University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Hockey Defensemen Morrow And Ufko Named Candidates For 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award
January 26, 2024 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts junior defensemen Scott Morrow and Ryan Ufko are among 84 nominees for the 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. The list of candidates was announced on Friday, coinciding with the start of the Hobey Baker fan voting, which is now live and will run through Sunday, March 10 at midnight.
Ufko, a team co-captain, has seen action in all 22 games this season, recording 19 points on six goals and 13 assists, including four power-play markers and three game winners. The Smithtown, New York native is +3 with 30 blocks and has helped UMass to a 13-6-3 record and a top-15 ranking thus far this year. He was named Hockey East Defender of the Week on Nov. 20 after playing a pivotal role in the Minutemen's sweep of then No. 5-ranked Providence.
Ufko garnered the team's Most Valuable Player recognition in 2022-23 after finishing his sophomore campaign third for the Minutemen in scoring with 24 points over 32 games on eight goals and 16 assists with four of his tallies coming on the power play. He led UMass in blocks with 48, as well. Ufko finished tied for fourth in Hockey East in defenseman scoring last season and was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star.
In league play in 2022-23, Ufko tied for second for the Minutemen in points in 20 with 17 in 24 Hockey East contests on six goals and 11 assists with three power-play tallies. The 2023 Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star was an AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar and a Hockey East All-Academic Team honoree in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and was tabbed an Academic All-District At-Large Team in 2023. To date, Ufko has appeared in 91 career games with 74 points on 19 goals and 55 assists.
Morrow is currently second on the team in scoring with 21 points on five goals and a team-best 16 assists through 22 games. He was tabbed Hockey East Defensive Player of the Month back in October after helping UMass go 4-2-1 for the month after putting up nine points (2g, 7a). The Darien, Connecticut native became the first Minuteman defenseman to log 20 points in the first semester of a season since UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck ('04).
Through two-plus seasons with the Minutemen, Morrow has seen action in every game of his career thus far, recording 85 points (27g, 58a) over 94 career contests and is +13 with 10 power-play tallies and five game winners. Entering his junior season, Morrow led the nation in career goals by active defensemen and ranked fourth nationally among active defensemen with 64 career points, second in game-winning goals by defensemen (5) and third in power-play goals by defensemen (7). He is climbing UMass' defenseman scoring career list, currently third, trailing only Poeck (102) and long-time NHL veteran Justin Braun (88), both who played four seasons with the Minutemen.
Morrow, a 2022-23 Hockey East Second Team All-Star and New England Men's Division I All-Star, finished his sophomore season as the points leader for the Minutemen with 31 on nine goals and 22 assists, including four tallies on the power play, one shorthanded and two game winners, seeing action in all 35 games. The two-time Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week became just the second Minuteman blueliner to post 30+ points in multiple seasons, joining Poeck. As a rookie in 2021-22, Morrow became the first freshman program history to be named a First Team All-American while also earning First Team Hockey East All-Star, a Hockey East All-Rookie Team and New England Men's Division I All-Star Team recognition.
Phase two of fan balloting will come from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 20 and closing March 31. The fans' vote accounts for a percentage of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year's award recipient.
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 7, 2024 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota. The award ceremony will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com.
Ufko, a team co-captain, has seen action in all 22 games this season, recording 19 points on six goals and 13 assists, including four power-play markers and three game winners. The Smithtown, New York native is +3 with 30 blocks and has helped UMass to a 13-6-3 record and a top-15 ranking thus far this year. He was named Hockey East Defender of the Week on Nov. 20 after playing a pivotal role in the Minutemen's sweep of then No. 5-ranked Providence.
Ufko garnered the team's Most Valuable Player recognition in 2022-23 after finishing his sophomore campaign third for the Minutemen in scoring with 24 points over 32 games on eight goals and 16 assists with four of his tallies coming on the power play. He led UMass in blocks with 48, as well. Ufko finished tied for fourth in Hockey East in defenseman scoring last season and was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star.
In league play in 2022-23, Ufko tied for second for the Minutemen in points in 20 with 17 in 24 Hockey East contests on six goals and 11 assists with three power-play tallies. The 2023 Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star was an AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar and a Hockey East All-Academic Team honoree in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and was tabbed an Academic All-District At-Large Team in 2023. To date, Ufko has appeared in 91 career games with 74 points on 19 goals and 55 assists.
Morrow is currently second on the team in scoring with 21 points on five goals and a team-best 16 assists through 22 games. He was tabbed Hockey East Defensive Player of the Month back in October after helping UMass go 4-2-1 for the month after putting up nine points (2g, 7a). The Darien, Connecticut native became the first Minuteman defenseman to log 20 points in the first semester of a season since UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck ('04).
Through two-plus seasons with the Minutemen, Morrow has seen action in every game of his career thus far, recording 85 points (27g, 58a) over 94 career contests and is +13 with 10 power-play tallies and five game winners. Entering his junior season, Morrow led the nation in career goals by active defensemen and ranked fourth nationally among active defensemen with 64 career points, second in game-winning goals by defensemen (5) and third in power-play goals by defensemen (7). He is climbing UMass' defenseman scoring career list, currently third, trailing only Poeck (102) and long-time NHL veteran Justin Braun (88), both who played four seasons with the Minutemen.
Morrow, a 2022-23 Hockey East Second Team All-Star and New England Men's Division I All-Star, finished his sophomore season as the points leader for the Minutemen with 31 on nine goals and 22 assists, including four tallies on the power play, one shorthanded and two game winners, seeing action in all 35 games. The two-time Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week became just the second Minuteman blueliner to post 30+ points in multiple seasons, joining Poeck. As a rookie in 2021-22, Morrow became the first freshman program history to be named a First Team All-American while also earning First Team Hockey East All-Star, a Hockey East All-Rookie Team and New England Men's Division I All-Star Team recognition.
Phase two of fan balloting will come from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists beginning March 20 and closing March 31. The fans' vote accounts for a percentage of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year's award recipient.
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.
The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced from a field of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists on Friday, April 7, 2024 during the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota. The award ceremony will be broadcast nationally on NHL Network and streamed live at hobeybaker.com.
Players Mentioned
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