Chubak Tabbed as Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist
Minnetonka, Minn. – Niagara hockey goalie Carsen Chubak was named top ten finalists for the 2013 Hobey Baker Award, the Hobey Baker Award committee announced today.
Chubak is just the third Purple Eagle in the 17-year history of the program to earn this distinction. Niagara’s Paul Zanette and Joe Tallari were each a top 10 finalists in 2011 and 2003, respectively.
“Everyone associated with the program is proud of Carsen’ s accomplishment being a finalist for this prestigious award,” head coach David Burkholder said. “Character, integrity and skill set are the attributes that personify the Hobey Baker Award winner, and he is certainly a role model here at Niagara in all those areas.”
Chubak, who was named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year on March 21, currently owns a 21-5-5 record and has 904 saves. After seeing action in just 10 games over his first two seasons at Monteagle Ridge, the Prince Albert, Sask. native has started in 33 of the 36 games played during the 2012-13 campaign.
He currently sits in fifth in the nation in goals-against average (1.81), fourth in the nation in save percentage (.941) and winning percentage (.773). The junior’s six shutouts on the season are top in the country.
The seven-time AHA Goalie of the Week and two-time AHA Goalie of the Month honoree became the first NU goalie to register three consecutive shutouts (Nov. 2-Nov. 9), tying him for third in NCAA history with the likes of goalies such as Jimmy Howard (University of Maine) and Ryan Miller (Michigan State University). Chubak, who is a 2013 Premier Player of College Hockey finalist, has also found himself in Niagara’s record book in a variety of categories:
· Record for most consecutive shutout minutes (258.32)
· Second on the Single-Season Shutout list (6)
· Third on the Career Shutout list (6)
· Tied for second on Single-Season Games list (33) with Jeff Van Nynatten (05-06)
· Second on the Single-Season Saves list (963)
· Second on Single-Season Minutes Played list (1984:38)
Also included in the final 10 for the prestigious award are Junior forward Greg Carey (St. Lawrence), sophomore forward Austin Czarnik (Miami University), senior forward Kyle Flanagan (St Lawrence), sophomore forward Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College), senior goalie Eric Hartzell (Quinnipiac), senior forward Corban Knight (University of North Dakota), senior forward Danny Kristo (University of North Dakota), senior forward Drew LeBlanc (St. Cloud State) and junior forward Ryan Walters (University of Nebraska Omaha)..
Chubak and the rest of the nine finalists will now be voted on by the 23-member selection committee, and a second round of online fan balloting to determine the Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists, which will be announced on April 3.
The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on April 12 from Pittsburgh, Pa., the site of this year’s NCAA Frozen Four Championship.
