Hobey Baker Award 2014 finalists: Wisconsin G Joel Rumpel makes list

After posting one of the strongest seasons in Wisconsin hockey history, junior goaltender Joel Rumpel has been named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top NCAA player in the country.

The Swift Current, Saskatchewan, native finished the regular season with a 19-5-1 record and two shutouts to go along with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage -- both of which are good for sixth-best in the nation.

Earlier this week, Rumpel was named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, which is given to the nation's top goaltender, as well as to the All-Big Ten second team.

The third-year starter becomes the 11th Badger -- and just the second goalie -- to be named as a top-10 finalist, and he's also the team's fifth in the last six years, joining the likes of defenseman Justin Schultz and 2010 Hobey winner Blake Geoffrion.

The Big Ten conference has two other finalists in addition to Rumpel in Minnesota sophomore goalie Adam Wilcox and Ohio State junior forward Ryan Dzingel.

Boston College was the only team with more than one finalist, as senior forward Kevin Hayes and junior forward -- as well as the presumptive favorite -- Johnny Gaudreau, both made the cut.

Voting for the Hobey Baker Award will be handled by a 27-member committee as well as a fan ballot. Fans can vote at www.hobeybakeraward.com from March 20-30.

Both the Mike Richter Award and the Hobey Baker will be handed out at the Frozen Four in Philadelphia, which runs April 10-12.