Dartmouth's David Jones Named Hobey Baker Finalist

HANOVER, N.H. - Junior David Jones is one step closer to the highest honor given in college hockey as Jones was named a Top Ten Finalist for the Hobey Baker award as announced on Thursday. Jones is Dartmouth's first-ever finalist for the prestigious award. The Hobey Baker Award is presented annually to the top men's college hockey player in the U.S.

"This is truly an honor," Jones said. "I've had a good season but there's some hockey for our team to be play. I appreciate being recognized for all the hard work both myself and my team has put in this year."

The Top Ten list is compiled from balloting from all 59 Division I college hockey head coaches and by an on-line fan ballot at www.hobeybaker.com. The Top Ten list will now be voted on by the 25-member Selection Committee and a second round of fan balloting, to determine the Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists (to be announced March 28, 2007) for this year's Hobey Baker Award. The committee is comprised of print and electronic media, NHL scouts and the American Hockey Coaches Association.

The Hobey Baker Award Announcement will come on Friday, April 6 at 6:00 pm CT from St. Louis, Missouri, the site of this year's NCAA Frozen Four Championship. The announcement will be televised live on ESPNU.

“This is a huge honor, for David, for Dartmouth and for our program,” said coach Bob Gaudet.

To be considered for the Hobey Baker Award, candidates must exhibit strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of the team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration will be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.

Jones was recently named the unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year as well as first team Ivy League and ECACHL honors. Dartmouth's assistant captain has played in all 31 games this season and is leading the team with a career-high 42 points. He contributed four goals and 14 assists on the power play as he has 18 goals and 24 assists on the season. Jones ended the ECAC Hockey League's regular season as the leading scorer with 31 points and is fifth in scoring nationally. Jones tallied 12 points in February helping his team to a 7-1 record, a third-place finish in the ECACHL and a share of the Ivy Title. Jones has also been ECACHL All-Academic for the past two seasons.

“David is not only our leader offensively but he's a leader for us off the ice. He's a complete player who finishes checks, kills penalties, wins face offs and blocks shots,” Gaudet said.