Four Hockey East players - Boston University forward Colin Wilson and defenseman Matt Gilroy, Vermont forward Viktor Stalberg and Northeastern goalie Brad Thiessen are among the 10 semifinalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top Division I college hockey player.

Joining the four are Michigan forward Louie Caporusso, Alaska-Fairbanks goalie Chad Johnson, Princeton goalie Zane Kalemba, Air Force forward Jacques Lamoureux, Wisconsin defenseman Jamie McBain and Colgate forward David McIntyre.

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Matt Duffy begins his professional career tonight with the Rochester Americans, who face the Syracuse Crunch in Syracuse, N.Y.

Duffy, who was a defenseman at Maine, is on an amateur tryout (ATO) contract with the American Hockey League. The Florida Panthers own Duffy's rights, but the contract is exclusively with the AHL, according to Amerks media relations representative Warren Kosel.

"In Matt's case, it's an opportunity for a club and a player to meet, and for a player to get experience," Kosel said. "The fact that Matt's been drafted by Florida, that works in his favor, but it's up to Florida to sign him."

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Wondering what happened to Bentley?

The Falcons, who beat Maine 3-1 in January, are eyeing the Atlantic Hockey conference championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Falcons face Air Force in a conference semifinal at 4:05 this afternoon in Rochester, N.Y.

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