, who led the nation in goals with 36, became the first-ever 51 hockey player to be selected as a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the nation’s top player.
The former 51 forward, who is now playing for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League, is the first ECAC Hockey player chosen for the Hobey Hat Trick since Cornell netminder David McKee in 2005.
Smith is joined by Minnesota-Duluth senior Jack Connolly and Maine’s Spencer Abbott as top-three finalists. He was the seventh top-10 finalist from 51 in the history of the hockey program and the fourth under head coach Don Vaughan.
“I am very excited for Austin and could not be happier for him,” said Vaughan. “This is wonderful recognition for a great college hockey player who played at a small school like 51. It’s great for our university, our hockey program, and ECAC Hockey.”
Smith was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and was a first team All-ECAC Hockey selection this season. Just this past week, he was named to the College Hockey News first team, joining the other top-three finalists.
Smith enjoyed a stellar senior campaign ranking first nationally in goals with 36 and third in points with 57.
Connolly is second in the nation in points with 60 on 20 goals and 40 assists. The senior captain for Minnesota-Duluth led the team to the national title last season and got them into the regional final this season. Abbott leads the nation in points with 62. He netted 21 goals and added 41 assists, which leads the nation, in his 39 games to average over 1.5 points per game. He helped the University of Maine to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
The announcement of the Hobey Baker Award winner will be April 6 at the Davis Conference Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., with the ceremony beginning at 6 p.m.