UMaine’s Imes is the dark horse for Hobey Baker

Now that the Oscars have been handed out, let’s get down to handicapping a real-world honor – the Hobey Baker Award.

This much we know about college hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy, a.k.a. The Best Player Award: being a defenseman is a real handicap. Only two of the 14 previous winners heading into Friday’s presentation for 1995 were defensemen. The last blue line specialist to win it was Tom Kurvers of Minnesota-Duluth in 1984.

That trend makes University of Maine star Chris Imes, one of this year’s 10 finalists, a decided dark horse. Then again, the position is due. Either way, don’t expect Imes, one of only two defensemen to make it this far in the cut, to lose sleep over winning the statue.

“I haven’t thought a lot about it,” said Imes on Monday. “If I did win it, it would definitely say something about people paying attention to defense and all-around contribution rather than just scoring a lot of points.”

The ballots are already in, according to Steve Peters of the Decathlon Athletic Club in Bloomington, Minn., which oversees the award named for a Princeton hockey player who was killed in a plane crash during World War I.

All Division I coaches nominate players, then an 18-member selection committee of coaches, scouts, and media picks the final 10 and the winner.

Four of the finalists are from the four teams in this week’s NCAA Final Four. Imes will be in Providence, R.I., trying to stop Michigan finalist Brendan Morrison, Minnesota’s Brian Bonin, and Boston University’s Mike Grier.

Previous Maine Hobey Baker winners are Scott Pellerin and Paul Kariya. Imes is the ninth Maine player to become a finalist.

Here’s a look at the ’95 field in alphabetical order:

Brian Bonin, Minnesota: A 5-foot-10, 186-pound junior center from White Bear Lake, Minn., Bonin appeared in 43 games for the Gophers, racking up 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points. He’s faaaassst. See him up close and personal against Boston University Thursday night in the Final Four at Providence.

Greg Bullock, Lowell: The 5-11, 177-pound sophomore center from Cambridge, Ontario, developed a wacko tag with his love of the penalty box, but he was the overall scoring leader and Hockey East regular season scoring champ with 25 goals and 40 assists. He was HE player of the week four times, the only multiple winner this season.

Anson Carter, Michigan State: An All-CCHA first-teamer, he’s a 6-1, 181-pound junior center from Scarborough, Ontario. In 39 games for Ron Mason’s Spartans, Carter tallied 34 goals and 17 assists for 51 points, including 13 power-play goals, 7 shorthanded, and 4 game-winners.

Mike Grier, Boston U.: Maine fans are familiar with the imposing sophomore wing from Holliston, Mass. At 6-foot, 242 pounds, Grier was BU’s leading scorer with 29-24-53 in 35 games. He had 13 power-play goals, 3 shorthanded, and 3 game-winners. An HE All-Star, Grier was the league’s Player of the Month for November.

Brian Holzinger, Bowling Green: The supposed Forrest Gump favorite to win it, he’s a 5-11, 185-pound senior center from Parma, Ohio. He had 35-34-69 in 38 games, including 9 power-play goals and 4 game-winners. He’s the CCHA Player of the Year, first team all-league, and all-academic in the CCHA.

Chris Imes, Maine: The offensive numbers aren’t impressive, but Maine fans know his effect on opposing offensive stars’ stats. The 5-11, 195-pound senior from Birchdale, Minn., has 4-28-32, is a plus-15, has 5 power-play goals, 2 game-winners and, oh yes, is the HE Player of the Year for the Final Four-bound Bears.

Jay McNeill, Colorado College: Another speedy sniper, he’s a 5-9, 175-pound junior center from Cranbrook, British Columbia. In 43 games he had 33-18-51, including 16 power-play goals, 4 shorthanded, 2 game-winners, a hat-trick and was picked first-team All-WCHA.

Brendan Morrison, Michigan: A likely winner, the 5-11, 176-pound sophomore center led the nation in points and assists with 23-52-75 in 38 games for the Final-Four-bound Wolverines. The native of Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, was a plus-29, first-team All-CCHA, as well as the league’s scoring leader.

Brian Mueller, Clarkson: The other defenseman in the field, the 6-foot, 230-pound senior block of granite from Liverpool, N.Y., had 12-42-54 in 36 games. He was the ECAC’s top scoring defenseman, a gaudy plus-32, and a unanimous first-team all-league pick.

Martin St. Louis, Vermont: Explosive. That’s what the 5-9, 163-pound sophomore right wing was for the Catamounts. The Laval, Quebec, native had 23-48-71 in 35 games, earning ECAC Player of the Year honors after leading the league in scoring.