The state has a heap of hockey players up for the Hobey.
Two Michigan State Spartans and one from the Michigan Wolverines are among the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top collegiate player in the country.
Michigan State senior forward Charlie Stramel and junior goaltender Trey Augustine are finalists, as is Michigan senior forward T.J. Hughes, who was voted Big Ten player of the year this season.
The Hobey Baker has been awarded since 1981, with Michigan State and Michigan each winning three times. Michigan State left wing Isaac Howard was named the winner in 2025.
For Michigan State, this is the fourth it has had multiple nominees in the same year, the first time since 1998.
Stramel leads the nation this season in game-winning goals (seven), and is 11th in points per game (1.26). He has been the engine behind a Spartans’ offense that ranks sixth nationally entering the NCAA Tournament. Stramel has 44 points through 35 games, including 19 goals.
Augustine, of South Lyon, was the Big Ten goaltender of the year, ranking sixth nationally in save percentage (.929). His 65 career wins are tied for the most among active Division I goaltenders.
Hughes, for Michigan, has 50 points in 36 games, and during one stretch this season, he had a 15-game scoring streak, the longest streak in the nation this season. He has led Michigan in scoring the last two seasons. Michigan last won the Hobey Baker in 2023, when center Adam Fantilli was the winner.
The 10 finalists were chosen in a vote by head coaches and fans. The finalists, which also includes Detroit Red Wings draft pick Max Plante of the University of Minnesota Duluth, will be narrowed to three, the “Hobey Hat Trick,” which will be announced April 2.
The winner will be announced April 10, at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
Michigan (28-7-1) will play Ohio State for the Big Ten tournament championship Saturday at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines will be the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Michigan State (25-8-2) and defending Division I national champion Western Michigan (26-10-1) also will be No. 1 seeds.
The 16-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be unveiled Sunday night.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Meet 3 hockey players from Michigan up for Hobey Baker Award
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
