McKay wins Hobey Baker Award as top college player
Undrafted Minnesota State goalie can sign with any team
The 24-year-old senior was voted the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey this season ahead of finalists Bobby Brink, a Philadelphia Flyers forward prospect from the University of Denver, and Ben Meyers, an undrafted forward from the University of Minnesota.
McKay, who was not selected in the NHL Draft, can sign with any team.
"I want to thank my parents. Every step of the way, they've been there for me," McKay said. "My dad showing me a love for the game at an early age and making it pretty easy to become a goalie. My mom, there were a lot of long car rides, [and] it wasn't always easy for her before GPS. We had some interesting rides to the rinks at times but through it all, they were there for me. There were ups and there were downs, and they mean the world to me."
A top-three finalist for the second straight season after going 38-4-0 this season, McKay ranks second in the nation with a 1.27 goals-against average, is tied for third with a .934 save percentage and is tied for second with 10 shutouts in 42 games.
The senior was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association Goaltender of the Year and Player of the Year. He was also a top-three finalist for the Mike Richter Award as top goalie in the nation, which was awarded to Devon Levi, a Buffalo Sabres prospect from Northeastern University.
McKay is the first player from Minnesota State to win the award. He is the third goalie to win the award and first since Ryan Miller (Michigan State) in 2001.
McKay has an NCAA-record 34 shutouts in his four college seasons and is second in wins with 112 behind Marty Turco of the University of Michigan (126). Miller held the previous record for shutouts (26). McKay is the only goalie in NCAA history with at least 10 shutouts in three consecutive seasons.
"I want to thank my teammates at Minnesota State. They're my best friends and it's been the best four years of my life and without them, I wouldn't be up here," McKay said. "Minnesota State has become a second home for me, and it was the best decision I ever made. I want to thank all the coaches I had over the years and especially Brennan Poderzay, who was my goalie coach at Minnesota State my first two years, and I think he really showed me the way in college hockey.
"This is a humbling honor."
McKay's most recent shutout was a 23-save performance in a 1-0 victory against the University of Notre Dame in the Albany Regional Final to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four. He made 16 saves in a 5-1 victory against Minnesota in the Frozen Four semifinal round Thursday at TD Garden in Boston.
McKay made 15 saves in a 5-1 loss to Denver in the national championship game on Saturday.
Brink, a 20-year-old junior, was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Forward of the Year and Player of the Year. He leads the NCAA in assists (43) and points (57) in 40 games with Denver. Selected by the Flyers in the second round (No. 34) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Brink won the NCHC scoring title with 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in conference play, 10 more than any other player, and tying the single-season record in conference play. He ranks first in the country with a 1.42 points-per game average.
Meyers, a 23-year-old junior who was not selected in the NHL Draft, was co-captain for the Big Ten regular-season champions and scored 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games. He scored four points (two goals, two assists) in four games for the United States at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in eight games after returning from the Olympics, including six multipoint games. In 102 games with Minnesota, Meyers has 95 points (39 goals, 56 assists).
Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (University of Wisconsin) won the Hobey Baker Award last season.
NHL.com staff writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
