from College Hockey News,

Friday evening at the Aon Ballroom on Chicago's Navy Pier, Denver senior captain Will Butcher was named the winner of the 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Named for the former Princeton legend and World War I veteran, the Award is given annually to the top player in Division I men's college hockey. Butcher is the first defenseman to win the award since 2009 (Matt Gilroy, Boston University). The Sun Prairie, Wis., native was also the first blueliner since '09 to be named to the 'Hobey Hat Trick' as one of three finalists for the prestigious award.

All season, Butcher — a 2013 fifth-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche — has anchored the best statistical defense in the nation. The Pioneers enter Saturday's championship game against league rival Minnesota-Duluth having allowed 1.81 goals per game on average this season. Widely considered the best all-around defenseman in the nation, Butcher has chipped in offensively, too, with seven goals and 30 assists.

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