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LeBlanc announced as Top-Three Finalist

04/03/2013 - 2:00 AM

St. Cloud State University men’s hockey captain Drew LeBlanc has been selected as a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

The Hobey Baker award is given annually to the top player in men’s ice hockey who “exhibits strength of character both on and off the ice and contributes to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game.”

LeBlanc, a fifth-year senior from Hermantown, MN, joins Eric Hartzel from Quinnipiac University and Johnny Gaudreau from Boston College as the finalists, dubbed the Hobey Hat Trick.

“You knew he was going to be one of the best players in the country,” said St. Cloud State head coach Bob Motzko. “I’m so happy for him. He could have left, but he didn’t. He came back for the right reasons, and he’s been rewarded for that.”

LeBlanc was at Apollo High School working as a student teacher when the announcement was made. He didn’t know he was named a top-three finalist, but he could tell something happened because of all the messages he was receiving.

“There’s a lot of good college hockey players out there” said LeBlanc, and to be recognized as one of the Hobey Hat Trick, I don’t have the words to describe it.”

LeBlanc also chose to give credit to his teammates. “It does mean a lot to me, of course, it wouldn’t have happened without the success of our team.”

The Huskies play Quinnipiac University in the Frozen Four next Thursday night at the CONSOL Energy Center is Pittsburgh, Pa. The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced the night after on Friday Apr. 12.