ASU Hockey: Walker, Daccord selected as Hobey Baker Award nominees

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award celebrates the most outstanding player in college hockey with ASU hockey having two players nominated for the award.

In a year that boasts with talent, two Arizona State players have shown that they are deserving.

Junior goaltender Joey Daccord and sophomore forward Johnny Walker are the first in program history to be nominated for the prestigious award.

“It’s a huge honor to be noticed for such an award,” Walker said. “It’s definitely not anything I did by myself.”

Walker has been a nightmare for opposing defenses, leading the nation in goals scored with 19 in his 26 games on the ice this year.

A clutch player, Walker has scored nine of those goals in the third period, one being a game winner in overtime against No. 6 Penn State.

He also has eight assists.

“The whole program has come far. I don’t think that anyone is satisfied with what the Hobey Baker nominations say,” Walker said.

Head coach Greg Powers felt that both Daccord and Walker are more than deserving of being nominated.

“I think you could make a serious argument that both deserve to be finalists for that award,” Powers said.

Perhaps the largest part of ASU’s rise in college hockey has been the man between the pipes.

Daccord has been lights out, leading Arizona State to a 16-9-1 record behind a .930 save percentage and 2.24 goals against average.

He is among the most dominant goalies in the game, topping the country with six shutouts en route to one of the best seasons in Sun Devil hockey history.

“It’s an honor to even be in the mix for such a prestigious and coveted award,” Daccord said.

Daccord’s play has elevated the team exponentially.

“I just try to bring the fresh mindset every night and try to do what I can to help our team win. My job is to help our team win,” Daccord said.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.