Northeastern freshman Hunter McDonald (Fairport, N.Y.) was named Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman for 2022-23.
| Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman Award Winners | |||
| Season | Player | Cl. | Team |
| 1998-99 | Steve O’Brien | Sr. | New Hampshire |
| 1999-00 | Mike Mottau | Sr. | Boston College |
| 2000-01 | Bobby Allen | Sr. | Boston College |
| 2001-02 | Chris Dyment | Sr. | Boston University |
| 2002-03 | Cliff Loya | Sr. | Maine |
| 2003-04 | Andrew Alberts | Jr. | Boston College |
| Prestin Ryan | Sr. | Maine | |
| 2004-05 | Tim Judy | Sr. | Northeastern |
| 2005-06 | Peter Harrold | Sr. | Boston College |
| 2006-07 | Sean Sullivan | Sr. | Boston University |
| 2007-08 | Joe Charlebois | Jr. | New Hampshire |
| 2008-09 | Louis Liotti | Sr. | Northeastern |
| 2009-10 | Justin Braun | Sr. | Massachusetts |
| 2010-11 | Brian Dumoulin | So. | Boston College |
| 2011-12 | Brian Dumoulin | Jr. | Boston College |
| 2012-13 | Patrick Wey | Sr. | Boston College |
| 2013-14 | Josh Manson | Jr. | Northeastern |
| 2014-15 | Mike Paliotta | Sr. | Vermont |
| 2015-16 | Steve Santini | Jr. | Boston College |
| 2016-17 | Dennis Gilbert | So. | Notre Dame |
| 2017-18 | Casey Fitzgerald | Jr. | Boston College |
| 2018-19 | Vincent Desharnais | Sr. | Providence |
| 2019-20 | Wyatt Newpower | Sr. | UConn |
| 2020-21 | Drew Helleson | So. | Boston College |
| 2021-22 | Jordan Harris | Sr. | Northeastern |
| 2022-23 | Hunter McDonald | Fr. | Northeastern |
