Capping an outstanding individual season, senior defenseman and Pioneers captain Will Butcher was named a Hobey Baker “Hat Trick” finalist on March 30. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native joins senior forwards Zach Aston-Reese from Northeastern University and Mike Vecchione from Union College as finalists for college hockey’s most decorated award, given annually to the nation’s top player.
A steady and calming force along the back-end, Butcher plays a solid two-way game. Checking in at only 5’10” and 190 lbs., he doesn’t have intimidating size or electric speed, but sound positioning, crisp passing and methodical decision-making have boosted Butcher to the upper-echelon of the NCAA defensemen ranks, as his impressive 36 points in 41 games ties him for second amongst all blueliners in the nation.
Often paired with junior Adam Plant (Penticton, British Columbia), Butcher is tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top line. Despite playing against top-notch competition, his +25 rating ranks him ninth in the nation. Additionally, his 18 penalty minutes is second-lowest on the team amongst defensemen, demonstrating his discipline and positional awareness.
Butcher helps kill penalties and mans the team’s top powerplay squad. His quick release from the top of the zone and ability to get shots on net are integral to DU’s lethal man-advantage unit.
A leader on and off the ice, Butcher was also named an alternate captain for team U.S.A at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships. After making a game-saving blocked shot in overtime against Finland on Dec. 26, he was named player of the game. Not surprisingly, the Pioneers’ fearless leader’s 76 blocked shots in 2016-17 leads all Denver skaters.
“Being an alternate captain comes with leadership responsibilities, getting the guys going in practice and for games. Getting that quick pace and knowing how we want to play,” Butcher told U.S.A. Hockey.
Making an immediate impact on the Denver program, Butcher posted 16 points as a freshman. Steadily improving each year, his point total jumped to 18 as a sophomore, 32 as a junior and 36 as a senior. His penultimate performance earned him NCHC Player of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year awards.
The ultimate award in college hockey, the Hobey Baker criteria includes strength of character, contribution to the integrity of the team, outstanding skills in all areas of the game, scholastic achievement and sportsmanship. While Hobey Baker award winners are phenomenal hockey players, they are often also upperclassmen whose success derives from strong character, spending time helping the community and team achievements.
As the captain of the No. 1-ranked Pioneers, Butcher has a strong argument behind his cause. He’s also an Academic All-Conference honoree in 2016-17, one year after being named to the 2015-16 Academic All-Conference Team as a business major. Giving back to the community, Butcher volunteers his time to the Hockey Saves program, assisting military personnel in playing hockey.
The award winner is set to be named on April 7 in the Aon Grand Ballroom in Chicago during the Frozen Four weekend. Denver plays the University of Notre Dame on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a championship berth on the line.
