Isaac Howard has never done things quietly. That includes his introduction to much of the hockey world in 2022, when he arrived at the NHL Draft decked out in a flashy white suit and declared himself the best-looking player available just in time for the Tampa Bay Lightning to grab him in the first round.
So, it was a bit of a surprise on Friday at a theater in downtown St. Louis when he reservedly and humbly accepted the Hobey Baker Award given annually to college hockey’s top player.
Originally from Hudson, Wis., the Michigan State junior was named the Big Ten’s most valuable player this season after helping the Spartans capture their second consecutive conference title. He cut his hockey teeth at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault and with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program prior to college hockey.
On stage at the theater adjacent to Enterprise Center, where Western Michigan and Boston University will play for the NCAA title on Saturday night, Howard singled out Spartans head coach Adam Nightingale, who worked with Howard at MSU and with the NTDP before that.
“You taking me into Michigan State was awesome,” Howard said. “You’ve been a great role model for me, my favorite coach, and I can’t (express) how important you’ve been to me. And also to the boys watching, you guys make it an awesome place to play. I absolutely love being a Michigan State Spartan for life.
“It’s an individual award, but it comes from teammates, linemates — it’s a collective group. So, I couldn’t do it alone.”
Howard, 21, played his first college season at Minnesota Duluth before transferring to Michigan State two years ago. He is the first Spartans player to win the trophy since hall of fame goalie Ryan Miller in 2001. As he piled up points and wins this season, the Spartans promoted Howard’s candidacy for the Hobey with t-shirts and other merchandise bearing the slogan “Be Like Ike” and showing one of his flashy on-ice celebrations.
“I’m excited and I’m proud,” Nightingale said. “It’s pretty rare that you get to coach a kid like this for four years. … From a coach’s perspective, seeing a kid that’s that committed and doing what he does on a daily basis, it’s a culmination to a moment like this.”
Howard put up 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games for the Spartans this season, and recently announced he will return to Michigan State for his senior season.
Runners up for the award were Boston College forward Ryan Leonard and Denver defenseman Zeev Buium. Picked by the Wild 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Buium is expected to sign with Minnesota in the coming days and could join the team for their Monday practice in St. Paul.
The Hobey Baker Award, named after a legendary Princeton hockey player and aviator killed in World War I, was created by the now-defunct Decathlon Athletic Club in Bloomington in 1981 and first awarded to Gophers forward Neal Broten.
Among the other award recipients on Friday at the Frozen Four were:
– Boston College sophomore Jacob Fowler won the Mike Richter Award, given to college hockey’s top goalie.
– Michigan defenseman Jacob Truscott won the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, which honors a former Army West Point player killed in Afghanistan 20 years ago.
— Retired coach Dick Umilie was named the Hobey Baker Legend of College hockey after leading New Hampshire to the Frozen Four on four occasions and coaching 1999 Hobey winner Jason Krog.
— Syracuse forward Sarah Thompson won the Hockey Humanitarian Award, which honors players’ community service efforts in addition to their on-ice work.
— Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson won the Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Award, given to college hockey’s top first-year player.
Howard becomes the third Wisconsin native to win the Hobey in its 45-year history, following Lane MacDonald (Harvard, 1989) and Cole Caufield (Wisconsin, 2021)
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