Senior forward Liam McLinskey of the Holy Cross men’s ice hockey team was named one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the committee announced Wednesday afternoon. McLinskey became the first student-athlete in program history to be named a Hobey Baker finalist a year ago, and finds a spot on the list for the second consecutive year.
From now until March 30, fans can vote once daily for McLinskey on the Hobey Baker Memorial Award website.
A Pearl River, N.Y. native, McLinskey leads the Crusaders and Atlantic Hockey in scoring with 51 points (23g – 28a). The Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, and First Team pick, McLinskey became the first Crusader to eclipse the 50-point mark in nearly two decades. His 51 points and 23 goals entering this weekend’s Atlantic Hockey Championship Game stand as the second most in a single season in program history, while his 28 assists are tied for the fourth highest mark.
McLinskey, an alternate captain for the Crusaders, has picked up at least a point in 26 of the team’s 39 games so far this season, and registered 16 multi-point efforts. He recorded at least a point in 12 games over the Crusaders’ Atlantic Hockey-record 16-game unbeaten streak to move into first place in the Atlantic Hockey standings and claim the regular season title.
The Atlantic Hockey Scoring Champion, McLinskey paced Atlantic Hockey in league play with 39 points on 19 goals and 20 assists in 26 games. Over the full season, McLinskey’s 51 points are tied for the third-highest mark in the nation, while his 23 goals are tied for sixth and his 28 assists place him ninth as of March 19.
McLinskey helped the Crusaders to their first back-to-back 20-win seasons since the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, and their Atlantic Hockey regular season title since the 2005-2006 season.
Player Of The Year and Forward Of The Year
McLinskey, the reigning Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year and Scoring Champion, becomes the first two-time Player of the Year in Atlantic Hockey history. McLinskey paced the Crusaders in all offensive categories in the regular season, posting team-bests in points (43), goals (20), assists (23), and power play goals (7). His 43 points, 20 goals, and 1.26 points per game led the league, while his 23 assists were tied for the fourth-highest mark. McLinskey, who was also named Atlantic Hockey Forward of the Year and an All-Atlantic Hockey First Team selection, enters the championship game with 51 points on 23 goals and 28 assists, which rank third, sixth, and ninth in the nation, respectively.
