Caufield wins top honor, scores twice in pro debut

Wisconsin forward Cole Caufield won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday night as the top college hockey player, then scored twice in his professional debut.

Caufield edged North Dakota forward Shane Pinto and Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay. He also had an assist Friday night in the Laval Rocket’s 5-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies in an American Hockey League game.

“It means a lot, obviously it was something that was a goal of mine going into the year. It’s a special award,” Caufield said after the game. “It was on my mind pretty much all day. I was getting dressed for warmup (when I found out).”

The 20-year-old Montreal prospect had 30 goals and 52 points in 31 games with the Badgers to lead all college players. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens.

From Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the 5-foot-7 right wing helped the United States win the 2021 world junior championship.

Maine coach Gendron dies suddenly: University of Maine hockey coach Red Gendron died unexpectedly Friday, the school announced. He was 63.

The Boston native, who took over coaching the Black Bears in 2013, died after suffering a medical emergency, university officials said.

“Words cannot express our deep sadness from the tragic, sudden loss of Red Gendron,” athletic director Ken Ralph said. “Our community and the entire UMaine athletics family mourn the loss of Coach Gendron.”

Maine’s best season under Gendron ended early when the coronavirus pandemic struck in March 2020. The team had an 18-11-5 record before the Hockey East playoffs were canceled. He was a finalist that year for the Spencer Penrose Award, given to the nation’s top coach.

Gendron held many coach positions over his career and was an assistant with the New Jersey Devils in 1994-95 when they won the Stanley Cup. He also served as coach of the Indiana Ice and Albany River Rats.

He came to Maine after serving as assistant coach at UMass and associate coach at Harvard.

University President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said the campus was “shocked and saddened” by Gendron’s sudden death.

“He was a force in UMaine Athletics and in the legacy of our men’s ice hockey program,” she said. “We mourn his passing and remember his many contributions to the generations of players he mentored and to the program that lit up Black Bear Nation and the state of Maine.”