TAMPA, Fla. — Minnesota-Duluth center Jack Connolly won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday night as the top college hockey player.

A Duluth native and Dallas Stars draft pick, Connolly had 20 goals and 40 assists in 41 games this season. He had 66 goals and 131 assists in 166 career games, and led the Bulldogs to the national title last year.

“Although I’m the one receiving this great honor, it would not have been possible with my teammates and I share this all with them,” Connolly said at the award ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base.

“I would like to give a special thank you to the UMD coaching staff — head coach Scott Sandelin, current assistant coaches Derek Plante, Jason Herter and Bill Watson, and my two former assistant coaches, Steve Rohlik and Brett Larson, for having a lasting impact on my college hockey career.”

He’s the record fifth Minnesota-Duluth player to win the award, following Tom Kurvers (1984), Watson (1985), Chris Marinucci (1994) and Junior Lessard (2004).

“I think Jack epitomizes what the award is about,” Sandelin said. “Obviously, he was a tremendous leader and an offensive catalyst for our team. He had a remarkable career and an even more remarkable senior season. Most of all, Jack has always represented our program in a first-class way and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Maine forward Spencer Abbott and Colgate forward Austin Smith also were finalists.

BOSTON COLLEGE is accustomed to playing for a national championship. Ferris State is not.

That’s the backdrop for tonight’s Frozen Four title game between the Eagles (32-10-1), one of the nation’s elite hockey programs, and the Bulldogs (26-11-5), who are competing in only their second NCAA tournament.

Boston College won its 18th straight game Thursday, beating Minnesota 6-1 in the semifinals. But even though the Eagles seem poised to earn their fifth NCAA title — and third in five seasons — they are approaching Ferris State with caution.

“I hear this talk of David and Goliath, but I do not consider it to be that way,” said Boston College Coach Jerry York. “Anybody that gets to the Frozen Four is a really great team. I said any of the four can win this thing. And now, down to two teams, any of the two can win it.”

Boston College has outscored its NCAA tournament opponents 12-1. Goaltender Parker Milner had a shutout streak of 193 minutes, 49 seconds that was halted when Minnesota scored early in the third period.

“Parker has been playing unbelievable and everyone in our room knows that,” Boston College senior defenseman Tommy Cross said. “It definitely gives you confidence to have a goaltender who’s rock solid back there, who’s on top of his game and has his confidence going. If his confidence is going, that spreads to the rest of the team.”