Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Named Hobey Baker Finalist

The Hobey Baker Top Ten finalists were announced today, it will be limited down to the final three on April 4^th with the winner being announced on April 12^th. The Hobey Baker Award is awarded to the top player in college hockey for that seen, some notable winners are Adam Fantilli who is playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cole Caufield who is with the Montreal Canadiens, Cale Makar who is with the Colorado Avalanche, Jack Eichel who is with the Vegas Golden Knights, and Johnny Gaudreau who is with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The ten finalists for 2024 are Forward Macklin Celebrini from Boston University, Forward Jack Devine from the University of Denver, Forward Cutter Gauthier from Boston College, Forward Collin Graf from Quinnipiac University, Defenseman Lane Hutson from Boston University, Goalie Kyle McClellan from the University of Wisconsin, Forward Liam McLinskey from the College of the Holy Cross, Forward Sam Morton from Minnesota State University, Forward Will Smith from Boston College, and Forward Jackson Blake from the University of North Dakota who is a prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes. Devine is a prospect of the Florida Panthers, Gauthier is a prospect of the Anaheim Ducks, Hutson is a prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, Morton is a prospect of the Calgary Flames, and Smith is a prospect of the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini, Graf, McClellan, and McLinskey are all undrafted; Celebrini is the top prospect entering the 2024 draft.

Jackson Blake By The Numbers

The Carolina Hurricanes drafted Blake with the 109^th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. This season he has played in 38 games for North Dakota and has recorded 57 points coming on 21 goals and 36 assists and he is a plus/minus of plus 14. Last season at North Dakota he played in 39 games and had 42 points coming on 16 goals and 26 assists and was a minus-one. Also, last season he appeared in the World Juniors playing in seven games he had six points coming on a goal and five assists. Blake will play again when North Dakota takes on Omaha on Friday and if they win that they will advance to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship against the winner of Denver and St. Cloud State, that game will be played on Saturday. North Dakota is also expected to be in the 2024 Frozen Four, North Dakota missed the tournament last season and is currently ranked as the number four team in the Country by USA Hockey, and the USHO.