BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Colorado College forward Peter Sejna became the first European player to win the Hobey Baker award as college hockey's most valuable player on Friday.

It capped not only an impressive season, but also an impressive week for the junior from Slovakia. The announcement, made during the NCAA Frozen Four festivities in Buffalo, came after Sejna made his NHL debut with St. Louis, and scored a goal against Colorado's Patrick Roy last Sunday.

"This last week, just so many things have happened, I think I'm still adjusting and realizing what's happening," Sejna said. "It's going a little bit fast, but I'm trying to keep up."

No one could keep up with Sejna this past season. He led the nation with 36 goals -- eight of them game-winners -- and 82 points in 42 games, and was the Western College Hockey Association's player of the year.

Sejna beat two other finalists, Cornell goaltender Dave LeNeveu, who has broken several school records set by Ken Dryden, and Ferris State senior forward Chris Kunitz, who ranked second in scoring with 79 points.

Sejna was only the second European named a Hobey Baker finalist. Cornell defenseman Doug Murray, a native of Sweden, was the first last year, losing out to Minnesota's Jordan Leopold.

"It's just a great thing, and hopefully this is going to help more European players think that this is the right way to go through college hockey," Sejna said.

He became the first forward to win the award since New Hampshire's Jason Krog in 1999, and is Colorado College's first Hobey Baker winner in the award's 23-year history.

Sejna came to the United States five years ago to play junior hockey with Des Moines of the U.S. Hockey League. He then signed with Colorado College, reuniting with his Des Moines coach, Scott Owens.

"I'm absolutely thrilled for him because you could truly say he deserves it," said Owens, who attended the award ceremony. "The model of consistency, the game-winning goals, he's a difference every time he's on the ice."

In three seasons with the Tigers, Sejna finished with 91 goals and 190 points, which ranks eighth in school history. By signing with St. Louis, Sejna relinquished the final year of his college eligibility.

The award is also considered a great boost to the Colorado College program.

"It's a huge feather in our cap," Owens said. "I know they've only had the Hobey since 1981, but we've had hockey since 1940 and it's huge for our history and our tradition."

Sejna's will next attend Slovakia's national team tryout camp in preparation for the World Championships, which open in Finland on April 26.

College hockey also presented its eighth annual Humanitarian Award, which went to Cornell forward Sam Paolini.

Paolini, a senior, was involved with several charitable programs, and helped raise $10,000 for the Ithaca (N.Y.) Breast Cancer Alliance.