Two senior students, Thomas Gale and Liam McLinskey, have been chosen as finalists for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award.
The Hart Center Rink has been buzzing with excitement lately due to the success of the Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team. The team, which was picked to finish 10th out of 10 in the Atlantic Hockey preseason poll, has defied expectations and is currently on a 10-game win streak, advancing to the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game [1][2].
At the heart of this impressive run is junior forward Liam McLinskey, who has been named a top 10 finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award. McLinskey, who transferred from Quinnipiac University, has played in 107 games with Holy Cross and is the leading scorer for the team this season, with 17 goals and 30 points [3]. He scored his 100th career point against Canisius this past weekend, a significant milestone in his college hockey career [4].
McLinskey was a top 10 finalist for the award last year, the closest any Holy Cross player has ever come [5]. His consistent offensive production, with 40 games played, 24 goals, and 30 assists in the 2024-25 season, totaling 54 points, suggests he was a leading player in college hockey that year [1].
Senior goalie Thomas Gale has also been recognised for his outstanding performance this season. He has started in 27 games for the Crusaders, boasting a 0.927 save percentage and an average of 2.21 goals allowed per game [6]. Gale has a career record of 2.49 average goals against and a 0.915 save percentage over four years at Holy Cross [7]. He has been named to the watch list for the Mike Richter Award and has been named Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Week five times this season [8].
Courtney McKeen '27, Staff Writer, has penned an article titled "Liam McLinskey Named a Hobey Baker Finalist", while Matthew Mistretta '28, another Staff Writer, has written "Red-Hot Crusaders: Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team Dominates AHA With 10-Game Win Streak" [9][10]. Colin Healy '25, Sports Editor, has covered the team's journey to the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game in "Playing Spoiler, HC Hockey Advances To Atlantic Hockey Championship Game" [2].
As the Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team prepares for the championship game, the anticipation and support from the college community continue to grow. The Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the top player in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey, adds another layer of excitement to the already thrilling season for the Crusaders [11].
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5] [6] [Source 6] [7] [Source 7] [8] [Source 8] [9] [Source 9] [10] [Source 10] [11] [Source 11]
- The success of the Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team in the athletics events at the university has resulted in the team being chosen as a sports subject in several articles, such as Courtney McKeen's 'Liam McLinskey Named a Hobey Baker Finalist' and Matthew Mistretta's 'Red-Hot Crusaders: Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team Dominates AHA With 10-Game Win Streak'.
- Liam McLinskey, a top 10 finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award and a transfer from Quinnipiac University, has exceeded expectations this season, leading the Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Team in sports and ranking as the team's leading scorer with 17 goals and 30 points.
- The University's ice hockey team, currently on a 10-game win streak and advancing to the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game, is not only excelling in sports but is also gaining recognition for its members like senior goalie Thomas Gale, who has been named to the watch list for the Mike Richter Award and five times the Atlantic Hockey America Player of the Week this season.
