For the first time in nearly 20 years and only the second time in program history, Dartmouth College men’s hockey has had a team member named as a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which is given annually to the top player in men’s college hockey.
Big Green sophomore Hayden Stavroff, Division I men’s hockey’s leading goal scorer and the recently announced Ivy League Player of the Year, is now among 10 players in the country still under consideration for the award that dates back to 1981.
Dartmouth forward Hayden Stavroff (10) skates during the first period of an NCAA college hockey game against Cornell, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Ithaca, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
The field of nominees, which are considered for the award based on their on- and off-ice character, skill and sportsmanship among other attributes, was whittled down to 10 through a combination of coach and fan voting.
Stavroff, who has 28 goals and 19 assists this season, has been a key cog for Dartmouth (21-7-4), which is gearing up for an ECAC tournament semifinal matchup with Clarkson on Friday at 4 p.m. in Lake Placid, N.Y.
In January, Stavroff, along with some of his teammates, sophomore Hank Cleaves, and junior CJ Foley, were first announced as nominees for the award.
Colorado Avalanche right wing David Jones moves the puck during the first period of their NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“It feels good,” Stavroff said on last week’s Inside the Woods podcast, regarding what it meant to be nominated. “I’ve obviously put in a lot of work over the years, so to see a little bit of recognition for it is always nice.”
The sophomore now joins David Jones, who in 2007 was the only other Dartmouth player to be named a finalist.
Jones played nine seasons in the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild from the 2007-2008 to 2015-2016 campaigns. He had 104 career goals and 87 assists. In 27 postseason games across three appearances, he notched two goals and five assists.
From here, the 29-member Hobey Baker Memorial Award Selection Committee, composed of coaches, media members, officials, and NHL scouts, and fan voting will whittle 10 players down to the final three, also referred to as the “Hobey Hat Trick.” The three finalists will be revealed on April 2.
The winner will be announced on April 10 at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
Recent notable winners of the award include current NHL stars like Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks (2024), Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens (2021), and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (2019).
