Saturday, April 21, 2012

Connolly to Continue Career in Europe

2012 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Jack Connolly of Minnesota-Duluth will continue his playing career overseas. The Duluth native recently signed a two-year professional contract to play for Färjestads BK in the Swedish Elite League, according to the Duluth News-Tribune.

Connolly, who helped his hometown Bulldogs to their first-ever national title last spring with a 3-2 overtime win over Michigan, finished second in NCAA Division I scoring this past season with 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points. Never drafted by an NHL club, he tallied 66-131—197 points in 166 career outings with UMD, and never missed a game in his collegiate career.

Connolly was the 32nd recipient of the Hobey Baker Award and the fifth Bulldog, joining Tom Kurvers (1984), Bill Watson (1985), Chris Marinucci (1994) and Junior Lessard (2004). He paced the Bulldogs in points his last three seasons, and was also named a first-team All-WCHA choice all three years. Prior to playing in college, he starred in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls (Iowa) Stampede.

Färjestads BK has had 18 Swedish Championship final appearances in its history, and has won the title nine times.

No comments:

Post a Comment