Five of 10 candidates for Hobey Baker Award have ties to state, including Gophers' Ben Meyers

The final 10 candidates for the Hobey Baker Award were announced Tuesday, and five in the running for the top honor in men's college hockey have Minnesota ties.

On the list are Gophers center Ben Meyers and his Delano High School teammate, Michigan Tech forward Brian Halonen; Minnesota State Mankato forward Nathan Smith and goalie Dryden McKay; and Denver forward Bobby Brink of Minnetonka. The other finalists are Michigan forward Matty Beniers and defenseman Luke Hughes, Northeastern goalie Devon Levi, Quinnipiac goalie Yanev Perets and Massachusetts forward Bobby Trivigno.

The Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists will be announced March 31, and the winner April 8 during Frozen Four weekend in Boston.

Randy Johnson

U's Hemp honored

Gophers forward Peyton Hemp was named Division I Rookie of the Year, as announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Hemp of Andover becomes the third player from the program to win the award and first since Sarah Potomak in 2016.

The Andover native was picked WCHA rookie of the month three times and led conference freshmen in goals with 12 and points with 32.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson will miss this weekend's series at Creighton, starting Friday in Omaha, after undergoing successful eye surgery this week.

Macalester men's basketball coach Abe Woldeslassie was named the D3Hoops.com Region 9 Coach of the Year, the website announced. Woldeslassie led the Scots to a 15-13 record and they advanced to the final of the MIAC tournament.

Minor League Baseball announced the return of the historical names for the 11 leagues that comprise the player development system for Major League Baseball. The St. Paul Saints, the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, will now be a member of the International League.

St. Cloud State announced it will not renew the appointment of women's hockey coach Steve Macdonald. His record was 21-59-9 in three seasons.