Minnesota-Duluth’s Connolly named Senior CLASS Award winner

Minnesota-Duluth’s Jack Connolly has been named the 2012 winner of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, presented to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men’s hockey.

Connolly is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and he is a three-time WCHA All-Academic selection.

“Winning the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award means a lot to me and the UMD hockey program,” Connolly said in a statement. “I always try to do my best in everything that I do whether it be hockey, school or helping out in the community. I am truly honored and proud to receive this prestigious award.”

The award is chosen by a vote of the 58 Division I men’s hockey head coaches, media and fans.

Connolly has volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth, Minn., the Pucks for Poverty Program, the Northern Lights Foundation, the Adopt-A-Highway Program and cancer fundraisers.

“‘Class’ is one of the best ways to describe Jack Connolly, so this is certainly a fitting and well-deserved honor for him,” Minnesota-Duluth coach Scott Sandelin said. “Everything he does — on and off the ice — he does with class. I really can’t say enough about what this young man has meant to our program, our school and our community over the past four years.”

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award first-team All-Americans were Connolly, Ferris State defenseman Chad Billins, Merrimack forward Ryan Flanigan, Cornell defenseman Keir Ross and Air Force forward Paul Weisgarber.

The second team is Ohio State defenseman Sean Duddy, Alaska goaltender Scott Greenham, Notre Dame defenseman Sean Lorenz, Brown forward Jack Maclellan and Miami goaltender Cody Reichard.