October 24, 2006

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is presented to a deserving recipient on the day before the last college hockey game of the season. But that doesn’t mean that college hockey fans, players and media members don’t think about it all season. In yet another new coverage item presented by Inside College Hockey for the 2006-07 season, we proudly debut Hobey Tracker with a look at the top three candidates, those whose stock is rising and other players worthy of consideration.

THE BIG BOARD
1. Brian Elliott
Wisconsin
Senior | Goalie

Last Week: Made 22 saves in a 2-2 tie with Minnesota Duluth Friday, and stopped 36 shots in the Badgers' 5-2 win Saturday.
The Buzz: He'd probably like to have Friday's game back, but Saturday's win was vintage Elliott. With Ross Carlson, Kyle Klubertanz, and Jack Skille still on the shelf, Elliott (along with senior forward Jake Dowell) is carrying this team.

2. Michel
Leveille
Maine
Senior | Forward

Last Week: Three goals, two assists in a sweep of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
The Buzz: Through five games, Leveille has four goals and five assists for the top-ranked Black Bears. Hobey likes consistent performers who are at their best in big games. As of right now, Leveille fits the bill.
3. Brian Boyle
Boston College
Senior | Forward
Last Week: Scoreless in a loss to Notre Dame; a goal in a win vs. Bowling Green
The Buzz: Boyle periously hangs on to the no. 3 spot on the Big Board. Sure, he's averaging a point a game, but he was a minus-3 against Notre Dame and Bowling Green last weekend. He can solidify his standing with big numbers in Madison this weekend.
Dropped Out: Jonathan Toews, North Dakota — We can't fault Toews for being held scoreless in two games against Wisconsin and two-thirds of a game against Maine. Until we know more about the severity of the injury he sustained last Friday, we'll keep him in a holding pattern just outside of the top three.
BULL MARKET

Nathan Davis
Miami
Junior
Forward

Davis, who helped the RedHawks to their first win in Ann Arbor since dinosaurs roamed the Earth with a hat trick in Friday's series finale against Michigan, caught INCH's eye two years ago with his quickness and prowess as a shorthanded scoring threat. A polished finisher with a capable sidekick in fellow 20-goal scorer Ryan Jones on one wing and promising freshman Jarod Palmer on the other, Davis may easily surpass the 40 points he collected last season.
BEAR MARKET
Scott Parse
Nebraska-Omaha
Junior
Forward
It's not that Parse has been terrible -- he's got two goals and two assists in the Mavericks' first four games. It's just that he's struggling to re-create the chemistry he had with Bill Thomas, who left UNO to sign with Phoenix during the off-season. So far, Parse has skated on a line with center Bryan Marshall and three different right wingers, a quartet has combined for one assist.
HIDDEN HOBEY
Steve Zalewski
Clarkson
Junior
Forward
Seven Clarkson players are averaging a point per outing six games into the young season, but Zalewski is the only one averaging a goal a game. He appears to have found his happy place on the Golden Knights' top line between wingers Shawn Weller and Matt Beca, as evidenced by his six goals and eight points.