ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee has announce the top 10 candidates for its 2020 award honoring college hockey's top player and Boston University junior David Farrance is among the finalists. 

This marks the 14th time in program history that a Boston University player is among the top 10 Hobey Baker finalists and the first since 2015, when Jack Eichel became the third Terrier to receive the award, joining Matt Gilroy (2009) and Chris Drury (1998). 

The top-scoring defenseman in the country, Farrance led all Division I blueliners in points (43), goals (14) and power-play goals (9). He finished sixth overall in points nationally and his 1.26 points-per-game average is the highest of any Hockey East defenseman in 25 years. He was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star and also earned a spot on the All-USCHO First Team. He becomes just the second BU blueliner to be a Hobey finalist as Gilroy was the first 11 years ago. 

The 10 finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches plus online fan balloting. Next, the 30-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey website hobeybaker.com March 19-29 will determine this year's Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award include: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements. 


The other nine finalists are Morgan Barron (Cornell), Jason Cotton (Sacred Heart), Jack Dugan (Providence), Jordan Kawaguchi (North Dakota), John Leonard (Massachusetts), Dryden McKay (Minnesota State), Marc Michaelis (Minnesota State), Scott Perunovich (Minnesota Duluth) and Jeremy Swayman (Maine). Perunovich is the only other defenseman in the group.

The Hobey Hat Trick (three finalists) will be announced on April 2 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on April 10. The announcement will be televised live on the NHL Network and streamed on the Hobey Baker website at 6:00 p.m. ET.