Isaac Howard bringing the Hobey to Hudson

Isaac Howard has never done things quietly That includes his introduction to much of the hockey world in when he arrived at the NHL Draft decked out in a flashy white suit and declared himself the best-looking contestant available just in time for the Tampa Bay Lightning to grab him in the first round So it was a bit of a surprise on Friday at a theater in downtown St Louis when he reservedly and humbly accepted the Hobey Baker Award given annually to college hockey s top sportsman Originally from Hudson Wis the Michigan State junior was named the Big Ten s the majority valuable contestant this season after helping the Spartans capture their second consecutive conference title He cut his hockey teeth at Shattuck-St Mary s in Faribault and with USA Hockey s National Company Maturation Initiative prior to college hockey On stage at the theater adjacent to Enterprise Center where Western Michigan and Boston University will play for the NCAA title on Saturday night Howard singled out Spartans head coach Adam Nightingale who worked with Howard at MSU and with the NTDP before that You taking me into Michigan State was awesome Howard mentioned You ve been a great role model for me my favorite coach and I can t express how key you ve been to me And also to the boys watching you guys make it an awesome place to play I absolutely love being a Michigan State Spartan for life It s an individual award but it comes from teammates linemates it s a collective group So I couldn t do it alone Howard played his first college season at Minnesota Duluth before transferring to Michigan State two years ago He is the first Spartans competitor to win the trophy since hall of fame goalie Ryan Miller in As he piled up points and wins this season the Spartans promoted Howard s candidacy for the Hobey with t-shirts and other merchandise bearing the slogan Be Like Ike and showing one of his flashy on-ice celebrations I m excited and I m proud Nightingale explained It s pretty rare that you get to coach a kid like this for four years From a coach s perspective seeing a kid that s that committed and doing what he does on a daily basis it s a culmination to a moment like this Howard put up goals and assists in games for the Spartans this season and in recent months disclosed he will return to Michigan State for his senior season Runners up for the award were Boston College forward Ryan Leonard and Denver defenseman Zeev Buium Picked by the Wild th overall in the NHL Draft Buium is expected to sign with Minnesota in the coming days and could join the gang for their Monday practice in St Paul The Hobey Baker Award named after a legendary Princeton hockey participant and aviator killed in World War I was created by the now-defunct Decathlon Athletic Club in Bloomington in and first awarded to Gophers forward Neal Broten Among the other award recipients on Friday at the Frozen Four were Boston College sophomore Jacob Fowler won the Mike Richter Award given to college hockey s top goalie Michigan defenseman Jacob Truscott won the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award which honors a former Army West Point participant killed in Afghanistan years ago Retired coach Dick Umilie was named the Hobey Baker Legend of College hockey after leading New Hampshire to the Frozen Four on four occasions and coaching Hobey winner Jason Krog Syracuse forward Sarah Thompson won the Hockey Humanitarian Award which honors players area operation efforts in addition to their on-ice work Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson won the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Award given to college hockey s top first-year athlete Howard becomes the third Wisconsin native to win the Hobey in its -year history following Lane MacDonald Harvard and Cole Caufield Wisconsin Related Articles Gophers longed Colorado State transfer Kyan Evans but North Carolina offered millions Gophers add center via transfer portal Robert Vaihola from San Jose State Gophers star safety Koi Perich s role on offense is more than a gadget Gophers football New defensive coordinator Danny Collins wants HAVOC Resilient Florida relies on defense and playmakers to overcome frustration in NCAA title battle