Many fans and observers feel Porter Martone was snubbed by not making the top 10 finalists for the 2026 Hobey Baker Memorial Award (College hockey’s top individual honor, like the Heisman for hockey). The official top 10 finalists were announced on March 18, 2026, and they are (in alphabetical order):
- Trey Augustine (G, Michigan State)
- James Hagens (F, Boston College)
- T.J. Hughes (F, Michigan)
- Gavin McKenna (F, Penn State)
- Max Plante (F, Minnesota Duluth)
- Eric Pohlkamp (D, Denver)
- Hayden Stavroff (F, Dartmouth)
- Charlie Stramel (F, Michigan State)
- Felix Trudeau (F, Sacred Heart)
- Ethan Wyttenbach (F, Quinnipiac)
Martone (Freshman Forward for Michigan State, drafted sixth overall by the Flyers in 2025) is notably absent from this list, despite strong support earlier in the season.Martone had an impressive 2025-26 NCAA season so far, with stats around 24 goals, 23 assists, and 47 points in 33 games (plus a +27 rating and solid physical play).
Earlier reports highlighted him as a legitimate contender—he was even a nominee, had fan voting pushes, and some outlets noted his production was on par with or exceeding past winners like his MSU teammate Isaac Howard (who won in 2025). There was talk of him emerging as a Hobey candidate after big performances, like a hat trick against Notre Dame. The snub has sparked reactions online, with some calling it a “robbery” or expressing surprise/shock (e.g., posts saying “Porter Martone is NOT a top 10 finalist… wowza” or similar sentiments from Flyers fans and hockey followers).
The top 10 includes other Michigan State players (Augustine and Stramel), which might fuel arguments about team representation or other factors like conference strength, veteran status, or narrative playing a role over raw freshman production.The process continues: Fan voting is open now through late March on hobeybaker.com (one vote per day), the top 3 “Hat Trick” finalists drop April 3, and the winner is announced April 10 during the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Martone could still get consideration in fan votes or discussions, but missing the official top 10 is a big omission given his numbers and hype.
What do you think—fair snub, or should he have been in there based on his stats?
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