On April 7, 2000, Boston College captain Mike Mottau was named the winner of the annual Hobey Baker Award ahead of fellow BC finalists Jeff Farkas and Brian Gionta. Skating its third consecutive Hobey winner and sixth in 10 seasons, Hockey East earned the moniker "Home of the Hobey". David Emma of Boston College was the league's first Hobey Baker recipient in 1991. An outstanding rookie named Paul Kariya captured the award while leading his Maine team to a NCAA title in 1993 after fellow Black Bear Scott Pellerin had collected the prestigious trophy in 1992.

In 2009, BU defenseman Matt Gilroy was the 29th recipient of the prestigious award. Gilroy notched a career-high 37 points in his senior campaign, while leading the Terriers to their fifth national title in school history.

After a four-year hiatus, Hockey East commenced its second string of winners when BU's Chris Drury was named college hockey's most dominant player in 1998. New Hampshire's Jason Krog added the trophy to his case in 1999 and Mottau completed Hockey East's second triumvirate of winners when he stepped up to the medal stand in April of 2000. Three-time finalist Gionta fell just short of making it four in a row for Hockey East when he finished runner-up to Michigan State's Ryan Miller in 2001.

The Hobey Baker Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college hockey player in the U.S. The Hobey Baker Award was initiated in 1981. Each year, a list of nominees from college coaches around the country is narrowed down to ten finalists and then narrowed down the three "Hobey Hat Trick", from which the winner is selected.

Matt Gilroy – 2009 Boston University