Dowd one of three “Hat Trick” Hobey Baker finalists

St. Cloud State captain and 2009 seventh round Kings draft pick Nic Dowd was named as one of three 2014 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalists on Wednesday. The Hobey Baker Award is presented annually to a college hockey player who excels on and off the ice, displaying a “contribution to the integrity of the team and outstanding skills in all phases of the game” as well as pursuits linked to strength of character and scholastic endeavors.

Nic Dowd is a Bio-Medicine major with a 3.61 GPA. He’s also the NCHC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Defensive Forward of the Year and was named Tirst Team all-conference. He’s also nearing his 24th birthday, and it will be interesting to see his ability to adjust to the professional game in Manchester, where he’s headed with fellow signee Michael Mersch of Wisconsin.

The other “Hat Trick” finalists are Greg Carey, a Phoenix signee who led St. Lawrence in scoring for four straight years, and runaway favorite Johnny Gaudreau, a 5-foot-8 Calgary draft pick and Hobey Baker hat trick finalist for the second consecutive year who led the country in points, goals and assists. His 77 points (35-42=77) in 39 games with Boston College were the most by a D-I player since Peter Sejna of Colorado College recorded 82 points in 2002-03

Regardless of whether Dowd wins the award – he likely won’t, as it’s almost certainly going to Gaudreau – that a seventh rounder selected five years ago was honored as a nominee for college hockey’s top award and recently signed an entry level contract provides a healthy amount of intrigue in the prospect’s development and value in the position in which he was selected.