#jackconnolly

Photo By: Howieblog.com

   It's always the dream for every hometown kid to one day grow up and become the star of the team. The cheering of the fans, the celebration with your teammates and most of all, that moment you feel like your life is perfect. It's a feeling that you can't describe. In 2011, St. Louis Cardinals infielder David Freese hit the game winning walk-off homerun in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series to send the Cardinals and Rangers into Game 7, where the Birds eventually won. Every sports journalist and station around the country all had the same question to ask him, "What's it like win a championship for your hometown"? The same goes of University of Minnesota - Duluth's Captain Jack Connolly.

Connolly, who is a Duluth native himself, came to the university after one year in the Unites States Hockey League (USHL), playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede during the 2007-08 season. That year, Connolly racked up 26 G and 46 A in just 58 appearances. After the Stampede, Connolly decided to stay local and head to play for Coach Scott Sandelin and the UMD Bulldogs of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The WCHA is one of NCAA Hockey's most elite conferences in Divison I hockey, consisting of schools like the University of Minnesota, Colorado College, University of Denver, University of Minnesota - Mankato, University of Wisconsin, University of Nebraska - Omaha, St. Cloud State University and the always competitive University of North Dakota. His older brother, Chris Connolly, eventually went on to play under Jack Parker at Boston University, where he won a national title in 2009 and was named captain.

As a freshman, Connolly proved himself worthy as a Bulldog during the 2008-09 season, racking up 10 G and 19 A in 43 regular season games. It eventually got better for Connolly as his luck continued the next year as a Sophomore, racking up 19 G and 31 A, this time, in only 39 regular season games. But without question, Connolly's best years came in his last two at Duluth. During the 2010-11 season, he was named an assistant captain and led Duluth to their first NCAA Division I National Championship (just right down the highway in Saint Paul) with a 3-2 OT Win over the powerhouse University of Michigan. Ironically, Chris and Jack were both captains at their respective schools and both were underdogs in the national title games but somehow both won in overtime. Wild stat for you.

Speaking of Wild, he was even offered to practice with the Minnesota Wild at a rookie camp after his junior season. However, he decided to finished his career and schooling the right way by returning for his senior year and being named captain in the 2011-12 season. His senior year was his best at Duluth as he accumulated 20 G and 40 A in just 41 regular season games. However, this year's championship repeat run was spoiled by Boston College as they defeated Connolly and the Dogs in the 2012 NCAA Northeat Regionals held in Bridgeport, CT. That didn't get Connolly's spirit down as he eventually was named the 2012 Hobey Baker Award Winner, the most prestigous award in all of college hockey. In his four years at Duluth, he totaled 66 G, 131 A (a total of 197) in 165 regular season games. He averaged 1.19 PPG.

                              (Former Senior F Kyle Schmidt shares a hug with Head Coach Scott Sandelin after their 3-2 OT victory over Michigan in the Frozen Four Championship game.)

  You're probably thinking, "Can Minnesota-Duluth repeat their unbelievable championship run last season by upsetting powerhouse Michigan in OT 3-2, to win the 2011 Frozen Four in St. Paul, MN?" Well...maybe.

  For those of you who are not familiar with the school, Minnesota-Duluth (15-8-5) is out of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and finished 4th in the conference. The Bulldogs will be losing 5 seniors, including former Senior forward Kyle Schmidt, who scored the game winner against Michigan in the championship game. Schmidt acummulated 22 points (11G, 11A) in 35 appearances. However, he was not the most impressive player on this Bulldog squad.

  Junior F Jack Connolly led the team with 59 points (18G, 41A) in just 42 appearances. The 5'8, 160 pound center will return for his senior year at Duluth and will be the Bulldog captain. Just this past Saturday, Connolly played in the Minnesota Wild's development camp scrimmage in St. Paul with fellow teammates Freshmen F J.T. Brown, former Senior F Justin Fontaine and incoming Freshmen D Derik Johnson. Without a doubt, Jack Connolly should be one of the top college prospects in next year's draft. To find out more about Connolly, check out his blog on the UMD Bulldogs site.

  Goaltending is one of the biggest keys to success for any squad and Duluth has done a fantastic job with recruiting. Junior Kenny Reiter and Freshman Aaron Crandall have both been huge role players for their defensive support. Reiter (16-7-5) has a .914% Save average and a 2.30% Goals Allowed Average. As for the backup Crandall (10-3-1), he has a .894% Save Average and a 2.79% Goals Allowed Average. Not too shabby for a Freshmen backup. Both will return to Duluth next season and expect big things from both goalies.

  The biggest surprise I found from this squad is that 5 of the 6 players returning next season are underclassmen that have been drafted already. Freshmen D Justin Faulk was selected 32nd overall by Carolina in 2007, Sophomores D Dylan Olsen and F Dan DeLisle were selected 28th and 89th overall by Chicago in 2009, Freshmen F Joe Basaraba was selected 69th overall by Florida in 2010, Sophomore D Drew Olsen was selected 118th overal by Columbus in 2009 and Freshmen F Max Tardy was selected 202nd overall by St. Louis in 2010. The only upperclassmen that has been drafted was Junior Scott Kishel, who was drafted 192nd overal by Montreal in 2007.

  So, can Minnesota-Duluth repeat last season's championship run? Possibly. The Bulldogs have a lot of young, fresh talent and I believe they will make a run for it again. The biggest challenge they will have this season is facing North Dakota, Minnesota and Colorado College at home but the rest of their schedule looks fairly manageable (You can view the 2011-12 schedule here). Also, the Bulldogs will be joining the NCAA's newest hockey conference, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), which will begin play during the 2013-14 season. I believe Duluth is on the road to success and give them a few years and they will become a real strong offensive and defensive team. I'm thrilled to see how this season will go for the dogs.