Minn.-Duluth's Lessard given Baker Award

BOSTON (AP) -- Minnesota Duluth forward Junior Lessard won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday, honoring him as college hockey's top player.
Lessard led the nation with 30 goals and 61 points this season, and helped the Bulldogs advance to the Frozen Four for the first time in 11 years. Minnesota Duluth lost to Denver 5-3 in a semifinal game Thursday night.
"I look at the Hobey Baker award as both an individual and a team award," said Lessard, who was also the Western Collegiate Hockey Association player of the year. "I couldn't have done this by myself. It's a great honor."
The other Hobey Baker finalists were Brown goalie Yann Danis and forward Zach Parise of North Dakota.
Danis, who has signed with Montreal, helped lead the Bears to their first league title since 1995. He set a school record with a .930 career save percentage, second best in NCAA history to Ken Dryden.
Parise, who just recently signed a two-year deal with New Jersey after being drafted 17th overall in 2003, was second in the nation with 55 points. He was the lone returning finalist.