Oct. 14, 2009

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University women’s ice hockey goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova (So., Bratislava, Slovakia) and men’s forward Matt Read (Jr., Ilderton, Ontario) have been named Beaver Pride Athletes of the Week after outstanding athletic performances during the week of Oct. 5-11.

Tomcikova was instrumental in Bemidji State’s 1-0 win over defending NCAA Division I champion University of Wisconsin on Saturday. She stopped 35 of the No. 4 Badgers’ shots en route to her fourth career shutout. On Sunday she turned away another 38 shots, while recording a .927 save percentage. Overall, Tomcikova finished the weekend 1-1-0 with 73 saves. She posted a 1.51 goals against average, a .961 save percentage and stopped 39 of 42 shots originating from inside the slot.

The announcement marks the first Beaver Pride award of the season for Tomcikova and the third of her career, while it stands as the first of the 2009-10 campaign for the women’s ice hockey squad.

Read opened the 2009-10 season with a bang, recording five points to lead Bemidji State to a series sweep over 2009 NCAA Regional finalist United State Air Force Academy. Read chipped in an assist on Ian Lowe’s game winner in Friday’s 3-1 season-opening victory and posted a career-high four points on two goals, which included the game-winning, short-handed marker and an unassisted goal, and two assists in a 7-3 rout in the series finale. He finished the weekend with a plus-three plus/minus ranking and is tied for fifth in the country averaging 2.5 points per game.

This marks the first Beaver Pride Athlete of the Week award of the season for Read, the third of his career and the first time the 2009-10 Beavers’ men’s hockey team has been honored.

Tomcikova and the BSU women’s hockey team will return to the ice Oct. 16 and 17 when they host The Ohio State University at 7:07 p.m. and 2:07 p.m., respectively. Both contests will take place at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

After a one-week hiatus, the Beavers will travel to Michigan’s upper peninsula for their inaugural meeting with Northern Michigan University Oct. 23-24. Game times are set for 6:35 p.m. (CST) at the Wildcat’s Berry Events Center.

--bsu--