It’s too early to plan the celebration and get outfitted for a tux, but with less than three weeks to go, the University of Michigan’s Zach Hyman is the leading vote-getter for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division 1 college hockey player.

As of March 23,  Hyman led the final 10 nominees with 7,560 votes, well ahead of Michigan Tech’s Tanner Kero’s 5,125.

A 22-year-old senior, Hyman is enjoying a breakout season with the Wolverines. He finished the regular season as the Big Ten’s leading scorer with 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 20 games. Add out-of-conference points, and he totalled 19 goals and 30 assists, for 49 points. In his three previous seasons, Hyman registered a total of 35 points.

Recognition for the fine season Hyman is enjoying continued to mount last week. The Toronto-born player was named first all-star on the 2014-15 All-Big Ten Hockey Team, as selected by Big Ten coaches and a media voting panel.

Earlier this season, Hyman won a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and last year he received the Bates/Deskins Award as the University of Michigan’s top junior student athlete, and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar award.

His good marks are a factor in Hobey Baker voting. A selection panel takes into account scholastic achievement as well as character.

The 27-member selection committee will narrow the 10 finalists to a top three, known as the Hobey Hat Trick, which will announced on April 2. The winner will be named on April 10 in Boston during the Frozen Four tournament.

The top 10 was chosen by a combination of Division 1 coaches and fan voting. Other finalists include Jack Eichel of Boston University, touted as a top two selection in the NHL entry draft this year, and two-time All-Big Ten defenceman Mike Reilly of Minnesota.

Hyman is a 2010 fifth-round pick (123rd overall) of the Florida Panthers. He is a former student at Robbins Hebrew Academy and the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto.