ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT senior defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro, sophomore goaltender Tommy Scarfone and sophomore forward Carter Wilkie were nominated for the 2023 Hobey Baker Award, annually presented to the nation's top men's hockey player. 

The trio is among 82 players from 41 Division I programs nominated for the award. RIT is also one of only 11 programs with three nominees.
 
Candidates are considered based on the following criteria:

• Strength of character, on and off the ice
• Contribution to the integrity of the team and outstanding skills in all phases of the game
• Scholastic achievement and sportsmanship
• Compliance with all NCAA rules, including being a full-time student in an accredited college or university and completing 50 percent or more of the season 

One of the top defensemen in Atlantic Hockey this season, Cassaro is RIT's second-leading scorer with 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists to lead all AHA defensemen in scoring and rank No. 4 overall in the conference. His nine goals scored tie him for fifth in the conference among all players. The Nobleton, Ont., native earned Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Month honors for October with a 10-point month on four goals and six assists.

Scarfone has backstopped the Tigers to a 15-6-1 start to the 2022-23 campaign as he has compiled a 14-4-1 record in 19 appearances. The Montreal, Que., native leads Atlantic Hockey in saves at 542, ranks No. 2 in save percentage (.922) and No. 3 in goals-against average (2.40) and saves per game (28.53). Scarfone has been a dominant force in net during Atlantic Hockey play, posting a 12-1-1 record with a 1.83 GAA and .935 save percentage against AHA opponents for the first-place Tigers.
 
Wilkie leads Atlantic Hockey in points per game at 1.05 and ranks third in points scored with 23 on nine goals and 14 assists in 22 games. He is tied for third in the AHA in power-play goals with five, ranks second in faceoff wins at 265 and third in faceoff wins per game 12.05. The Calgary, Alta., native earned AHA Player of the Month honors in November after registering eight points on four goals and four assists in seven contests.

The first phase of fan balloting runs now through March 5. Fans can cast their vote daily by going to the Hobey Baker website at hobeybaker.com/vote-for-hobey
 
A list of 10 semifinalists will be announced on March 17 when the second phase of voting will run through March 26. Three finalists will comprise the "Hobey Hat Trick," to be announced on March 30th, before the award is presented on April 8 during the NCAA Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.