Boston College junior Thatcher Demko is among the 10 finalists for the 2016 Hobey Baker Award and one of two goaltenders up for college hockey’s most prestigious individual award.

The other nine finalists include J.T. Compher (Michigan), Kyle Connor (Michigan), Zac Lynch (Robert Morris), Alex Lyon (Yale), Tyler Motte (Michigan), Alex Petan (Michigan Tech), Andrew Poturalski (New Hampshire), Ethan Prow (St. Cloud State) and Jimmy Vesey (Harvard).

The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting. Next, the 27-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheHobey/ or the Hobey website at www.hobeybakeraward.com from March 17-27 will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner.

Criteria for the award include: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

Demko is in the midst of turning in one of the all-time best seasons for a Boston College goaltender and has also been named a top five finalist for the Mike Richter Award, an honor given to college hockey’s top goalie.

Already surpassing the school records for shutouts in a season with 10, the San Diego native is two blankings away from tying Cory Schneider‘s (2004-07) benchmark of 15 for the career record.

His 10 shutouts is the second most in college hockey history for a season, tying David McKee (Cornell – 2005) and Ryan Miller (Michigan State – 2001). Demko is two shutouts away from matching Greg Gardner‘s (Niagara) record of 12 set in 2000 for the all-time mark in a college hockey season.

The second-round draft pick of Vancouver is currently tied for the nation’s lead (with Lyon) with a .938 save percentage. Demko is also third in all of college hockey with a 1.78 goals against average and fourth in winning percentage (.771) with a 25-6-4 mark.

In Hockey East conference play, Demko’s five shutouts are tied for second most in a single-season with UNH’s Casey DeSmith (2012-13) and BU’s John Curry (2006-07). His .938 save percentage in league play is tied for seventh best in a single season with Merrimack’s Rasmus Tirronen (2014-15), NU’s Clay Witt (2013-14) and none other than his current goaltending coach at BC, Mike Ayers.

For his career, Demko is 60-24-10 (.691) with a 2.05 goals against average and a .928 save percentage (2,514 saves on 2,708 shots).

The Hobey Hat Trick (three finalists) will be announced on March 31 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced Friday, April 8 from Tampa during the NCAA Frozen Four.

Photo/Boston College Athletics