Hobey Baker Award Finalists Revealed

The Hobey Hat Trick has been announced.

The three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in NCAA Division I men’s college hockey are Northeastern University senior forward Zach Aston-Reese, University of Denver senior defenseman Will Butcher, and Union College senior forward Mike Vecchione.

Aston-Reese, who recently signed a professional contract and has been playing with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), finished the 2016-17 NCAA campaign with 31 goals and 32 assists for a career-high 63 points in 38 games. The Staten Island, N.Y. native is tied with Vecchione as the leading scorer in the nation.

Butcher, the only Hobey Baker finalist still skating in college this season, and the only NHL draft choice of the trio, is pacing all Pioneers' blueliners with 7-29—36 points through 41 outings. The Sun Prairie, Wis. native will complete his collegiate career at the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago on April 6-8, with Denver slated to face Notre Dame in the second semifinal game, following Harvard against Minnesota-Duluth. Butcher was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Vecchione, the all-time leading scorer in Union's Division I hockey history, was a contributing member of the Dutchmen’s 2014 NCAA championship squad. The Saugus, Mass. product led all Union skaters this season with individual career scoring highs of 29-34—63 points in 38 appearances, and led all ECAC players with 20-24—44 points in 25 league games. Undrafted, he recently signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 2017 Hobey Baker winner will be announced on April 7 in Chicago.