Denver D Carle wins Hobey Baker Award

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - For the first time in three years, Matt Carle is not going to be playing for the national championship. However, he finally can lay claim to a piece of personal glory.

A defenseman from Denver, Carle was named the winner of the 26th Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Friday in a ceremony at the Frozen Four.

College hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy, the Hobey Baker Award came down to Carle, forward Chris Collins of Boston College and goaltender Brian Elliott of Wisconsin.

While the latter two will represent their schools in Saturday’s title game, Carle will have to settle for becoming the first honoree in Denver history.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this prestigious award,” said Carle, who led the Pioneers to back-to-back championships in 2004-05. “Surprisingly, nobody has ever won it from Denver, which was a great shocker to me. … So to be the first one to ever do that from that school is a complete honor.”

A second-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2003, Carle became the first player in WCHA history to be voted the league’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He led all NCAA defenseman in points (52) and led the nation in assists (42).

Collins recorded his third hat trick of the season to lead the Eagles to a 6-5 victory over North Dakota in the first Frozen Four game at the Bradley Center on Thursday.

The Hockey East Player of the Year, Collins has 34 goals and 30 assists in 41 games this season.

Elliott made 26 saves as the Badgers posted a 5-2 triumph over Maine in the second semifinal.

Hoping to lead Wisconsin to its first hockey title in 16 years, Elliott entered the Frozen Four as the nation’s leader in goals-against average (1.55), save percentage (.938) and win percentage (.803) and was tied for first with eight shutouts.

Elliott had his scoreless streak snapped at 262 minutes, 26 seconds when Michel Leveille forged a 1-1 tie late in the first period of Thursday’s win.

Only two goalies have won the Hobey Baker Award - Ryan Miller of Michigan State in 2001 and Robb Stauber of Minnesota in 1988.

Colorado College forward Marty Sertich won the award last season. Neal Broten, who was a member of the United States’ 1980 Olympic gold medal-winning team, was the inaugural winner of the award in 1981.