MSU's Isaac Howard wins Hobey Baker as top college hockey player

St. Louis — Isaac Howard will have a hard time topping this season when he comes back to Michigan State for his senior year. That's because he ended it with college hockey's highest honor.

After a career-best season that helped lead Michigan State to the top of the Big Ten, Howard took home the Hobey Baker Award Friday night at St. Louis' Stifel Theatre.

The only thing that could top that next season? Winning an NCAA title, and Howard made that clear.

“I want to win a national championship,” Howard said, standing on stage mere feet behind the trophy he'd just won. “I didn't play to win a Hobey. I want to win a national championship. I think we're gonna have the group to do it. It comes down to the Tournament at the end of the year. … We just gotta be ready and make sure (we don’t leave anything on the table).”

Howard was one of three finalists in the Hobey Hat Trick, alongside Boston College forward Ryan Leonard and Denver defenseman Zeev Buium.

From Hudson, Wis., Howard started his college career at Minnesota-Duluth. He transferred to Michigan State as a sophomore, reuniting with former U.S. National Team Development Program coach Adam Nightingale. But before he ever played a game in East Lansing, he had to recover from heart surgery to treat a life-threatening defect found when he joined the Spartans. He never missed a game, putting up 36 points as a sophomore — more than double his previous production.

This season as a junior, Howard finished the year with 26 goals (third in NCAA) and 52 points (fifth) in 37 games played. His 1.41 points per game led the country. Named Big Ten player of the year, Howard played an integral part in Michigan State's run to back-to-back Big Ten regular season and tournament championships, scoring the double overtime winner to beat Ohio State in this year's title game. However, his season ended earlier than expected, as Michigan State lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a 4-3 loss to Cornell.

Howard will return to Michigan State to play his senior year, The Detroit News confirmed earlier this week, after attempting to negotiate a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who drafted him 31st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.

To have such a strong season — the kind that puts a player atop the sport as an individual — and still come back chasing team success may come as a surprise. To Nightingale, it’s a sign of Howard’s maturity.

“I think there’s a little bit of humility with that to say, ‘Hey, I get it, all these guys are signing.’ It still may happen, who knows, whatever. So to say, you know what, I can still get better. I can make Michigan State better, I think that's where Ike’s heart is. He wants our team to be great. 

“This is obviously a great individual award, but it’s a product of him losing himself in the team.”

Nightingale said Howard called him to tell him he was coming back to Michigan State, reiterating a lot of the same points Howard made in front of the microphones Friday night. He really wants to win a title. All the individual stuff — the NHL, awards, even the Hobey Baker — that’s all secondary.

“All my experience with Ike is it's always about the team,” Nightingale said. He coached Howard for two years at the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2020 to 2022 before the past two seasons at Michigan State.

Howard isn’t the only one returning for one more shot at a title. Big Ten goaltender of the year Trey Augustine put off joining the Detroit Red Wings another year to play one more with the Spartans. Howard’s linemates, Daniel Russell and Minnesota draft pick Charlie Stramel, will both return.

Michigan State also got a boost from some offseason additions, including St. Cloud State transfer Colin Ralph and 2024’s fourth overall NHL draft pick Cayden Lindstrom, who sat this season out after back surgery.

“A big one we're getting from CHL is Lindstrom,” Howard said. “The kid looks like a beast, and he's gonna be a great addition for us.”

As Michigan State’s two biggest stars, Howard said he and Augustine didn’t coordinate their returns. It just sort of happened. And combined with all the other talent, that makes Howard hopeful that maybe next year, he’ll be at the Frozen Four for a shot at a title.

“The stars are kind of aligning to make a deep run and win a national championship,” Howard said. “So, I mean, it was pretty easy for me, like it was so exciting to be a part of that.”

Howard’s Hobey is one of many awards Michigan State earned this season, including Big Ten regular season and tournament championship trophies, the GLI championship, in addition to Big Ten individual awards.

“I was joking with Ike, we gotta build a new trophy case, because the way it's set up with the entry to Munn, there's only two there right now, right? So that's a good problem to have.”

So is figuring out a way to repeat this good of a season, which Howard will try to do next year. There’s still five months until that season begins, and nearly a year before Howard could think of earning that national title he so covets. For now, he’s happy to win the Hobey.

“It's really exciting,” Howard said. “... It shows you had a great season, and I've absolutely loved my transition to Michigan State. I couldn't be happier.”

Howard joins two other Michigan State players who have won the Hobey Baker: forward Kip Miller in 1990 and goaltender Ryan Miller in 2001. No player has repeated as the Hobey Baker winner. Howard will have the opportunity next season.

Other honors

Among 2025's other award winners, Boston College goaltender Jacob Fowler won the Mike Richter Award as goaltender of the year, beating three other finalists including Augustine, Maine's Albin Boija and Minnesota State's Alex Tracy.

Michigan defenseman Jacob Truscott won the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. The Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey Award went to longtime New Hampshire coach Dick Umile. St. Lawrence forward Sarah Thompson won the Hockey Humanitarian Award in her third nomination for the honor. Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson took home Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year.

Three Michigan State players earned All-American honors this season: first-team selections Howard and Augustine, and second-team selection defenseman Matt Basgall. This is the Spartans' first season with multiple All-American hockey players since 1999.

cearegood@detroitnews.com

@ConnorEaregood