He was a Hobey Hat Trick finalist and the leading point scorer on the nation’s best team. His attributes are undeniable - size, speed, skill, vision and aggressiveness. Baseball scouts would refer to him as a five-tool player. Some of his biggest moments came at the most important times for Boston University. For all of these reasons, Colin Wilson is the INCH National Player of the Year.

Wilson increased his point total by 20 points (from 35 to 55) over his freshman campaign, and that rookie year wasn’t anything to sneeze at. The Nashville Predators selected him seventh overall in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft and there was considerable speculation at that time and in the following weeks whether or not Wilson had played his last game at Boston University. He returned for another year of college hockey and was a dominant player.

He had 18 multi-point games on the year, including a stellar two-goal, one-assist effort in the Frozen Four semifinal win over Vermont. He had a goal and two assists in the Beanpot championship win over Northeastern. Critics could point to issues of consistency, as Wilson was held off the scoresheet 14 times in 44 games, but that is also the product of being on such a deeply talented team that he doesn’t have to carry the offensive burden every night, nor is rewarded with the type of ice time given to other elite players in college hockey.

His runner-up: Brad Thiessen, Northeastern

- Written by Joe Gladziszewski