Chris Hedden on ballot for Hobey Baker Award
1/21/2026 1:30:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force senior Chris Hedden is on the ballot for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, as the nation's best collegiate hockey player, as announced today by the Hobey Baker committee.
A defenseman from Kalamazoo, Mich., Hedden's 11 goals this season are the second-most in the nation by a defenseman while his 23 points are tied for the fourth-most in the nation by a defenseman. His 11 goals are second in Atlantic Hockey among all players and his 23 points are fourth among all players. His 40 blocked shots are the fourth most among all players in the AHA and 30th in the nation.
A preseason all-AHA selection, Hedden was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association co-Defender of the Month for November. He was the AHA Defenseman of the Month for November and has been named the AHA Defenseman of the Week five times this season.
In 136 career games, he has 97 points on 33 goals and 65 points, the third most goals and eighth most points by a defenseman in Air Force history. His career points, goals, assists and power-play goals (14) are the most by any active defenseman in the NCAA.
Hedden is the first Falcon to be on the Hober Baker ballot since Luke Rowe in 2023-24. Air Force has had three players named Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists: forward Eric Ehn (2007), forward Jacques Lamoureux (2009) and defenseman Tim Kirby (2012). Ehn became the first service academy player to ever be named a finalist for the award. Ehn was also chosen as one of the final three, becoming Air Force's only Hobey Hat Trick finalist in 2007.
Fan voting for the Hobey Baker will run from now until Sunday, March 8 at midnight. College hockey fans can cast their vote by going to the voting website hobeybaker.com/vote. Fans can find their favorite player, then text to vote by following the instructions. Fans can select from this year's outstanding crop of 87 college hockey players representing 48 NCAA Division I schools. The Hobey Baker Award will have a second phase of fan balloting coming from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 18 and closing March 29.
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
The 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 10, 2026 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Las Vegas, NV.
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A defenseman from Kalamazoo, Mich., Hedden's 11 goals this season are the second-most in the nation by a defenseman while his 23 points are tied for the fourth-most in the nation by a defenseman. His 11 goals are second in Atlantic Hockey among all players and his 23 points are fourth among all players. His 40 blocked shots are the fourth most among all players in the AHA and 30th in the nation.
A preseason all-AHA selection, Hedden was named the Hockey Commissioners' Association co-Defender of the Month for November. He was the AHA Defenseman of the Month for November and has been named the AHA Defenseman of the Week five times this season.
In 136 career games, he has 97 points on 33 goals and 65 points, the third most goals and eighth most points by a defenseman in Air Force history. His career points, goals, assists and power-play goals (14) are the most by any active defenseman in the NCAA.
Hedden is the first Falcon to be on the Hober Baker ballot since Luke Rowe in 2023-24. Air Force has had three players named Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists: forward Eric Ehn (2007), forward Jacques Lamoureux (2009) and defenseman Tim Kirby (2012). Ehn became the first service academy player to ever be named a finalist for the award. Ehn was also chosen as one of the final three, becoming Air Force's only Hobey Hat Trick finalist in 2007.
Fan voting for the Hobey Baker will run from now until Sunday, March 8 at midnight. College hockey fans can cast their vote by going to the voting website hobeybaker.com/vote. Fans can find their favorite player, then text to vote by following the instructions. Fans can select from this year's outstanding crop of 87 college hockey players representing 48 NCAA Division I schools. The Hobey Baker Award will have a second phase of fan balloting coming from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 18 and closing March 29.
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
The 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 10, 2026 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Las Vegas, NV.
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