Ciampini named top 10 finalist for Hobey

by Ryan Fay

Union senior winger Daniel Ciampini was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, it was announced Thursday.

Ciampini

The 24-year-old becomes the third Union player to be named a top-10 finalist for the award, given annually to college hockey's best player. The other two were goaltender Troy Grosenick (2012) and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (2014).

Ciampini ranks second in the NCAA in goals with 26 and ninth in scoring with 1.28 points per game.

He finished tied with Mike Vecchione for the team lead in points with 50, matching a single-season program record originally set last year by Daniel Carr.

Ciampini paced Union in goals (26), shots (126), plus/minus (+21), power play goals (9) and game-winning goals (5).

"Anytime you're up for the Hobey Baker Award, you've had a consistent year and Daniel did that," said Union head coach Rick Bennett. "Daniel obviously put the puck in the back of the net better than a majority of the guys in the country. I think that really stuck out."

The strong season paid off for the Concord, Ontario native as he signed an ameteur tryout contract with the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks on Wednesday.

The other finalists are Boston University freshman forward Jack Eichel, RIT senior forward Matt Garbowsky, Michigan senior forward Zach Hyman, Michigan Tech senior forward Tanner Kero, Denver senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia, North Dakota junior goalie Zane McIntyre, Minnesota junior defenseman Mike Reilly, Harvard junior forward Jimmy Vesey and Robert Morris senior forward Cody Wydo.

The top 10 finalists will be cut to three on April 2. The winner will be announced on April 10 during the Frozen Four in Boston.

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