Published in the March 24, 2016 edition
NORTH READING — Harvard senior Jimmy Vesey of North Reading is one of 10 finalists for the 2016 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top NCAA men’s hockey player in the nation. Winners are chosen or for raw skills or stats but for their teamwork, dedication, integrity and character.
Vesey is the only repeat candidate from last year. He has scored 23 goals this season, (55 in the past two years), plus 21 assists for a total of 44 points in 30 games. Vesey has been Ivy League Player of the Year twice. He was named ECAC player of the year last and is a finalist again this year.
In 2012, Vesey was selected in the third round of the NHL draft, with the 66th overall pick, by the Nashville Predators.
Vesey has had an outstanding season, opening with a 4–point performance against Dartmouth on Oct. 31, including three assists that were his single season best. He scored 10 seconds into the Dec. 4 game at Union, just 2 seconds shy of Harvard’s all time record for the fastest goal and had his first career hat trick, a natural hat trick, (three consecutive goals, uninterrupted by any other player scoring for either team) to help Harvard rally past St. Lawrence on Jan. 15
The 10 finalists are selected by voting from all 60 Division I head coaches and by online fan balloting.
Three finalists for the award will be announced on March 31 and the winner will be named on Friday, April 8 in Tampa during the NCAA Frozen Four.
