Sports

UMass D Makar wins Hobey Baker award as college hockey's MVP

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Hockey Writer

Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar (16) controls the puck during the second period in a semifinal against Denver during the Frozen Four NCAA men's college hockey tournament Thursday, April 11, 2019, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Hockey Writer

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Massachusetts defenseman Cale Makar has won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player.

Makar is completing his second season and played a key role in helping the Minutemen advance to their first Frozen Four championship game. College hockey's awards were announced Friday a day before UMass faces defending champion Minnesota Duluth in the final.

Makar beat out Harvard's Adam Fox and St. Cloud State's Jimmy Schuldt in the first time the award's three finalists were defensemen.

Related: Frozen 4 final pits defending champ UMD versus upstart UMass

From Calgary, Alberta, Makar has 49 points in 40 games and is two points from becoming the first defenseman to lead the nation in points. He was selected by Colorado with the fourth pick in the 2017 draft.

The Mike Richter award for top goalie went to Northeastern sophomore Cayden Primeau. He finished 25-9-1 and ranked second in the nation with a .933 save percentage. He's the son of former NHLer Keith Primeau and signed an entry level contract with Montreal last month.

Wisconsin defenseman Jake Bunz earned the Hockey Humanitarian award for establishing The Fond Blanc Foundation to help orphaned children in Haiti.

>>>MORE: Del Gaizo seals UMass' 4-3 OT win over Denver

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This story has been corrected to reflect Makar was selected in the 2017 draft.

Associated Press

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