Fukakusa, Wilde nominated for Hobey Baker Award

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT sophomore forwards Tyler Fukakusa and Matthew Wilde were both nominated for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate men's hockey player.
 
The duo is among a group of over 90 players nominated for the award based on the following criteria: 

• Strength of character, on and off the ice
• Contribution to the integrity of the team and outstanding skills in all phases of the game
• Scholastic achievement and sportsmanship
• Compliance with all NCAA rules, including being a full-time student in an accredited college or university and completing 50 percent or more of the season 

Fukakusa entered the week 19th nationally with 26 points and tied for fourth with 19 assists. He leads Atlantic Hockey with 0.79 assists per game and is second with 1.08 points per game, including at least one point in all but six games this season and 12 of the Tigers' last 13 outings.
 
Fukakusa notched a career-high four assists in the 6-2 win at Bentley (Nov. 9) and also scored a goal and an assist in back-to-back games versus Army (Nov. 16) and Sacred Heart (Nov. 22) before adding two assists opposite the Pioneers (Nov. 17) for one of his six multi-point games this winter.
 
Fukakusa also entered the week seventh nationally with 276 faceoff victories while winning 55.0 percent of his draws this season. He tied a career-high winning 18-of-31 faceoffs in the Robert Morris opener and also won 13-of-15 draws (.867) in the New Hampshire opener.
 
Wilde currently leads Atlantic Hockey and ranks 17th nationally with 1.19 points per game. He also leads Atlantic Hockey with 0.63 goals per game and is tied for sixth in the conference with 10 goals - only trailing five players who have played anywhere from seven to 10 more games.
 
After missing the first eight games with a preseason injury, Wilde has scored at least one point in 11 of 16 games since his return and is second on the squad with 19 points.
 
Wilde scored a career-high four points on two goals and two assists in the 6-2 win at Bentley (Nov. 9) for the first of three multi-point games in November. Wilde was credited with four points during the two-game set at Sacred Heart, starting with two assists in the opener before logging a goal and an assist the following night.
 
The first phase of fan balloting runs now through March 9. Fans can cast their vote daily by going to the Hobey Baker website at hobeybaker.com/vote and reviewing all the nominees.
 
A list of 10 semifinalists will be announced on March 19 when the second phase of voting will run through March 30. Three finalists will comprise the "Hobey Hat Trick," to be announced on April 3, before the award is presented on April 11 during the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis, Mo.