BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State head men’s ice hockey coach Tom Serratore today announced the signing of defenseman David Deterding to a National Letter of Intent for the 2004-05 season.

Deterding, a 6-1, 205-pound defenseman from Alexandria, Minn., currently captains the Sioux City Mustketeers in the United States Hockey League.

“David is a strong, rugged defensive defenseman,” Serratore said. “He’s the captain at Sioux City, which is indicitive of his leadership abilities on the ice. He plays with a physical presence and is an exceptional defender, which is crucial in a collegiate setting.”

Deterding has played all 15 games for the Musketeers (9-5-1 through Nov. 16) and has a pair of assists. He leads the team with a +9 rating and has 20 penalty minutes. His +9 rating is tied for seventh in the USHL.

He had a goal and two assists with a -6 rating and 115 penalty minutes in 57 games played for the Musketeers in 2002-03.

Bemidji State stands 3-3-2 on the season and is coming off a split with No. 15 Minn.-Duluth. The Beavers return to the ice Nov. 22-23 with a non-conference series against Hockey East foe Merrimack; it is the second of a three-week stretch of non-conference foes for BSU, its longest out-of-conference streak of the season. Opening face-off for both games is set for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.