BU's Eichel wins 2015 Hobey Baker Award

Apr 10, 2015 - 10:33 PM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Boston University forward Jack Eichel captured the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, college hockey's most prestigious individual honor.

Eichel became just the second freshman to be so recognized, after the University of Maine's Paul Kariya did so on the back of a 100-point campaign in 1993.

It is the crowning achievement for the 18-year-old native of the Boston suburbs, who helped turn around a program which won only 10 games last season. He did so by leading the country in assists (44) points (70), points-per-game (1.79), plus-minus (+51) and ranking third with 26 goals.

Eichel heads into Saturday's national title game against Hockey East foe Providence with points in 14 of his last 15 games, picking up 11 goals and 19 assists in that span.

Prior to earning the nation's top honor, Eichel was tabbed as Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, First Team Hockey East and a member of the All-Rookie Team; named Most Valuable Player at the Hockey East playoff tournament and had both the National Rookie of the Year honor by the Hockey Commissioners Association and a First Team All-American by the Hockey Coaches Association bestowed upon him.

Runners-up were North Dakota goaltender and Richter Award recipient Zane McIntyre along with Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey.

Boston College's Johnny Gaudreau won last season.