Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hobey Baker Award Winners to be Honored March 4 vs. Michigan
February 21, 2005 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 21, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Former Bowling Green State University hockey players, George McPhee and Brian Holzinger, will return to Bowling Green and be presented with Hobey Baker Memorial Rings during the first intermission of the March 4 game against Michigan. McPhee and Holzinger are two of just 25 winners of the award given annually since 1981 to the top collegiate hockey player.
Josten's, a special sponsor of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award since 2000, has designed, furnished and presented the memorial rings to each award recipient over the past several years. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, with this year's recipient being named April 8 in Columbus, Ohio, site of the 2005 Frozen Four.
BGSU is one of just seven schools to have multiple winners of this prestigious award. The Falcons host Michigan for "Senior Night" on March 4 in the regular-season home finale at the BGSU Ice Arena.
The award is named after Hobart Amory Hare Baker, who captained Princeton's hockey and football teams, is a charter member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and one of a handful of Americans to be inducted into Canada's Hockey Hall of Fame, and is a member of Princeton's Hall of Fame, both football and hockey. He was killed during World War I at the age of 26.
McPhee won the award in just its second year of existence in 1982. That season, the Guelph, Ontario, native posted 28 goals and 52 assists for 80 points (third nationally) en route to becoming the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's first winner. McPhee, a senior, helped lead the Falcons to the CCHA title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. He was named in 2001 to the 1980s All-Decade First Team for the CCHA and inducted into the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 on his first ballot.
McPhee is in his sixth season serving as vice president and general manager of the Washington Capitals. Prior to joining the Capitals, McPhee served five seasons as the vice president and director of hockey operations as well as alternate governor for the Vancouver Canucks.
Upon the completion of his college career, McPhee signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers and started his NHL career during the 1982 playoffs. Following his seven-year playing career with the Rangers and New Jersey Devils, McPhee earned his law degree from Rutgers University in 1992.
Holzinger captured the award in 1995 after pacing the Falcons with 69 points, a career-best, over 38 games. His team-leading 35 goals, also a personal high, ranked second nationally. His point total stood third best in the country. That season, the Falcons finished second in the CCHA and lost in the CCHA semifinals to Michigan State.
That same year, Holzinger was named a First-Team Academic All-American, one of just three Falcon hockey players to earn such a distinction. He was named in 2001 to the 1990s All-Decade Second Team for the CCHA.
The Parma, Ohio, native has played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League, most recently with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets in 2003-04. In 547 career games, Holzinger has 93 goals, 145 assists (238 points) and 339 PIM. He was drafted in the 6th round by Buffalo in 1991.
