Intangibles: Hot goalies can carry a team in the playoffs and Niagara has one of the top netminders in the country. Only two goalies were named among the 10 candidates for the Hobey Baker Award last week and Chubak was one.
Three Hobey Baker Award finalists will play in the UND-Niagara game. Here are the bios on all three, provided at the same time the 10 candidates were named last week:
Corban Knight – North Dakota, Senior, Forward, High River, Alberta
The assistant captain was the top vote getter in the Vote for Hobey fan ballot and at one point this season, had a 19-game point streak, the longest North Dakota streak in 25 years. He currently ranks second in the nation in assists with 33 and was named to the all-WCHA second team. Knight is dynamite on face-offs averaging over 58% the past three seasons.
· Has 15 goals, 33 assists for 48 points in 38 games – seventh in the nation in scoring
· Recorded points in 29 games, second most in nation – Florida draft pick (5th round)
· Physical Education, Exercise Science & Wellness major – active volunteer with multiple organizations
Danny Kristo – North Dakota, Senior, Forward, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
With linemate Corban Knight setting him up, Kristo is the finisher with 24 goals to rank third in the nation in goal scoring, giving North Dakota a powerful one-two punch. An assistant captain, Kristo was named to the all-WCHA first team, finishing second in the conference in goals and points. Kristo leads all active Division I college players in career points with 159.
· Has 24 goals, 26 assists for 50 points in 38 games – third in the nation in scoring
· Recreation and Tourism Studies major and is very active in community volunteering
· Montreal draft pick (2nd round) – has 14 multiple point games
Carsen Chubak – Niagara University, Junior, Goalie, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
After playing nine games as a freshman and just one last year due to injury, Chubak has rebounded with a fantastic year. He led the Atlantic Hockey Association in virtually all goalie statistics and was named to all-conference first team and player of the year. He has played in 33 of the Purple Eagles 36 games and leads the nation with six shutouts, including a run of three straight.
· Currently 23-6-5 overall with a 1.81 goals against average, for fifth in the nation
· His .941 save percentage is fourth in the nation – AHA Goalie of the Week seven times
· Is a Sport Management major – helps a local youth hockey team several days a month
