The first list of nominees for the Hobey Baker Award is out and it includes a pair of Detroit Red Wings prospects.
Both goalie Trey Augustine of the Michigan State Spartans and forward Sam Stange of the Omaha Mavericks are on the list. The Hobey Baker Award goes to the most outstanding player in NCAA hockey. Recent winners include Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks (2024) and Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2023).
Augustine, who recently was backstopping USA Hockey to a second consecutive IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal, is a sophomore with the Spartans. Detroit was selecting him 41st overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft.
This season at Michigan State, Augustine is seventh in the nation in winning percentage at .765 (12-3-2). He’s 13th in the country with a 1.97 goals-against average. And he’s ninth overall with a .932 save percentage. Augustine was also named to the Mike Richter Award watchlist. That honor goes to the NCAA’s top goaltender.
Stange is leading the Mavericks in goals (nine), points (16) and game-winning goals (three). The fifth-year senior is a transfer from Wisconsin. Detroit made Stange the 97th overall selection of the 2020 NHL entry draft. The Red Wings have until Aug. 15 of this year to sign Stange, or he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Also among the Hobey Baker nominees are Notre Dame forward Cole Knuble. He’s the son of former Red Wings forward Mike Knuble. As well, Denver’s Zeev Buium is on the list. He’s the younger brother of Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Shai Buium.
Buchelnikov Making His Points Again
There was a bit of an offensive lull for Vityaz (KHL) forward Dmitri Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022) during the holiday season. However, he’s picking the pace up again in the New Year.
The Red Wings prospect has dished out a pair of assists in each of his last two games. That’s five points in three games for the 21-year-old winger.
Buchelnikov is leading Vityaz in scoring with 13-27-40 numbers through 44 games.
Former Red Wings Svechnikov KHL Bad Man
Speaking of the KHL, you might be surprised to find out who’s leading the league in penalty minutes. It’s none other than 2015 Red Wings first-round draft pick Evgeny Svechnikov.
Playing for Torpedo, the team coached by Red Wings icon Igor Larionov, Svechnikov has collected 58 penalty minutes. That’s nine minutes ahead of former Anaheim Ducks tough guy Maxime Comtois of Moscow Dynamo.
Finnie Finally Stopped
The WHL point streak of Red Wings forward prospect Emmitt Finnie of the Kamloops Blazers has finally come to an end at 12 games. He was held off the scoresheet on Saturday by Victoria.
