guy thinks pretty high of himself. I just hope he doesn't win. Andy Meile sounds like a stand up guy. Of course I want Frattin.

[scsavre]

That is a d bag move. So is twitter

[cbrooks]

Everybody wants to talk about Matt Frattin DUI. Here's a link to Cam's past charges. Scroll down to assualt.

http://greenwichroundup.blogspot.com/2008/08082508-belated-raw-greenwich-news-feed.html

[Quackaddict9]

You think other past hobey baker winners never done anyting stupid like Frattin or even worse?

they might have and did not get caught. Frattin wins it, great. If not, He still had a great year.

[Scum Frog]

Can someone tell me why Matt Read from the Beavers was not a candidate for this award?

[Bryce]

Who?

[brmuskie]

Read wasn't a top 10 because he played for the Beavers. He was in all of the preseason hype of the Hobey but his numbers for the Beavers needed to be awesome to be a finalist. The numbers were just ok if we are talking about the Hobey.

[cbrooks]

Alot of other players come to mind way before Matt Read.

[solbes]

Matt Read is a great player if you look beyond the numbers somewhat. He did score 22 goals, but his 13 assists were pretty low. You almost have to have really good players with you on that line to put up the numbers needed. In summary though, great player.

With how BC got knocked out so viciously by CC, how Cam has his own past problems, and how his last minute antics may have affected his outcome, I think we can say that this is a 2 man race between Frattin and Miele. Do you go with a pure goal scorer or a guy who put up 47 assists to go along with his 24 goals? Voting should be very close.

[Shorelunch]

Matt Read is a great player if you look beyond the numbers somewhat. He did score 22 goals, but his 13 assists were pretty low. You almost have to have really good players with you on that line to put up the numbers needed. In summary though, great player.

With how BC got knocked out so viciously by CC, how Cam has his own past problems, and how his last minute antics may have affected his outcome, I think we can say that this is a 2 man race between Frattin and Miele. Do you go with a pure goal scorer or a guy who put up 47 assists to go along with his 24 goals? Voting should be very close.

If Read was on a more visible, popular and winning team, along with a little stronger supporting cast, he would have put up Hobey-esque numbers this year and would have made the Top 10. He was singled-out and spied on every game and BSU doesn't have the depth for someone to take over a game. He tore up the CHA but his star didn't shine as bright in the WCHA because of that. I would guess any team in college hockey would be happy to have him on their first line. Heck of a guy and he should do well in his pro career.

[scsavre]

Frattin had all sorts of issues. Countless people have said the kid was an absolute [PoorWordUsage] the last 2 years. Many people said that moreon finley was part of frattins problem. People had also had concerns about frattins negative effects on kristo.

Sounds like frattin has grown up some, but it is also said that his rap sheet could be a lot longer. The kid was a jerk to many people. Again its all second hand info from a from of mine, its also said that his nhl affiliate didn't want him this year or last year because he had some serious growing up to do.

I think he will get it, I also think this breeds bad behavior. I remember hanging out with leopold a lot his senior year. He was affraid to do anything that would jepordize his team, school or hobey campaign. If frattin wins all it says is. Go get in trouble. Who cares. Here's the hobey still.

He is the best player, but he ain't no hobey.

[cbrooks]

We should just change this thread to "TMZ College hockey" . Does anybody have any dirt on Patrick White or Drew Leblanc? I'm just kidding. If Frattin or any person is a jerk its hard to defend somebody like that. Big let down if what you say is true Scott. I have no idea if he is or not.

Best player in college hockey. There is so many great players I've seen this year. Especially the freshman this year is probably the best I can remember. IMO I don't think Frattin is the best player on UND I've always been a Jason Gregiore fan.

[Shorelunch]

We should just change this thread to "TMZ College hockey" . Does anybody have any dirt on Patrick White or Drew Leblanc? I'm just kidding. If Frattin or any person is a jerk its hard to defend somebody like that. Big let down if what you say is true Scott. I have no idea if he is or not.

Best player in college hockey. There is so many great players I've seen this year. Especially the freshman this year is probably the best I can remember. IMO I don't think Frattin is the best player on UND I've always been a Jason Gregiore fan.

Jason Blake wasn't the most popular Sioux player in GF either, but he was a heck of a skater. Same as A LOT of collegiate athletes. I had a cousin who went to a "Minnesota University" and used to party with some football and hockey players. He had some very interesting stories about very popular and run-of-the-mill athletes. Tons of people do.

As a fan, I like a lot of players for what they do on the ice, but may not want to be friends on Facebook. As long as a college athlete hasn't 1) hurt anyone else and 2) hurt his teams chances, they're OK in my book. Frattin has crossed the line for hurting his team's chances last season. He made amends for it and most everyone is thankful for it. He deserves to win the Hobey on this year's accomplishments/achievements.

Would I buy a gamer jersey with his name on it? Not sure. Would I want his name on my kids' Sioux jersey? Probably not. However, I'm still a fan of his and UND's on the ice.

This could be said for tons of college and pro athletes and their situations. Rothlesberger, Tiger, Favre, Chumura, Kobe, on and on and on . . .

[cbrooks]

Jason Blake is a azz, plain and simple

[Steve Foss]

"]Again its all second hand

[cbrooks]

Jason Blake is a azz, plain and simple

I was wrong for posting this. I never personally knew him. Met him once I could have caught him on a off day. It was a STp post on my part.