By: Brandon Murdock | Follow me on Twitter/X @Brandonmurdoc11
The Hobey Baker award is the most coveted accomplishment a player can receive in college hockey. Being recognized as the best player in the country for that year. This year, Boston Bruins prospect and 2025 seventh overall pick James Hagens has put himself in a position to take home the award.
On Wednesday afternoon, the committee selected the sophomore from Boston College as a top 10 finalist for the award. This is the first time that Hagens has been in the conversation for the award. This selection comes as no surprise, as Hagens has been on fire this season for the Eagles.
Leading up to BC’s Hockey East semi-final matchup with the University of Connecticut, Hagens leads the Eagles in points with 45. He has 23 goals and 22 assists on the season, which are both the highest on the team. His 23 goals on the season are good for a tie for fifth place in the country. Not too shabby for a guy that was allegedly carried by his linemates last year in the form of Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.
His success didn’t stop there, Hagens was also named to the Hockey East first-team, as well as being crowned the conference’s scoring champion. If you thought that was good, it gets even better; Hagens also happens to be on a 13-game point streak. In that span, he has 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points. Yes, he’s been that good.
Out of the 33 games Hagens has played in this year, he has only been held without a point five times. Simply put, it’s been pure domination from the Long Island native. These are not just empty stats, however. Hagens has gotten on the board against some of the best teams in the country, including Denver, Minnesota, Providence, Boston University, and Quinnipiac.
He has also shown up in clutch time for the Eagles. To go along with his six game-winning goals, Hagen’s was a standout performer in the Bean Pot. Notching five points in the two games, as well as being named the Beanpot MVP. He is developing into the franchise player the Bruins hoped for when they drafted him.
With this possibly being the last weekend before Hagens joins the Bruins, he has certainly gotten the fanbase excited. His skating, leadership, and, of course, goal-scoring prowess have all improved from his freshman year and could bring a lot to the current Bruins lineup that has lacked a lot of offensive creativity.
Hagens potentially playing with the likes of David Pastrnak this season could be huge for the Bruins. Having a playmaker like Hagens, dishing it to Pastrnak or even Morgan Geekie, could lead to even more goal scoring from these proven snipers.
While this nomination is just the stepping stone, Hagens will have to wait and see if he did enough this season, as the Hobey Hat Trick will be announced on April 2nd, and the winner will be announced on April 10th in Las Vegas at the Frozen Four. With a good tournament run and how well his regular season went, don’t be surprised to hear his name called in Vegas.
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