No. 14 men’s hockey continues to receive national recognition, as defenseman and alternate captain Luke Juha was nominated for the coveted Hobey Baker award. For the uninitiated, consider the award college hockey’s Heisman Trophy.

The senior is the third Nittany Lion to get a nomination, following Casey Bailey and Taylor Holstrom’s nominations in 2015. Unlike his predecessors, his defensive role calls for quieter success. Juha’s 14 points on the season come from three goals and 11 assists. His ability to feed his teammates the puck is no-doubt a crucial contribution to Penn State’s explosive offense, ranked third in the nation. He leads the team in plus-minus with a solid +18 average. Through a transitional season, Juha’s consistency has instilled confidence in newcomers.  His leadership as an alternate captain and seasoned veteran has guided the Nittany Lions to a 15-4-3 record this season to date, their best yet.

The list of nominees is comprised of players from storied powerhouses like Providence, Boston College, and Quinnipiac. Though that’s pretty daunting, the Hobey Baker winner is determined by fan vote. Voting opened up January 20 and fans are allowed one vote per 24 hours, so head here and show the college hockey world that Hockey Valley is here to stay.