The 1986 Hobey Baker Award will be given to the most outstanding college hockey player in Division I March 27 or 28 at the NCAA Final Four at the Providence Civic Center.

Ten finalists for the honor have been chosen by balloting of all Division I coaches. The winner will be selected by an anonymous 12-member panel consisting of representatives of daily newspapers, monthly magazines, the electronic media, the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, NCAA coaches, and National Hockey League scouts.

A year ago, Bill Watson of the University of Minnesota-Duluth took the award, which is presented annually by the Decathalon Athletic Club in Bloomington, Minn. The official criteria for the award are athletic ability, scholastic achievement and leadership.

The 10 Finalists

Scott Fusco, senior, center, Harvard, 5-ft., 9-in., 175-lb., 27 games, 21 goals-36 assists--57 points, drafted by New Jersey (rights traded to Hartford).

Fusco was one of two runners-up to Watson in last year's balloting. He is the Harvard captain and the school's all-time leading scorer.

His 104 goals and 229 points are school records. He needs needs three assists to break the Harvard mark of 127. He is second on New England's all-time scoring list to Ralph Cox of the University of New Hampshire, who finished his career with 243 points in 1979.

In his first three seasons, Fusco led Harvard to the NCAA Tournament, and in 1983-'84, he played for the United States Olympic Team at the XIVth Winter Olympiad in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

He should be named ECAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season tomorrow. He has claimed two straight conference scoring titles and in the course of winning three Ivy League scoring crowns, he has helped the Crimson claim four Ivy titles.

Prior to this season, Fusco had already been named All-ECAC twice and All-Ivy three times.

Last season, Fusco was named an All-American and enjoyed the the second finest single-season in Harvard history with 81 points and he finished second in the national scoring race.

Fusco's older brother Mark '83, who played in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, claimed the Hobey in 1983, the year the Crimson advanced to the NCAA finals.

Mike Donnelly, senior, left wing, Michigan State, 5-ft., 11-in., 185-lb., 40 games, 54-34--88, a free agent.

Career: 152 games, 105-82--187. His 54 goals this year are a school and WCHA record. Scored goals in 16 straight games (another school record) and points in 38 straight. 24 power-play goals and four game winners.

Dan Dorion, senior, right wing, Western Michigan, 5-ft., 8-in., 169-lb., 40 games, 40-61--101, drafted by New Jersey.