Milwaukee – Matt Carle said his new NHL teammates in San Jose wished him luck when he left for Milwaukee to find out if he was the nation’s top college player.
The former University of Denver defenseman won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Friday night, and predicts a different reaction when he returns to the Sharks to play the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
“I’m sure I’ll get some grief from it; that’s to be expected,” Carle said. “I guess I’d rather be taking the grief than not.”
Carle, from Anchorage, Alaska, was a member of the 2004 and 2005 championship teams at Denver before joining the Sharks after the Pioneers’ season ended.
He scored a goal in his first game as a professional. In six NHL games, Carle has two goals and an assist.
“Every day has been a new experience, learning more and more,” Carle said. “Now, I’m trying to start developing and get in some more games.”
Carle, 21, also was selected the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s player of the year and defensive player of the year – a first in league history.
“He just dominated in his position, and you could see that as he graduated to the National Hockey League,” said finalist Brian Elliott of Wisconsin.
Carle, a junior who plans to enroll in summer school to complete his college education, led the nation in assists with 42 and defensemen with 53 points. He joins other NHL players from Anchorage, including Scott Gomez and Jason Ryznar of the New Jersey Devils and Ty Conklin of the Edmonton Oilers.
“I’ve only got six games under my belt and Gomez has got those two (Stanley) Cups,” Carle said. “Those guys are still just role models to me.”
The other two finalists – Chris Collins of Boston College and Elliott – will meet on the ice Saturday for the NCAA title.
Matt Carle/Career highlights
Former University of Denver defenseman Matt Carle, who is finishing the season with the San Jose Sharks, became the Pioneers’ first Hobey Baker Award winner Friday as college hockey’s best player. He is considered one of DU’s best all-time players and the program’s top defenseman since the late Keith Magnuson (1967-69). Carle’s 122 career points are fourth among defensemen in program history. A look at his three-year career:
2005-06: Led NCAA in assists (42) and all defensemen in points (53). His assists total was a DU single-season record for defensemen and his points were tied for tops on the team and one shy of the program record for blue-liners. … Led DU with a plus-19 rating and was the only player on the team above plus-3. … Tied for second among WCHA scorers in league games with 42 points. … Became the first skater to be named WCHA player of the year and defensive player of the year, and became a two-time all-WCHA first-team selection. … DU’s first Hobey Baker Award finalist since 2002 and first winner.
2004-05: Unanimous first-team All-American and Inside College Hockey’s defenseman of the year. … The WCHA’s top-scoring defenseman finished third among DU scorers with 44 points, including a goal and three assists at the Frozen Four. … Was named to the all-Northeast Regional and all-Frozen Four teams. … Recipient of the Keith Magnuson Award as DU’s best defenseman.
2003-04: Became the first American to capture World Junior and NCAA titles in the same season. … Missed 14 of 44 games because of an ankle injury and World Junior duty, but still produced 25 points (five goals) and a plus-16 rating. … Named to the all-WCHA rookie team and won the Barry Sharp Award as DU’s freshman of the year.
– Mike Chambers
