Hobey Baker Award Announces Top Ten Finalists
March 20, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation on Thursday announced the top ten finalists for the 2008 Hobey Baker Award, honoring college hockey's top player. Alphabetically, they are: Nathan Gerbe, Boston College; Ryan Jones, Miami University; Lee Jubinville, Princeton; Simon Lambert, RIT; Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, North Dakota; Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud State; Jeff Lerg, Michigan State; T.J. Oshie, North Dakota; Kevin Porter, Michigan; and Kevin Regan, New Hampshire.
The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 59 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting at hobeybaker.com. Next, the 25-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting (at hobeybaker.com from March 20-30) will determine this year's Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award includes: strength of character on and off the ice, displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.
The Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists will be announced on April 2, 2008 Ryan Jones - Miami University, Senior, Forward, Chatham, Ontario
Lee Jubinville - Princeton, Junior, Forward, Edmonton, Alberta
Simon Lambert - RIT, Senior, Forward, St. Therese, Quebec Jean-Philippe Lamoureux - North Dakota, Senior, Goalie, Grand Forks, North Dakota Ryan Lasch - St. Cloud State, Sophomore, Forward, Lake Forest, California T. J. Oshie - North Dakota, Junior, Forward, Warroad, Minnesota Kevin Porter - Michigan, Senior, Forward, Northville, Michigan Kevin Regan - New Hampshire, Senior, Goalie, South Boston, Massachusetts
Hobey Notes
This 5'5" dynamo packs a powerful punch and is entering the Hockey East playoff tournament as the nation's second leading scorer with 52 points. His 27 goals rank tied for third in the country including bagging three in last weekend's playoffs. Gerbe was named First Team Hockey East and has helped the Eagles to the past two Frozen Fours.
As captain of the RedHawks, Jones guided them to a school record 29 wins and a second- place finish in the CCHA. Along the way, he leads the nation in goal scoring with 30 in 38 games, leads the nation with seven game winning goals and 11 on the power play, cementing his place as second all-time in school goal scoring. Named First Team CCHA, Jones has been All-Conference three straight seasons and has never missed a game in four years.
Jubinville is the first top ten finalist from the same school Hobey Baker himself represented so honorably before World War I. The awards are being heaped upon this slick playmaker including ECAC Player of the Year, First Team All-ECAC and First Team in the Ivy League. Jubinville finished second in ECAC scoring with 31 points in 22 league games. Princeton finished second in the ECAC standings and was the top scoring team.
It's the second straight year the five-year old Atlantic Hockey Association has produced a top ten finalist. Not only is he the leagues' leading scorer but his 51 points in 37 games ranks tied for third in the nation, as does his assist total of 26 helpers. Lambert was named First Team AHA, making it two straight years for All-Conference honors.
Hockey people refer to the late season stretch as being important for momentum and no one is hotter than Lamoureux. He has lost only one game in the past 20 while allowing opponents one goal or less in 15 of those outings. He's book-ended the season well, establishing a WCHA mark by recording four shutouts in his first five games of the season. The league goalie champion was also named to the WCHA Second Team. He sports the nation's best goals-against average at a miniscule 1.63, along with the second- best save percentage at .934, while producing an overall record of 24-9-4.
While enjoying the surf on California's coast during the off-season for fun, Lasch has found surfing around college defenses his passion. The WCHA scoring champion has tallied 51 points in 38 games, ranking tied for third overall in the nation. The timely sniper has 5 game-winning goals and 13 power-play tallies to his credit, helping the Huskies to the WCHA Final Five tournament.
Jeff Lerg - Michigan State, Junior, Goalie, Livonia, Michigan
With an NCAA national title and All-Tourney accolades already under his belt, Lerg has been the nation's busiest goaltender this season as the Spartans prepare for another title run. While leading the CCHA this past season in wins, save percentage and shutouts, Lerg has also been named to the CCHA First Team and is a finalist for Player of the Year honors. The finance major is a two-time Scholar Athlete.
Scoring timely goals has been a forte of Oshie with five game winners this season and a career total of 16 clinchers, placing him second all-time in Fighting Sioux history. Named to the WCHA First Team, Oshie finished fifth in WCHA scoring, producing a team-high 39 points in 37 games. He's produced 13 multiple point games this season, expanding his career total to 38 for the St. Louis Blues first round draft pick.
Consistency defines the nation's leading scorer as the Wolverine captain has produced points in all but six of the 38 games he's played. Porter helped guide his team to the CCHA regular season title and is a finalist for the league's Player of the Year award and Best Defensive Forward award. He was also named to the CCHA First Team.
The assistant captain backstopped his Wildcats to the Hockey East league title by a huge eight-point margin while leading the league with a 1.80 goals-against average. His overall save percentage of .934 is tied for second in the country. Regan was named First Team Hockey East along with the circuit's Player of the Year honor. The Business/Finance major has earned All-Academic Hockey East accolades three times and has made the UNH Dean's list every semester of his career.
