2008 Hobey Baker Award finalists announced

Mar 21, 2008 - 12:45 AM ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- North Dakota has the inside track to a second straight Hobey Baker Award winner.

Goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and forward T.J. Oshie of the Fighting Sioux on Thursday were among the 10 players announced as finalists for the 2008 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player.

The final three contenders will be announced April 2, with the winner being revealed nine days later during the NCAA Frozen Four.

After forward Ryan Duncan won the award in 2007, North Dakota is the lone team boasting two finalists this year. Lamoureux, a senior, owns the nation's best goals-against average at 1.63 and has lost just once in his last 20 games - allowing less than two goals in 15 of those contests.

Drafted 25th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 205, Oshie has scored five game-winning goals this season and is second in school history with 16 career clinching tallies. He has recorded 17 goals and 22 assists in 37 games this season, posting 13 multi-point performances in the process.

Other finalists for this year's Hobey Baker Award are goaltenders Jeff Lerg of Michigan State and Kevin Regan of New Hampshire and forwards Nathan Gerbe of Boston College, Ryan Jones of Miami, Lee Jubinville of Princeton, Ryan Lasch of St. Cloud State, Kevin Porter of Michigan and Simon Lambert of the Rochester Institute of Technology.