Harvard’s Vesey wins Hobey Baker Award

Ex-Phantom Connor was one of three finalists

Staff/wire report

TAMPA, FLA.

Harvard senior forward Jimmy Vesey won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday as the top player in college hockey, edging Michigan freshman forward Kyle Connor and Boston College junior goalie Thatcher Demko.

“I’m just honored to be here and honored to receive the award,” Vesey said. “I can’t say it enough, congrats to Kyle and Thatcher on their seasons, because they were both equally deserving of this award.”

Connor, a native of Shelby Township, Mich., played three seasons for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms before moving on to college hockey. He led the nation in goals (35) and points 71 to earn his nomination.

Last season, Connor led the USHL in scoring and was the league’s Player of the Year. In last June’s NHL draft, he was the 17th pick of the first round (Winnipeg Jets).

Demko’s Boston College advanced to the NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament, losing Thursday night to Quinnipiac, 3-2. In the other semifinal, North Dakota edged Denver, 4-2.

Tonight, Quinnipiac will play North Dakota for the NCAA crown. Quinnipiac features two former Phantoms: Soren Jonzzon and Sam Anas.

Jonzzon, the Bobcats’ captain, was a Phantom during the 2011-12 season, the first year the Phantoms qualified for the USHL playoffs.

Anas leads Quinnipiac in scoring (24 goals, 50 points) but is nursing a shoulder injury suffered three weeks ago in a game against Harvard. He was a Phantom for two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13). That second season, Youngstown came within one victory of playing for the USHL’s Robertson Cup.

Baker was a football and hockey star for Princeton and the biggest name in hockey before serving in the Army Air Corps during World War I. He was 26, already scheduled to be shipped home, when he was killed in a plane crash in France.

Vesey, from North Reading, Mass., is the fourth Harvard player to win the award, following Mark Fusco in 1983, Scott Fusco in 1986 and Lane MacDonald in 1989.

Vesey had 24 goals and 22 assists in 33 games this season. Drafted 66th overall by Nashville in 2012, he has elected to become a free agent. Nashville will lose his rights Aug. 15.

“I think I just wanted to finish what I started at Harvard and make sure I’m around for the next month or so of school to graduate and walk at graduation and receive my diploma,” Vesey said. “I’m going to train hard this summer and make sure when August comes I’m ready to pick which team I want to go to and enter training camp and kind of hit the ground running.”

Vesey’s father, Jim, is a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs.