Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalists Announced

The three 2026 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy have been announced, of which the winner will be revealed in Las Vegas on April 10 amidst the Frozen Four.

Mar 7, 2025; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward T.J. Hughes (13) passes against Penn State during a Big Ten Tournament quarter final game at Yost Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

T.J. Hughes, Max Plante and Eric Pohlkamp were named the Hobey Hat Trick finalists — the three players with the opportunity to be named the Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner.

The Hobey Baker Committee made the announcement on April 2 for the final three up to win the most prestigious award in college hockey that recognizes the top NCAA DI men's ice hockey player. Hughes represents the University of Michigan, Plante plays for the University of Minnesota Duluth and Pohlkamp is on the roster for the University of Denver. The winner will be announced in Las Vegas on April 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST, with Hughes and Pohlkamp already being in the city due to making the Frozen Four — which will take place on April 9 and 11 at T-Mobile Arena.

And your 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalists are.... @drinkbodyarmor #hobeybaker pic.twitter.com/Mb9WmTte6Z

— Hobey Baker Award (@HobeyBakerAward) April 2, 2026

In the 2026 Frozen Four, No. 1 seed Michigan will take on Denver in the semifinals. No. 2 North Dakota will see its semifinal matchup against Wisconsin.

There was an initial list of Top Ten candidates by the 30-member selection committee for the Hobey Baker Award, which has now dwindled to the current finalists. The award will be given out in the Presidio Ballroom at Park MGM Las Vegas.

T.J. Hughes, Max Plante and Eric Pohlkamp Named 2026 Hobey Baker Finalists

Hughes was previously named the Big Ten Player of the Year and totaled Hughes has totaled 56 points in 39 games this season for the Wolverines. A four-year member of the Michigan program, he has helped the Wolverines to three Frozen Four appearances.

He is also the current captain for the 2025-26 team. Hughes is the NCAA's leading active scorer with 178 points in 155 games, including 68 goals and 110 assists.

Michigan is in the national semifinals for an NCAA-record 29th time.

Pohlkamp, who is 22, is looking to become the third Denver player to win the award. The San Jose Sharks prospect (fifth-round selection, 2023 NHL Draft) leads all Denver players and NCAA defensemen this season with 18 goals and 39 points in 41 games and is also first among all skaters in the country with 185 shots on goal.

The Pioneer was also named the Offensive Defenseman of the Year in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Hagen Burrows (13) of the Denver Pioneers and Lukas Sillinger (61) of the Arizona State Sun Devils follow Eric Pohlkamp (23) down the ice during a game at Mullett Arena on Feb. 8, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. | Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Plante was previously selected as the 2025-26 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year and finished the season with 52 points — the most ever by a Bulldog since 2011-12. His father of Derek Plante was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the 1992-93 year.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on NHL Network; Gavin McKenna of Penn State was previously named one of the 10 candidates but did not advance to the previously mentioned final three.

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