The newest goalie in the Boston Bruins organization is yet again closing in on a postseason honor after his junior season at the University of Maine. Jeremy Swayman on Thursday was announced as a hat trick finalist (top three) for the biggest honor in College Hockey, the Hobey Baker Award which is given annually to the best player in Division I Men’s Hockey.
Swayman is coming off his best season in Orono, leading the nation in saves made and also sporting a 2.07 goals against average and .939 save percentage (second in country) including a 48 save shutout of Providence in the last game of the regular season that catapulted his team into what would of been their first home quarterfinal playoff series in eight seasons. He decided to forgo his final season with the Black Bears and sign an entry level contract with the Bruins organization, where he likely will start at the AHL affiliate in Providence.
The final 10 got narrowed to three by a selection committee and also went through a round of online fan balloting. Swayman joins defenseman Scott Perunovich from Minnesota Duluth, and forward Jordan Kawaguchi from North Dakota as the finalists. The announcement will be live on ESPN Sportcenter Saturday, April 11 at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The Hobey Award segment will also include the announcement of the College Hockey Humanitarian Award, the College Hockey Coaches Association East and West All-American Teams, and the Mike Richter Award given to the nations top goalie which Swayman is also a finalist for. Swayman has already won the Hockey East Player of the Year and the 2020 Walter Brown Award, while his now former coach Red Gendron has won Hockey East Coach of the Year and is also is a finalist for the top coach in Division I. The six foot netminder from Anchorage, Alaska will attempt to be the first goaltender to win the Hobey since Ryan Miller from Michigan State did so in 2001. He will also attempt to be the first player at Maine to take home the trophy since Scott Pellerin and Paul Kariya did it back to back seasons in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
