Hobey Baker Award Finalists 2012: Air Force's Tim Kirby 1 Of 10 Finalists

The 2012 Hobey Baker Award Finalists have been announced and the Air Force Falcons' defenseman Tim Kirby is one of 10 finalists. Kirby is the only representative of the Atlantic Hockey Association and the league's MVP. He tallied 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points through 36 games so far. The Falcons are the No. 1 seed in the AHA Tournament and will participate in the semifinals on Friday.

Baker is the third Air Force candidate for the award, all of who were finalists within the past six years. The Hobey Baker Award press release has this to say about Kirby:

Atlantic Hockey’s lone representative is a dandy: First Team all-star, Best Defenseman and the AHA Player of the Year. The smart, play-making, top scoring defenseman of the AHA this season, Kirby has scored a career high 12 goals and 25 points in 33 games. A durable, minute crunching skater, has never missed a game playing in 149 straight entering the AHA tournament.

Here are the 10 finalists:

Spencer Abbott, Maine forward
Jack Connolly, Minnesota-Duluth forward
Brian Dumoulin, Boston College defenseman
Troy Grosenick, Union goaltender
Shawn Hunwick, Michigan goaltender
Tim Kirby, Air Force defenseman
Torey Krug, Michigan State defenseman
Justin Schultz, Wisconsin defenseman
Austin Smith, Colgate forward
Reilly Smith, Miami forward

The 2012 Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on April 6, 2012, during the Frozen Four, which takes place in Tampa, Fla.

For more on the WCHA visit Western College Hockey Blog.