One of the keys to Alex Tracy’s success as the starting goalie for Minnesota State’s hockey team is having a dad who fully supported him and wouldn’t let him quit.
As a result, the Evergreen Park resident is one of more than 90 NCAA Division I hockey players from 64 schools who are nominated for the 2025 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in the sport.
Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of their team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Ten semifinalists will be announced on March 19, the three finalists will be announced on April 3 and the winner of the award will be revealed on April 11.
“Being nominated is an honor,” Tracy said. “It’s special at a program like Minnesota State following in the footsteps of Dryden McKay (the Mavericks’ goalie who won the Hobey Baker in 2022) and seeing his image and following the expectations that were set in the (goal) crease by him.
“But all the credit goes to my teammates because of the way they defend in front of me. They block shots and defend very well. It’s an honor to be nominated, but my main focus is on winning a championship right now. …The nominations and accolades are secondary. We want to put ourselves in the best spot. It’s a huge honor to be nominated and I want to keep it going.”
Tracy began skating at age 7, started playing hockey a year later and moved into the nets when he was 9.
“I was a late bloomer in hockey, but I’m very happy that I’m doing it,” Tracy said. “I was influenced by my dad (Joe) and we didn’t have anyone in the family play hockey before me.
“When my dad saw that I was interested, he brought me out to skate. I hated it at first and I couldn’t stand (it) at first, but he wouldn’t let me not come back. He was stubborn about it; I learned to skate and the rest is history.”
Tracy, a 2019 graduate of Mount Carmel, has started all 28 games this season for the Mavericks, allowing 44 goals for a goals-against average of 1.57. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound junior has made 680 saves, posted a save percentage of .939, posted three shutouts and has a record of 18-8-2.
“My strengths are my athleticism and my compete (level) in the net,” Tracy said. “I’m not the biggest guy in the world and you see guys who are taller. So to make up for that, it’s my being able to battle.
“If you can stop the puck, you can stop the puck no matter how tall you are. I want to use my athleticism to make some dynamic moves in the crease and give myself a chance to stop some pucks that maybe I wouldn’t if I weren’t athletic.”
● Marist graduate Pat Coogan, who started at center for Notre Dame’s football team this season, announced on his X feed that he has committed to Indiana to play his fifth season this fall after transferring.
The Palos Heights resident appeared in 30 games during his time with the Fighting Irish, making 26 career starts. In 2023, Coogan started 13 games at left guard. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder appeared in all 16 games this season, finishing with one tackle and one reception for 11 yards against Stanford.
Notre Dame, a national finalist, defeated Indiana 27-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20.
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