(Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

CHICAGO – The Hobey Baker Memorial Award recipient of college hockey’s top individual prize was Denver’s Will Butcher from the University of Denver, presented in a live ceremony held at the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois and aired nationally on the NHL Network.

As team captain in his senior season, Butcher helped guide the Denver Pioneers to the Frozen Four national championship game as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Butcher’s stellar performance as the premiere defenseman in the nation led to a host of postseason awards including the NCHC Player of the Year, Offensive Defenseman of the Year and for the second straight season, First Team all-conference. Earlier on Friday, he was also honored by the American Hockey Coaches Association as a First Team All-American in the west.

Butcher becomes just the sixth defenseman in the award’s 37-year history and the second Pioneer since Matt Carle in 2006.

Entering the national championship game, Butcher’s seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points are second in the nation by a defenseman.

“He controls the game at both ends of the ice,” Denver coach Jim Montgomery said at the presentation.

A draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche (fifth round, 2013), the Wisconsin native was one of 10 Hobey Baker finalists en route to the final Hat Trick threesome that included Zach Aston-Reese, senior forward from Northeastern, and Mike Vecchione, senior forward from Union College. Vecchione is a Saugus, Mass. native and played at Malden Catholic High School.

“I’m completely honored but would not be up here without the guys behind me,” Butcher said after. “This is icing on the cake for our team. I give them full credit. My goal is to win a national championship.”

The award was founded in memory of Hobey Baker, recognized as America’s greatest amateur athlete during his time at Princeton University where he entered in 1910. He joined the U.S. Army and was a member of their Flying Corp during World War I. Baker, a decorated war hero, died while testing a repaired aircraft following the Armistice at age 26. In his day, he was known as ‘the king of hockey.’ Criteria for the award includes displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

The 22nd Hockey Humanitarian Award

St. Michael’s teammates Justin McKenzie and Danny Divis pose with a big check and the Hockey Humanitarian Award in Chicago. (Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

For the first time in award history, college hockey’s “best citizen” who personifies true community spirit by giving back went to a duo from Vermont’s St. Michaels’ College – seniors Danny Divis and Justin McKenzie. They co-founded Hope Happens Here, promoting mental health wellness and awareness among college students, particularly student-athletes.

“I think we have succeeded in making the issue of mental health an important part of our campus,” McKenzie, who experienced family suicide as well as a friend of both recipients, said. “Hopefully, we can start a non-profit and take it to as many others as possible.”

The award is presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management.