Yahoo Sports Ducks Prospect Nominated for Hobey Baker Award
On Wednesday, the Hobey Baker committee announced the initial 2025 Hobey Baker Award nominees.
97 NCAA players were nominated by Division-1 coaches and up to three players per team were eligible for votes.
Voting is NOW OPEN! Check out all the nominees and cast your vote here: https://t.co/Sw4fBGPBe6. @drinkbodyarmour pic.twitter.com/iWBSe9PGvB
— Hobey Baker Award (@HobeyBakerAward) January 22, 2025
Anaheim Ducks' 2024 sixth-round pick Austin Burnevik was among the nominees in the midst of a stellar freshman season at St. Cloud State University.
Brurnevik has scored nine goals and 19 points in 21 games this season for St. Cloud State, which is enough to lead his team in scoring and rank 75th in the NCAA.
He returned to St. Cloud State after earning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2025 World Junior Championship, where he failed to register a point in seven games while playing a fourth-line role, but saw his ice time diminish as the tournament wore on. He featured on the team's top power play unit for the majority of USA's games.
Anaheim Ducks Prospects Spotlight: World Junior Championship Recap
Burnevik went undrafted in his first draft-eligible year in 2023 but was selected by the Ducks in 2024 following a 40-goal, 71-point campaign in the USHL for the Madison Capitals in 2023-24.
The biggest weakness in his game is his skating ability. His stride is clunky, and his edges lack explosion, but he seems to be slowly improving as his mind grows into his 6-foot-4, 201-pound frame.
He possesses every other tool necessary to flourish at the highest level, highlighted by his vision, puck skills in tight space, and surprisingly disruptive forechecking prowess.
He's scored three points in four games since returning to school after the World Juniors, but his team sits unranked nationally and in eighth place in the NCHC conference standings.
Burnevik was the only Ducks prospect nominated despite the prospect pool consisting of four NCAA players (Burnevik, Ian Moore, Michael Callow, Kyle Kukkonen).
The first phase of Hobey Baker voting will run through March 9. The field will then be reduced to ten for the second phase of voting, scheduled to run from March 19 through March 30. Three finalists will be announced on April 3 and the winner will be announced on April 11.
