MILWAUKEE—Though they were treated to a national championship, Wisconsin hockey fans did not get to see junior goaltender Brian Elliott receive the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, college hockey's top individual honor. The award instead went to odds-on favorite defenseman Matt Carle from Denver. The only knock on Carle was that his team did not make the NCAA tournament, but it was not enough to keep him from receiving the award.
I'm just happy to be up here representing my team and my great school at the University of Denver,\ Carle said. ""It's a great honor for myself, too.""
Carle led the nation with 42 assists and led all defensemen with 53 points. After the announcement of the NCAA tournament field—one that did not include Denver—Carle signed with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.
Elliott led the nation in every major goaltending category including goals against average, save percentage, win percentage and shutouts—but that was not good enough. Only two goaltenders have won the Hobey Baker award in its 26 year history.
With the skills of All-American senior defenseman Tom Gilbert in front of him, and the highly-defensive style head coach Mike Eaves, Elliott has had great support. But as Mike Eaves has said time and again throughout the season, great defense starts with who you have between the pipes, and Elliott is a tremendous asset.
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