Sept. 28, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Freshman netminder Matt Dalton (Clinton, Ontario) has yet to log an official minute between the pipes for the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team, but has already turned some heads. Inside College Hockey released its annual recruiting rankings Thursday and included Dalton as its top incoming goaltender.

Dalton comes to BSU from the United State Hockey League's Des Moines Buccaneers. While in Des Moines he led the USHL in minutes played (3029:39) and shutouts (five) while sharing the league lead for wins with 27. His play earned him a spot on the 2007 USHL All-Star Team roster as well as Des Moines Buccaneer Most Valuable Player and Community Service awards.

Prior to his stint in Iowa, Dalton posted North American Hockey League highs in Goals Against Average (1.63) and save percentage (.940) for the Bozeman Ice Dogs. He posted 33 victories with a league- leading nine shutouts and paced the Ice Dogs to a NAHL regular-season championship. His stellar play earned him First-Team All-NAHL accolades and the league's MVP award.

The BSU freshman was one of two student-athletes hailing from a College Hockey America member institution. He is joined my University of Alabama-Huntsville goaltender Cameron Talbot who ranked seventh on this years list.

In its fifth year, the Web site's annual recruiting rankings slot the top-20 forwards and defensemen, the top-10 goaltenders and the top-15 compete recruiting classes in men's college hockey according to their perceived impacts on rinks across the country.

Dalton will vie for time in the net with returning All-College Hockey America senior Matt Climie (Leduc , Alberta) and junior Orlando Alamano (Fresno, Calif.) who combined to start all but three contests for the Beavers a year ago.

The Beavers begin play Oct. 12-13 when they host Army at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse. The series is set for a 7:35 p.m. start Friday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

Bemidji State is coming off of a 2006-07 season in which it went 14-14-5 placing second in the CHA standings posting a 9-6-5 mark in league play. Seventh-year head coach Tom Serratore returns 19 players for the 2007-08 season including First Team All-CHA selections Clime and Travis Winter (F, Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.).

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