Our question this week for The Rink Live beat reporters is: Of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award (MSU-Mankato goalie Dryden McKay, Denver forward Bobby Brink and Minnesota forward Ben Meyers), which one wins?
Those reporters are Mick Hatten, Jess Myers, Christian Babcock, Brad Schlossman and Matt Wellens. Hatten covers St. Cloud State, Myers covers the University of Minnesota, Babcock covers Bemidji State, Schlossman covers the University of North Dakota and Wellens covers Minnesota Duluth.
If you have a question for the group, follow us on Twitter and use #asktherinklive.
Mick Hatten (Huskies): I'm going to go with Dryden McKay for a couple of reasons. Of the three finalists, he's had the most dominant season. With the committee voting after the regionals, McKay picked up a shutout in a 1-0 championship game to get his team to the Frozen Four.
Christian Babcock (Beavers): McKay has had an exceptional season, and it seems like his time this year. So I'll go with him.
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Jess Myers (Gophers): Bobby Brink and Ben Meyers have had superlative seasons in leading their teams to their respective conference regular season titles and to the Frozen Four. With all of that said, Dryden McKay's career body of work (34 shutouts!) is eye-popping and it is my hunch that for the third time ever, the Hobey will go to a goalie.
Matt Wellens (Bulldogs): The success Dryden McKay has maintained over his career is no fluke, and I thought he was the best player on the ice over New Year's weekend when the Bulldogs played the Mavericks in a home-and-home. He's had a phenomenal season, and deserves every award he's up for, including the Hobey Baker this year.
Brad Schlossman (Fighting Hawks): Hobey Baker is usually a stats-driven award. Considering that, it's Bobby Brink's. Brink has 15 more points than Meyers and McKay's save percentage is 18 points behind national leader Devon Levi.
