Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists are Denver's Borgstrom, Harvard's Donato, Northeastern's Gaudette

A trio of forwards who have signed with NHL teams – Denver sophomore Henrik Borgstrom, Harvard junior Ryan Donato and Northeastern junior Adam Gaudette – were selected Thursday as Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists for the award that honors college hockey's top player.

The finalists were selected from the initial list of top ten candidates by the 27-member selection committee and an additional round of online fan balloting to determine this year's Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award includes: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

The winner will be announced at 5 p.m. April 6 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium during NCAA Frozen Four weekend. It also will be televised by the NHL Network.

A look at the finalists:

Henrik Borgstrom, soph. forward, Denver

Hometown: Helsinki, Finland

Highlights: Named the NCHC Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and first-team all-conference, while leading the conference in scoring with 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points in 40 games. Borgstrom, who a 2016 first-round draft pick who signed with the Florida Panthers, is tied for fourth in the nation in scoring and tied for ninth in goals. He averaged 1.30 points per game after amassing 43 points last year and earning All-America honors. He also was involved in assisting local youth hockey programs.

Hometown: Boston

Highlights: The ECAC Player of the Year scored 26 goals and added 17 assists in only 29 games for the Crimson, and helped Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics by leading the team in scoring with five goals and an assist. A second-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2014, Donato signed with the Bruins after the collegiate season. Ranks first in nation averaging .9 goals per game and first in shots averaging 6.03 per game. Also assisted with cancer fund-raisers and school clean-up projects

Adam Gaudette, jr. forward, Northeastern

Hometown: Braintree, Mass.

Highlights: Leads the nation in scoring with 30 goals and 30 assists for 60 points in 38 games. Averaged a nation's-best 1.58 points per game. The Hockey East Player of the Year was a 2015 fifth-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks and recently signed his pro contract. Also was named winner of the Walter Brown Award given to the top American born player in New England. Off the ice, he worked on cancer projects and read at elementary schools.