SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini has been named the winner of the 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey, it was announced today. He becomes just the fourth freshman and Terrier to be so honored. It is the 12th Hobey Baker in Hockey East history.
Celebrini was the youngest player in college hockey this year, racking up 64 points as a 17-year-old. He became just the fourth player win Hockey East Rookie and Player of the Year awards in a single season this year, following Jack Eichel (2014-15), Paul Kariya (1992-93), and Brian Leetch (1986-87). Eichel and Kariya also won the Hobey Baker as rookies, while Michigan’s Adam Fantilli became the third first-year player to win the award last season.
The Vancouver, B.C. native was named a first-team All-American and finished the 2023-24 campaign second overall in the nation in goals (32), third overall in the nation in points (64) and shots (182), and seventh in assists (32). He leads all NCAA rookies in goals and shots and is fourth in assists, second in points, sixth in plus-minus rating (+25) and game-winning goals (4), second in power-play goals (12),and fourth in faceoff wins (317).
In 23 Hockey East games, he led all players with 44 points, nine power-play goals, 1.91 points per game and was second with 23 goals, 112 shots on net, and a plus-18 on-ice rating. He also won 190 faceoffs, 12th most in the league. Celebrini left his mark on several season-long categories, as no rookie has ever scored more goals in league play than his 23, and his 1.00 goals per game is the best mark among rookies and seventh-best all time in the 40-year history of Hockey East. His 44 league points are the fifth-most by a freshman ever and the most since Eichel’s 44 in 2014-15. At 1.91 points per game as a first-year player, only Eichel and Kariya scored at a higher pace. He recorded a point in 25 of 30 games played, including 19 multi-point games and six games with at least three points.
Celebrini was the lone unanimous selection to the All-Hockey East First Team and was one of three rookies selected unanimously to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team. The Vancouver native was a seven-time Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week, two-time Hockey East Player of the Week, Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month in January and March, was named Hockey East and National Player of the Month in October, and National Rookie of the Month in March. Celebrini is the first Terrier to record 30 goals in a season since Chris Drury scored 38 during the 1996-97 season.
