MARQUETTE – Northern Michigan University’s Dominik Shine and Atte Tolvanen are among nine Western Collegiate Hockey Association players to earn a spot on the fan ballot for the 2016 Hobey Baker award.

Under consideration for this award are 66 players from 37 programs. The Hobey Baker is awarded each year to the nation’s top NCAA Division I hockey player.

The first phase of fan voting will run until March 6. Wildcat fans can support Shine and Tolvanen by casting their vote once a day on the Hobey Baker Facebook page.

Shine ranks fifth in the WCHA in goals with 10, tied for 11th in points with 17 and tied for second in game-winning goals with three.

He strung together a six-game point streak from Dec. 11 to Jan. 9, recording eight points, on five goals and three assists, and two game-winning goals over that span.

The junior became the first Wildcat to earn WCHA Player of the Month accolades after posting a league-best eight points (6g-2a) in six December games.

At the Great Lakes Invitational from Dec. 29-30, he netted two goals and received an all-tournament honor.

Tolvanen has started 19 of Northern Michigan’s 24 games in net. The freshman is among national leaders in saves with 614 and shots faced with 659, which is fourth in each category.

Among rookie netminders, he ranks third in saves percentage at .932.

The WCHA’s Rookie of the Month for October and a four-time weekly award recipient, Tolvanen owns 11 career 30-save performances, five of them with at least 40 saves.

Information compiled by Senior Sports Writer Craig Remsburg. He can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251, or via email at cremsburg@miningjournal.net.