McIntyre Named Top-10 Finalist for Hobey Baker Award

MINNEAPOLIS – Colgate’s David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) has been named one of the Top 10 finalists for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award, it was announced Thursday by the Hobey Baker Memorial Foundation.

McIntyre, who days ago was named a first team all-ECAC Hockey selection, becomes the first Raider among the final 10 since Andy McDonald in the 1999-2000 campaign.

“David is clearly one of the best players in the nation,” said Colgate head coach Don Vaughan. “He has explosive acceleration and an offensive skill set to match.

“David is one of the most dynamic players I have ever coached,” continued Vaughan. “He is certainly exciting to watch, but what I admired most about David this year was how he handled his new leadership role on the team and really embraced the added responsibility and did a great job of dealing with the extra attention that came with it.”

McIntyre is joined by Louie Caporusso (Michigan), Matt Gilroy (Boston U), Chad Johnson (Alaska), Zane Kalemba (Princeton), Jacques Lamoureaux (Air Force), Jamie McBain (Wisconsin), Viktor Stahlberg (Vermont), Brad Thiessen (Northeastern), and Colin Wilson (Boston U) as top 10 finalists.

In 37 games, McIntyre posted the highest single-season point total since McDonald’s 58-point campaign in 1999-2000. The junior collected 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points while leading the Raiders to a 12-18-7 overall mark. McIntyre registered at least one point in 29 of 37 games and posted 10 multi-point outings. He ranked among the league leaders in several statistical categories, including being second in goals, +/- (+19) and shots (139), and third in points. Thirteen of his goals came in league games, which ranked first overall among ECAC Hockey players. McIntyre also ranked among the top 20 nationally in points per game and goals per game for several weeks starting in late January.

“David McIntyre is the most dynamic, game changing player that we faced this season,” said Rensselaer head coach Seth Appert. “His offensive talent speaks for itself, but his fearless, aggressive style is what makes him special.”

Colgate tied a national single-season record with six overtime victories and McIntyre had a direct impact on five of those outcomes. He scored overtime goals to power the Raiders to victories over Maine (12/27) and Rensselaer (2/21), while setting up the game winning goals against Lake Superior State (1/8), Quinnipiac (2/7), and at #11 Yale (3/1). He also tallied the game winner in the season opener against UMass Lowell (10/11) and scored the lone goal in a victory at then nationally ranked Dartmouth (2/14).

McIntyre tallied a season best three points versus Lake Superior State (1/7), Union (1/17), Quinnipiac (2/7), and at Yale (3/1). He registered a career-high three assists against the Lakers, while having a hand in all three Raider goals in the other three contests mentioned.

McIntyre posted his best scoring streak of the season from November 22 to January 9. Covering 10 games, the junior totaled 15 points on seven goals and eight helpers.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is named after a former Princeton hockey and football standout who later became a pilot in World War I, was handed out for the first time back in 1981 to the University of Minnesota’s Neal Broten. The Award winner must exhibit strong character both on and off the ice; contribute to the integrity of the team, and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Scholarship and sportsmanship also are taken into consideration as well.

McIntyre advanced to the second phase after being chosen among the top 10 on the ballots of all 58 head coaches on the Division I level as well as on line balloting. The top 10 players receiving votes advance to the second phase - the 25-member Selection Committee, which eventually decides upon the winner. This group of people is comprised of print media, electronic media, NHL scouts, the American Hockey Coaches Association, as well as one individual from USA Hockey.

Beginning March 20, fans can go to www.hobeybaker.com/voting and submit their vote for their winner. The fan vote accounts for one percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting the winner.

The “Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists” will be announced April 2, while the award winner will be announced April 10 in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Tournament festivities.