Blake Goeffrion Becomes First Tennessean To Win Hobey Baker Award

Blake Geoffrion became the role model for tens of thousands of non-traditional market youth hockey players when he was named the winner of the 2010 Hobey Baker Award that is given to the best NCAA college player each year.

Geoffrion was the Predator's first draft choice in the 2006 draft and will finish his college career tomorrow night at 6 p.m. (ESPN) when his Wisconsin Badgers play Boston College in the national championship game. When he suits up for the Preds he will be the first fourth generation NHLer.

I would not be surprised to see Geoffrion sign his entry level contract next week and report to the Predators AHL team in Milwaukee to continue to work out with them and possibly provide a boost in the upcoming playoffs.

Here is the complete release from the Predators...

PREDATORS PROSPECT BLAKE GEOFFRION WINS 2010 HOBEY BAKER MEMORIAL AWARD -Becomes the first Predators draft pick to win the award-

Nashville, Tenn. (April 9, 2010) – Nashville Predators prospect and University of Wisconsin forward Blake Geoffrion is the recipient of the 2010 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given each year to college hockey’s top player, it was announced Friday evening at Ford Field in Detroit. Criteria for the award include strength of character on and off the ice, displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

Geoffrion, a tri-captain of this season’s Badger squad, enters tomorrow night’s National Championship Game against Boston College as the NCAA leader in power-play goals (15), in addition to ranking second in the nation in goals (28). He also finished second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in points (50), and is among the nation’s leaders in shooting percentage (23 percent). Two weeks ago, the WCHA First Team All-Star was named Most Valuable Player of the NCAA West Region after posting five points (2g-3a) in UW wins over Vermont and St. Cloud State to reach the Frozen Four, and he notched a goal and an assist in Thursday’s national semifinal victory over RIT.

Nashville’s first choice, 56th overall (second round), in the 2006 Entry Draft, Geoffrion is a complete player. In addition to taking a regular shift for the Badgers, he receives time on both the penalty kill and power play while taking nearly all the team’s face-offs in crucial situations.

The 6-2, 188-pound center is a Consumer Science Major and spends time off the ice visiting UW Children’s Hospital, where he has been a mentor to cancer patients. He’s also a Peer Leader lending assistance to UW students.

The Brentwood, Tenn., native is the first Nashville Youth Hockey League product to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft, and is attempting to be the first-ever fourth generation NHLer. His grandfather, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion and great grandfather, Howie Morenz, are both Hockey Hall-of-Famers who won a combined nine Stanley Cups as members of the Montreal Canadiens. His father, Danny, was drafted eighth overall by the Canadiens in the 1978 Draft, and played for both Montreal and Winnipeg during his career.

More Later...

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