UMD's Connolly among Hobey Hat Trick finalists

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced is three Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalists. They are Jack Connolly, UMD; Spencer Abbott of Maine and Austin Smith of Colgate. All are senior forwards. The winner will be named on Friday of next week during the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla.

Criteria for the awards include outstanding skills. character, sportsmanship and academics. Here is a short bio on each:

* Connolly. Bulldogs captain. Native of Duluth. Top 10 Hobey finalist as a junior. WCHA scoring champion. All-conference three times, player of year in WCHA as a senior. Two-time all-american. Second in nation in points. Had 20 goals, 40 assists for 60 points in 41 games. Played in 164 consecutive games. Undrafted free agent is his pro status.

* Abbott: Recruited walk-on at Maine from Hamilton, Ontario. Player of Year in Hockey East. Led nation in assists and points. Had 21 goals, 41 assists for 62 points in 39 games. Pro hockey free agent recently signed with NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.

* Smith: Led nation with 36 goals and also had 21 assists for 57 points. Had six short-handed goals and seven power-play goals. Player of year in ECAC. A plus-25. Fifth-round pick of Dallas Stars.

SCSU GOALIE SIGNS WITH PHOENIX

Mike Lee, a junior goalie for St. Cloud State, has signed with the  NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. He was 8-6-2 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage this past season.