April 2, 2009

Gilroy Video Highlights | Wilson Video Highlights

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Senior defenseman Matt Gilroy and sophomore forward Colin Wilson of the Boston University men's ice hockey team are two of the three Hobey Hat Trick finalists, as announced Thursday by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation. Northeastern goaltender Brad Thiessen rounds out the trio of finalists, marking the first time that all three have come from the same conference. The winner of the 2009 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, honoring college hockey's top player, will be announced at the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 10, at the Verizon Center.

This is just the second time that two players from the same school have been included in the Hobey Hat Trick, as Brett Sterling and eventual winner Marty Sertich of Colorado College were both among the three finalists in 2005.

While this is the 29th year that the Hobey is being awarded, it is just the ninth year that the top 10 finalists have been narrowed to three to form the Hobey Hat Trick. Gilroy and Wilson are the first BU players to be part of a Hobey Hat Trick. Chris Drury is the only BU player to have won the award, having earned the accolade as a senior in 1998.

Gilroy, who was named College Hockey News Player of the Year on Monday, is aiming to become just the third three-time All-American in Terrier history, joining Rick Meagher and Drury. The senior co-captain recently became the first defenseman in the 25-year history of the Hockey East Association to be named to the league's first team three times.

This season, Gilroy leads all Hockey East defensemen in points with 36 on eight goals and 28 assists. In 158 career games, Gilroy has amassed 25 goals and 66 assists for 91 points. The North Bellmore, N.Y., native leads a Terrier defense that has allowed just 1.95 goals per game, good for third in the country. He has played in 144 consecutive games and boasts a career rating of plus-77, including a plus-21 rating this season.

Wilson, who joined Gilroy and Thiessen on this year's Hockey East All-Star First Team, has elevated his game as a sophomore and been the top contributor to an offense that scores a nation-best 3.91 goals per game. He has tallied a Hockey East-best 52 points on 15 goals and 37 assists. Wilson ranks third in the nation in points with his assist total is tied for second.

The 2008 Hockey East and New England Rookie of the Year, Wilson is the first Terrier since Drury in 1997-98 to tally 50 points in a season and his 37 assists are the most by a BU player since Bob Lachance put up 38 in the 1995-96 campaign. The native of Winnipeg, Man., has recorded 17 multi-point games this season, including a four-point effort in a 7-2 win at Maine on Feb. 13 that included his first career hat trick.

The three finalists were selected from the initial list of Top 10 candidates by the 25-member Selection Committee and an additional round of online fan balloting to 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.