Friday, Isaac Howard, a hope of Tampa Bay Lightning, won the Prix du Memorial Hobey Baker 2025.
The 21 -year -old Michigan Junior, was elected the best male male player in the NCAA ice hockey before two other finalists: the Boston College striker Ryan Leonard, now playing for Washington’s capital, and the defender of the University of Denver, Zeev Buium, a wild prospect of Minnesota.
He is the third winner of Hobey Baker by Michigan State, according to striker Kip Miller in 1990 and goalkeeper Ryan Miller in 2001.
“I think it could have happened,” said Howard after the ceremony at the Stifel Theater of St. Louis. “‘Lenny’ and ‘Z’ were incredible players and experienced unreal seasons. I did not know in which direction it could go. Obviously, when my name was called, it was super exciting. An incredible honor and I was really pumped.
“This price shows that you had a great season. I really loved my transition to Michigan State. I couldn’t be happier and it’s really fun to get this price.”
Howard, a choice of first round (n ° 31) in the draft of the NHL 2022, led Michigan State and is fifth of the NCAA with 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games. He was appointed player of the year Big Ten this season, his second to Michigan State after being transferred from Minnesota Duluth.
His 26 goals equaled Adam Hall (1999-2000) for the most part of a season by a player from the State of Michigan since Sean Berens scored 36 in 1997-98. He also had the most points in a season since Shawn Horcoff was 65 in 1999-00.
Asked what his goals are now that he plans to return to Michigan State for his senior season, Howard said: “I want to win a national championship. I did not play to win a hobey. At the end of the day, I want to win a national championship. I think we are going to prepare and make sure that we should not leave anything on the board. ”.
Michigan State lost against Cornell 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on March 27.
Leonard, the no. 8 Pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, Signed His Entry-Level Contract with the Capitals on March 31. He scored into an empty net for his first nhl goal in his third game, a 5-3 Win Against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4, When Washington Forward Alex Ovechkin 893rd and 894th Goals of His NHL Career to Tie Wayne Gretzky for Most in History.
The 20-year-old, who collected 49 points (30 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games in the second year, was the first NCAA player with consecutive seasons of 30 goals (31 in 2023-24) from Cam Atkinson for the 2009-11 Boston College and the first Skater Eagles to be appointed Hockey East for the United States team which was repeated in 2014. Winner of the gold medal at the World Junior Championship of 2025 IIHF. He was appointed the most useful player in the tournament after having 10 points (five goals, five assists) in seven games.
Buium, a second year student of Denver, leads NCAA defenders with 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 41 games and is second among the NCAA players in assists. The 19-year-old, selected by The Wild in the first round (n ° 12) of the NHL 2024 draft, was appointed player of the year of the National Collegiate Hockey conference, won the offensive prize for the conference for the second consecutive season and was a unanimous selection of the first all-key team for the second consecutive season.
He also won a second consecutive gold medal with the United States in the World Juniors. He collected six points (two goals, four assists) was more-10 and led the United States with an average ice time of 25:13 in seven games.
Buium and Denver lost their luck for a second consecutive NCAA championship with a 3-2 double extension defeat at Western Michigan University in the national semi-finals at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Thursday.
Western Michigan will play at Boston University during the national championship match on Saturday (7:30 p.m. he; ESPN2).
The independent correspondent of NHL.com, Lou Korac, contributed to this report
