SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Looking to earn the NCHC’s third Hobey Baker Award, 18 National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) student-athletes have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, as fan voting opened Wednesday to help select the winner of NCAA men’s hockey’s most prestigious honor. A total of 87 NCAA men’s hockey players have been nominated for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award, which is presented to college hockey’s most outstanding player.
 
All nine teams from the National have at least one player nominated for the Hobey, with three each from Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan. Arizona State, Colorado College and Denver have two nominees each, while Miami, North Dakota and Omaha each have one. Among the 18 NCHC nominees, 11 are forwards while four (4) are defensemen and three (3) are goaltenders. By class, four (4) are seniors, eight (8) are juniors and six (6) are sophomores.
 
2026 NCHC Hobey Baker Award Nominees

• Owen Beckner, Colorado College, So., F
• Boston Buckberger, Denver, Jr., D
• Austin Burnevik, St. Cloud State, So., F
• Matteo Giampa, Miami, Jr., F
• Tyson Gross, St. Cloud State, Jr., F
• Barrett Hall, St. Cloud State, Jr., F
• Ty Hanson, Minnesota Duluth, So., D
• Simon Latkoczy, Omaha, Sr., G
• Jake Livanavage, North Dakota, Jr., D
• Cruz Lucius, Arizona State, Sr., F
• Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, Sr., G
• Owen Michaels, Western Michigan, Jr., F
• Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So., F
• Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth, So., F
• Eric Pohlkamp, Denver, Jr., D
• Bennett Schimek, Arizona State, Sr., F
• Grant Slukynsky, Western Michigan, Jr., F
• Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan, So., G

Presented annually to college hockey’s top player, the Hobey Baker Award opened fan voting for 2026 on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Fans can cast their vote by visiting https://www.hobeybaker.com/vote and viewing all 87 college hockey players up for the award. Information on each candidate can be found by clicking on the player’s profile on the Fan Vote page.
 
The first phase of fan balloting runs through Sunday, March 8. Phase two of fan balloting then begins on Wednesday, March 18 and closes on Sunday, March 29, after the Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists are announced on March 18. The fan vote accounts for a small percentage of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient. Each school is allowed to nominate up to three players for the award, while a committee ultimately votes on and selects the Hobey Baker Award finalists and winner.
 
Award criteria includes candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits shown by the award’s namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America’s greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship, as well. 
 
The Hobey Hat Trick will be revealed on Thursday, April 2, while the 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner will then be announced on Friday, April 10 during the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Las Vegas. The award ceremony will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com.
 
The NCHC is home to two previous Hobey Baker Award winners in former Denver defenseman Will Butcher and former Minnesota Duluth defenseman Scott Perunovich. Butcher was the first NCHC player to win it in 2017, while Perunovich captured the honor in 2020.
 
Key Hobey Baker Award announcement dates for 2026 include:

• Top Ten list of finalists: March 18
• Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists: April 2
• Hobey Baker Award winner announced: April 10