Elliott a Hobey Baker Award Finalist
March 16, 2006 | Men's Hockey
Junior goaltender Brian Elliott has been named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the college hockey's most outstanding player, the Hobey Baker Foundation announced on Thursday. Along with Elliott, the nine other finalists include Matt Carle, Denver; Chris Collins, Boston College; Andy Greene, Miami; Greg Moore, Maine; Scott Parse, Nebraska-Omaha; Ryan Potulny, Minnesota; Marty Sertich, Colorado College; Brett Sterling, Colorado College; and T.J. Trevelyan, St. Lawrence.
The finalists are selected by vote of the nation's 59 Division I head coaches, along with the Preliminary Voting results in Vote for Hobey, the award's online fan balloting. Criteria for the award, which is celebrating its 26th season of honoring college hockey's top player, include strength of character on and off the ice, along with scholastic achievements and sportsmanship.
The award's winner will be determined from among the finalists by the Hobey Baker Selection Committee, a group of coaches, scouts, media and a representative from USA Hockey. Fans also contribute to the final decision through Vote for Hobey's Final Voting phase, which will run through Monday, March 27.
Elliott, the WCHA goaltending champion with a 1.84 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in league games, is the second UW goalie in three years to win the title (Bruckler - 2003'04). Named to the 2006 All-WCHA Second Team, Elliott leads the nation with a .810 winning percentage (22-4-3), 22 victories and a 1.68 goals-against average. His .934 save percentage ranks second in the nation, but first among full-time goaltenders. Elliott has been at his best against the nation's top teams, boasting an 11-0-1 record, 1.24 goals-against average and .955 save percentage against ranked opponents. Five-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week ' two league weekly honors than any other player ' he set the school record with five shutouts, including two in the past four games. The November CSTV/HCA National Player of the Month for November, he has turned away 104 of his last 106 shots, allowing just two goals in his past four contests. For his career, Elliott is 31-9-4 (.750) to ranks second in UW history in winning percentage, while his career 1.64 goals-against average and .933 save percentage are the best in UW annals. Both his career goals-against average and save percentage would rank fourth in NCAA history. A WCHA All-Academic selection as a business major, the Newmarket, Ontario, native went 9-2-2 on the road during the season, allowed only 23 even-strength goals and was the Badger Hockey Showdown Most Valuable Player.
Elliott becomes the seventh Badger named a finalist since the award was created in 1981. Most recently, Dany Heatley was a top-10 finalist in 2001. Before Heatley, Steve Reinprecht was runner-up for the award in 2000, while other finalists have included goaltender Duane Derksen in 1992, Paul Ranheim in 1988, Tony Granato in 1987 and John Newberry in 1982.
Elliott returns to the ice Friday afternoon, March 17 when the Badgers face North Dakota in one semifinal of the 2006 WCHA Final Five. The game will be telecast live on FSN North and on WIBA-AM 1310 radio.
