Ryan Leonard was named one of three finalists for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award on Thursday afternoon. The award is college hockey’s most prestigious honor, awarded annually to the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player.
Leonard is joined by Denver’s Zeev Buium and Michigan State’s Isaac Howard in contention for the award. Leonard was already named Hockey East Player of the Year for his starring sophomore performance for the Boston College Eagles.
Leonard finished his college career as the NCAA’s leader in goals with 30 markers, becoming the first college hockey player with back-to-back 30-goal seasons since BC’s Cam Atkinson did so in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The 2023 Capitals first-round pick recorded 49 points (30g, 19a) in 37 total NCAA games this year.
Three Boston College players have previously won the award, the last being the late Johnny Gaudreau in 2014.
Leonard is the lone finalist already playing in the NHL, making his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
Buium, Leonard’s teammate at the past two World Juniors with Team USA, has recorded 48 points (13g, 35a) in 40 games for the Pioneers this season. The sophomore defenseman and his Denver team eliminated Leonard and BC from this year’s NCAA Tournament to earn a Frozen Four berth.
Howard, also a member of the gold-medal-winning Team USA in 2024, recorded 52 points (26g, 26a) in 37 games for the Spartans this year. The junior winger was named Big Ten Player of the Year after leading Michigan State to a conference tournament championship.
The winner of the Hobey Baker Award will be announced on April 11, during the Frozen Four in St. Louis.
