The 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award has narrowed its field to the Top 10 Finalists and Michigan Tech senior Blake Pietila is the lone student-athlete selected from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The award is given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I hockey. 
 
Pietila (Howell, Mich.) has started 36 games for No. 13 Michigan Tech so far this season, going 23-10-3 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. The national leader in shutouts with 10, he also holds the school record in that category for both a single-season and career (20). Nationally, he ranks second in victories, third in save percentage and fourth in goals-against average. He has made 920 total saves in 2113:57 minutes, including 29 games with at least 20 or more stops and 12 games with 30 or more.  

A three-time CCHA Goaltender of the Month and seven-time league Goaltender of the Week this season, Pietila is a finalist for the Mike Richter Award after being named a semifinalist last season.

Pietila played in 24 CCHA games this season, going 14-7-3 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. He led the league in wins, save percentage and shutouts (6), while finishing second in goals-against average and minutes played (1425:48). Ranking third in total saves (625), he allowed two or fewer goals in 16 conference games. The Richter Award Finalist was the league’s Goaltender of the Month three times. 

The "Top 10 Finalists" list includes: Logan Cooley (Minnesota), Adam Fantilli (Michigan), Sean Farrell (Harvard), Colin Graf (Quinnipiac), Lane Hutson (Boston University), Matthew Knies (Minnesota), Yaniv Perets (Quinnipiac), Blake Pietila (Michigan Tech) and Jason Polin (Western Michigan).
 
Fans can read each student-athletes detailed bios by following the links on each candidate by clicking hobeybaker.com/2023-nominees.
 
Award criteria include candidates exhibiting the exceptional character traits of the award's namesake, Hobey Baker. A legendary American hero, Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America's greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football at Princeton University. Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.

Last season, Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay became the first player in program history to earn the prestigious honor. 

Voting for phase two will be open until March 28. The announcement of the final three finalists will take place on April 1, with the winner being announced on April 9.