To be enshrined in one sports Hall of Fame is impressive, but to be enshrined in multiple Halls is downright impressive. And that is exactly what Hobey Baker did in his illustrious college career.

A two-sport star at Princeton from 1910 to 1914, Baker led the Tigers to National Championships in football (1911) and hockey (1912 & 1914). He was later inducted to both the Hockey and College Football Halls of fame, the only athlete to have been bestowed with that honor. However, that is not why Baker's name is familiar to college hockey fans.

The Hobey Baker Award has been given out annually since 1981 to the best collegiate hockey player in the Untied States. But Baker was much more than a college hockey player he was an American hero.

After leaving Princeton, Baker starred for the St Nick's out of New York City. The St Nick's were one of the best American hockey clubs at the time.

Karl Pierson Jr, remembers Hobey’s excellence as his father played goalie for that St. Nicks team.

“My father worshiped him; he was a legend,” says the Karl, who happens to be nicknamed Hobey. “You couldn’t stop him, he was so agile.” 

Now Baker's legacy lives on through the players that try to compete for his namesake trophy every season. And this year's frontrunner is no different.

Kevin Porter, who is a senior forward for the CCHA champion Michigan Wolverines, is the undisputed frontrunner for this year's trophy. Porter would become the second Michigan Wolverine to ever win the Hobey (current Vancouver Canuck Brendan Morrison in 1997 is the first).

The senior captain leads the Wolverines both on and off the ice. He finished the regular season first in points in the nation, while coming in second in goals and assists, respectively. Porter also led the Wolverines to a regular season conference championship, its first since Porter has been at Ann Arbor.

Porter's assistant captain and roommate Chad Kolarik definitely thinks his line mate deserves the trophy. However, Porter's leadership is one of the key factors not just his scoring success.

"He leads by example, vocally too, he steps up as the captain," Kolarik said.

His teammates/roommates are not the only ones who think Porter is deserving of the Hobey.

Matt McConnell, a hockey reporter for CSTV, believes Porter has all of qualities that a Hobey award winner should have.
"Everything about this guy makes him No. 1 on my list; points, leadership and pro persona," McConnell said while talking about his pick of Porter to win the award.

Porter was the only player to receive votes in the final CSTV.com Hobey Baker trophy poll, which McConnell votes in. The poll is voted on by ten national hockey writers. Running second and third in the poll are junior Nathan Gerbe of Boston College and senior Ryan Jones of Miami.

Both players are high scoring forwards with Jones leading the country in goals and Gerbe leads the Hockey East Conference in both points and goals.

CSTV's resident expert, Elliot Olshansky, believes that Gerbe deserves mention not only for his goals, but for also the timeliness of them.

"Not only does he play well against his opponents on the ice, but he overpowered the ghosts of Beanpots past when he vanquished BU in overtime," said Olshanky, referring to Gerbe's Beanpot semifinal winner seven minutes into overtime.
The Hobey Baker Award will be awarded April 11 at the Pepsi Center during the 2008 Frozen Four.