Former Springfield Jr. Blues goalie wins Hobey Baker, college hockey's top award
BOSTON — A day after leading Minnesota State to a 5-1 win over Minnesota in the NCAA Frozen Four, Illinois native Dryden McKay won the Hobey Baker Award, an honor that goes to the top collegiate hockey player.
McKay, from Downers Grove, is the first Illinois native to win the award. He played 37 games for the Springfield Jr. Blues in the 2014-15 season. The goaltender was 15-20 with a 2.77 goals against average for the Jr. Blues. He carried a .917 save percentage, which was eighth best in the North American Hockey League that season.
For Minnesota State, McKay has an NCAA-record 38 wins, and his 34 career shutouts are also the most ever. His goals against average of 1.27 is second in the country and his .934 save percentage is tied for third.
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The 24-year-old McKay played for the NAHL's Corpus Christi Ice Rays in 2015-16 then spent two seasons with the United States Hockey League before he began his collegiate career at Minnesota State in Mankato.
This was McKay's third time as a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker and became the third overall goaltender to win the award — and first since Ryan Miller in 2001.
Minnesota State is looking for its first national championship on Saturday against Denver in TD Garden. Denver beat Michigan 3-2 in overtime on Thursday in the first semifinal.
Minnesota State was ranked No. 1 in the final college hockey poll.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Former Jr. Blues' goalie becomes first Illinois native to win Hobey Baker
