William Whitelaw’s Seven-Game Surge Puts Hobey Baker Award in Reach

William Whitelaw has given the Blue Jackets a compelling reason to watch Western Michigan closely. The Columbus prospect opened his college season with 14 points in seven games, and a four-goal performance against Long Island turned a strong start into a run that has him in the Hobey Baker Memorial Award conversation.

A four-goal night set the pace

Western Michigan scored 17 goals across its Thursday and Friday games against Long Island. Whitelaw supplied four of them in the opener, then added three assists across the two-game series. The four-goal night included the first hat trick of his collegiate career, with a fourth goal to follow.

One of those goals showed how his shot can turn a small opening into a scoring chance. Whitelaw found open ice just outside the slot and finished a one-timer. That kind of release gives him a direct route to production: he can turn a pass into a dangerous shot before the defense has time to close the space.

The series also underlined that his contribution isn't limited to finishing. Three assists added to his scoring total, while his production across the seven-game sample suggests he's influencing more than one possession or one type of play. It's an early stretch, and a two-game burst deserves perspective. Still, the combination of goals and assists is hard to dismiss.

After the Long Island games, Whitelaw had seven goals and 14 points in seven games. Those totals ranked third and second, respectively, among all college players at the time. His plus-11 rating ranked fifth. Team success likely helps explain that figure, as the original account noted, so it shouldn't be read as a standalone measure of his defensive impact.

Columbus has a prospect building on last season

Whitelaw's current pace follows a breakout with Western Michigan last season, when he nearly doubled his goal and point totals from his previous campaign with Michigan. He had mostly occupied a bottom-six role with the Wolverines, so the move and the larger opportunity in Kalamazoo gave him room to take on a bigger offensive part.

Columbus selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft, after his season with the Youngstown Phantoms. That background makes the progression worth tracking: the Blue Jackets drafted a player with offensive promise, and he has since shown he can turn an expanded role into production at the college level. His early numbers now raise the question of how much further his game can grow as opponents adjust and the schedule brings tougher tests.

The shot remains the clearest calling card, but Whitelaw also brings speed, puck skill and vision. Those qualities matter because they give him ways to create offense when a clean shooting lane isn't there. He has also shown defensive value, including a shorthanded goal against his former team shortly before the Long Island series. That play doesn't settle questions about his overall defensive game, but it offers another example of his ability to make an impact in different situations.

For a Blue Jackets team looking for more scoring from the wings, a developing prospect with a strong shot and several ways to create chances is an encouraging piece of the pipeline. Whitelaw's college production doesn't guarantee an NHL role or establish how quickly he'll be ready. The next evidence will come from sustaining that output against stronger opponents and continuing to contribute when teams focus on limiting his shooting opportunities.

The next step is consistency

The Hobey Baker mention reflects the level of Whitelaw's opening stretch, not a settled award outlook. The honor goes to the top player in college hockey, and a serious case will depend on what he does over a much longer run. He'll need to keep producing as the season develops, while Western Michigan's results and his work across the ice will shape how his performance is viewed.

His path beyond college is still ahead, too. A move to the Cleveland Monsters after the season has been raised as a possibility, but it remains a projection rather than a confirmed plan. If he does turn pro, the American Hockey League would offer a different test of his ability to create offense against older, more experienced players. For now, the useful signal is the one he has already sent: Whitelaw is producing at an elite early-season rate and giving Columbus a prospect to follow closely.

The seven-game sample is small, but the combination of a breakout season, a four-goal game and top-of-the-league totals makes this more than a passing hot streak. Whitelaw has moved into the conversation through his play. Keeping that level against tougher competition is the next step toward turning an exciting start into a season-long statement.