GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota men's hockey player Ryan Duncan (So., Calgary, Alberta) threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Minnesota Twins game against the Boston Red Sox on May 4 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Duncan was honored prior to the Twins-Red Sox game for winning the 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He was introduced on the field by Wally Shaver while a brief highlight video was shown on the Metrodome scoreboard. The video included footage of Duncan in action this past season along with footage of the April 6 Hobey Baker Award presentation in St. Louis.
Joining Duncan on the Metrodome field for the pregame ceremony were UND men's hockey associate head coach Cary Eades and assistant coach Dane Jackson, as well as UND teammates Taylor Chorney and Matt Watkins.
Also on the field for the festivities were a number of Hobey Baker 2007 High School Character Award recipients from around the state of Minnesota.
On the night prior to throwing out the first pitch at the Twins game, Duncan was honored at the 27th annual Hobey Baker awards dinner in St. Paul, Minn. He was joined at the dinner by family members and UND coaches and was presented with a commemorative ring made by Josten's.
May 3, 2007 was declared "Hobey Baker Day" by St. Paul, Minn., mayor Chris Coleman, who read a declaration at the awards dinner.
The featured speaker at the dinner was Craig Patrick, whose long and distinguished career in hockey included stints as the head coach of the National Hockey League's New York Rangers and as the general manager of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Patrick also served as assistant general manager and assistant coach for the 1980 gold medal winning U.S. Olympic team.
Four previous Hobey Baker Award winners attended the dinner and congratulated Duncan on winning his award. They included Tony Hrkac (1987 winner from the University of North Dakota), Bill Watson (1985/Minnesota Duluth), Brian Bonin (1996/Minnesota) and Jordan Leopold (2002/Minnesota).
The other major award that was presented at the banquet was the "Legend of College Hockey" award, which was awarded to Ed Saugestad, long-time head coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Saugestad, who retired in 1996, joined a distinguished list of previous winners that includes former UND and Bemidji State coach Bob Peters (2001 award winner) and former UND coaches Cliff "Fido" Purpur (1988) and Al Renfrew (1990).
The "Legend of College Hockey Award" has been presented annually by the Hobey Baker Award Committee since 1981 in conjunction with the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
Duncan is the second UND player to win the award in its 27-year history, joining Hrkac, who won it in 1987.
