MacDonald Awarded Hobey Baker

Harvard Captain Lane MacDonald has been named this year's winner of college hockey's prestigious Hobey Baker award, the Decathalon Athletic Club announced in Bloomington, Minn., yesterday afternoon.

Since 1981, the Hobey has been awarded annually to the top college hockey player of the season.

MacDonald (31 goals, 29 assists, 60 points)--who was also a finalist for the 1987 Hobey award--led the 1988-89 Crimson hockey team to its first NCAA championship. Harvard nabbed the national title with a 4-3 overtime triumph over Minnesota in St.Paul, Minn. Saturday.

"The last 14 hours have been pretty interesting," MacDonald said. "It's tough to compare this to the national championship. That was amazing. But this is a great honor, and a great way to topit all off."

In actuality, MacDonald was told of hisselection a week ago, but had to keep the newsquiet until the official announcement was made.

"It was nice to know before the tournament andnot to have to worry about that this weekend,"MacDonald said.

Although the balloting was done prior to theFinal Four, any lingering doubts as to MacDonald'sselection were erased by his tournamentperformance.

In Harvard's 6-3 semifinal win over MichiganState Thursday, MacDonald outplayed MSU's HobeyBaker candidates Bobby Reynolds and Kip Miller,notching a power-play tally midway through thecontest to bring his season goal total to 30.

And in Saturday's final, MacDonald challengedthe award's other leading candidate--1988 Hobeywinner and Minnesota goaltender Robb Stauber--in aone-on-one situation and came away with arguablythe tournament's most impressive goal.

With Gopher defender David Espe draped on hisleft side, MacDonald swept into the zone andheaded right for Stauber. MacDonald shook off Espeand then drew Stauber to the side, leaving theleft half of the net open for a stuff that gavethe Crimson a 2-1 lead.

MacDonald, who earned All-Tournament honors forhis Final Four performance, follows in thefootsteps of Harvard's Fusco brothers, Mark (the1983 winner) and Scott (1986), the only otherEastern players to win the award in its nine-yearhistory.

"That Harvard has won it three times sayssomething about Coach [Bill] Cleary and ourprogram," MacDonald said. "I also think the SportsInformation Office does a great job for us--JeffBradley really plugged for me all year. Harvard'ssuch a classy organization."

Past Hobey Baker Winners:

1988 Robb Stauber, Minnesota

1987 Tony Hrkac, North Dakota

1986 Scott Fusco, Harvard

1985 Bill Watson, Minn.-Duluth

1984 Tom Kurvers, Minn-Duluth

1983 Mark Fusco, Harvard

1982 George McPhee, B. Green

1981 Neal Broten, Minnesota

1988 Hobey Baker Finalists:

Allen Bourbeau, Harvard

Greg Brown, Boston College

David Capuano, Maine

Nelson Emerson, Bowling Green

Bruce Hoffort, Lake Superior St.

Lane MacDonald, Harvard

Kip Miller, Michigan State

Bobby Reynolds, Michigan State

Robb Stauber, Minnesota

Tim Sweeney, Boston Colleg