ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Thanks to an incredible regular season and support from the fan vote, Western Michigan junior forward Jason Polin was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Wednesday afternoon. There were over 80 players representing 43 NCAA Division I schools among the initial nomination list. 

Polin is the third Bronco to be named a finalist for the award. Wayne Gagne (Defenseman) finished as the runner-up during the 1986-87 season, while Dan Dorion (Right Wing) was the runner-up in 1985-86 and a finalist in 1983-84.

He is joined in the top-10 by Logan Cooley (Minnesota), Adam Fantilli (Michigan), Sean Farrell (Harvard), Collin Graf (Quinnipiac), Lane Hutson (Boston University), Matthew Knies (Minnesota), Devon Levi (Northeastern), Yaniv Perets (Quinnipiac) and Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech). 

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award is given annually to the nation's top hockey player, who must meet four pillars of criteria to be considered. The four criteria which nominees for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award are considered include: strength of character, on and off the ice, contribution to the integrity of the team and outstanding skills in all phases of the game, scholastic achievement and sportsmanship and compliance with all NCAA rules, including being a full-time student in an accredited college or university and completing 50 percent or more of the season. 

Polin surpasses the requirements for each part of the criteria by serving as Western Michigan's captain and playing in every game this season. In those games, he has tallied 46 points on 29 goals and 17 assists. He leads the nation in goals and is tied-for-seventh in points. Academically, Polin has been a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, while maintaining a 3.70 GPA in Sport Management. 

Fan voting for the top-10 finalists begins on Friday, March 17 and runs until March 26. Polin finished second in the first phase of fan voting, which began back in January. The top-10 list will be trimmed to three players, which is called the "Hobey Hat Trick."  The primary voting in this part of the process is by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Selection Committee, a geographically balanced group of 30 individuals representing print and electronic sports media, college hockey coaches and officials, and NHL scouts.

Once three finalists are selected, the 2023 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 7, 2023 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in Tampa Bay, FL. The award ceremony will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com.