SAINT PAUL, Minn. – North Dakota sophomore forward Jackson Blake has been named to the 2024 Hobey Baker Hat Trick, as the Hobey Baker Memorial Award committee announced the three finalists for men’s college hockey’s top player on Thursday. Joining Blake in the Hobey Hat Trick are Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini and Boston College sophomore forward Cutter Gauthier.
 
Blake becomes the 10th Hobey Hat Trick finalist in National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) history and first since former Denver forward Bobby Brink in 2022. Blake is the seventh North Dakota player to be named to the Hobey Hat Trick, including third in the last five years (Jordan Kawaguchi in 2020 and Shane Pinto in 2021).
 
Blake (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was tabbed NCHC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year this season and was a unanimous First-Team All-NCHC selection. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick totaled 60 points in 40 games this season, tying the NCHC single-season scoring record set by former UND standout Brock Boeser in 2015-16. The 60 points lead the NCHC and rank fourth nationally. Blake scored 22 goals to tie for 13th nationally and fifth in the NCHC, while his 38 assists tie for third in the NCAA and first in the NCHC. The sophomore recorded at least three points in a game eight times during the season, while averaging 1.50 points per game (seventh nationally).
 
Blake set an NCHC record with 37 points in conference play (24 games) this year, topping the previous mark by two points. Among his 37 points were an NCHC-best 26 assists, as he helped UND lift the Penrose Cup as regular-season champions. Blake finished the season on an 11-game point streak while earning back-to-back NCHC Player of the Month honors in February and March. Last year’s NCHC Rookie of the Year, Blake was also a two-time NCHC Forward of the Week this season. He already has 102 points (38g/64a) in his two-year college career (79 games), becoming the first UND sophomore to reach 100 career points since Zach Parise in 2003-04.
 
The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 12, 2024 during the Men’s NCAA Frozen Four weekend in Saint Paul, Minn. The announcement will be televised live on NHL Network and streamed on the Hobey Baker website at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT. 
 
The three Hat Trick Finalists for this year’s Hobey Baker Award were selected from the initial list of Top Ten finalists by the 30-member Selection Committee and an additional round of online fan balloting. Along with Blake, Denver junior forward Jack Devine was one of the finalists for the 2024 Hobey Baker Award, as well, as the NCHC had a pair of Top-10 Finalists.
 
Criteria for the Hobey Baker Award includes: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game; strength of character on and off the ice; sportsmanship; and scholastic achievements.
 
The NCHC is home to two previous Hobey Baker Award winners in former Denver defenseman Will Butcher, who won in 2017, and former Minnesota Duluth defenseman Scott Perunovich, who captured the honor in 2020.