Hobey Baker winner Junior Lessard signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Dallas Stars. Lessard, coming off a Frozen Four appearance with Minnesota-Duluth, led the nation in scoring this past season with 63 points in 45 games, including two goals in the NCAA semifinal loss to Denver.
A 6-foot native of St. Joseph deBeauce, Que., Lessard survived an offseason near-drowning incident to become the fourth Bulldog to win the Hobey Baker Award. He helped Duluth to its first Frozen Four appearance since 1985.
“I just wanted someone who was willing to give me a chance and they were willing to do that,” Lessard said to the Associated Press. “Dallas can be a great fit for me.”
Though not loaded with college players, Dallas does feature the likes of former stars Scott Young, Chris Therien, Bill Guerin and Marty Turco.
“We look forward to helping him develop into a solid professional hockey player,” Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said to the AP.
