Gophers linemates Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley were named two of the three Hat Trick finalists on Thursday for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in men's college hockey.
The other finalist is Michigan freshman Adam Fantilli, with the award scheduled to be announced Friday of next week during the Frozen Four.
Cooley, a Pittsburgh native, was the No. 3 overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL draft. The freshman has 20 goals and 37 assists this season for the Gophers; his 57 points rank second in the nation and his assists total is tied for first.
He also has six game-winning goals and is on a 15-game point streak and a six-game multipoint streak for the Gophers.
Knies, a Phoenix native, was named Big Ten Player of the Year and leads the nation with seven game-winning goals. The sophomore is the only player in Gophers' history with three overtime goals in one season. He leads the Gophers with 21 goals.
Fantilli, a freshman forward from Nobleton, Ontario, leads the nation with 64 points on 29 goals and 35 assists. His goal total ranks second, and his assists are fifth in the nation. Fantilli also has 10 power-play goals and four game-winners. He helped lead Michigan to the Big Ten tournament championship.
This is only the third time since the selection process moved to its present format that two of the three finalists are from the same team (2005 — Colorado College, 2009 — Boston University.)
Minnesota (28-9-1) plays Boston University in the Frozen Four semifinals at 4 p.m. on Thursday of next week in Tampa, Fla. Michigan (26-11-3) plays Quinnipiac that night in the other semifinal.
