DU hockey’s Will Butcher is among three Hobey Baker award finalists

Butcher was the NCHC Player of the Year and was second in the nation among defensemen with 36 points.

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Will Baker is one of three players up for the Hobey. (Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

Will Baker is one of three players up for the Hobey. (Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Northeastern forward Zach Aston-Reese, Denver defenseman Will Butcher and Union forward Mike Vecchione have been selected as the 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists for the best player in college hockey.

The Hobey Baker organization announced the names on Thursday. All three players are seniors. The winner will be revealed on April 7 in Chicago, the site of this year’s Frozen Four.

Aston-Reese was the Hockey East Player of the Year, leading all NCAA Division I players with 31 goals. He recently signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is playing in the AHL.

Butcher was the NCHC Player of the Year and was second in the nation among defensemen with 36 points.

Vecchione was the ECAC Player of the Year and was second in the country with 29 goals.

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