November 15, 2006

BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program today announced the addition of forwards Darcy Findlay (Bristol Quebec), Aaron Lewadniuk (Carman Manitoba) and Shea Walters (Hibbing, Minn.) to the Beaver men's ice hockey program for the 2008-09 season. Findlay and Lewadniuk each inked National Letters of Intent during the current early signing period while Walters will join the Beavers next fall after making his commitment to BSU during the 2006 early signing period.

All three signees are junior-hockey veterans with each currently honing their skills in a different league. Findlay is in his first season with the Cornwall Colts of the Central Junior "A" Hockey League (CJHL), Lewadniuk is in his first season with the United State Hockey League's (USHL) Omaha Lancers and Walters is in his first season playing for the North Iowa Outlaws of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

“This is a great start to the 2008 recruiting class." commented Bemidji State Assistant Coach Ted Belisle, who spearheads the Beavers' recruiting efforts. "The group brings with them a good mix of offensive skill, speed and the competitive nature we like to see in players.”

• Darcy Findlay (F, 5-11, 195; 9/29/1987; Bristol Quebec) is in his first season with the Cornwall Colts and has posted a team-leading 18-17=35 points to sit fifth among all CJHL scorers already this season. He has scored in 15 of the Colts' 22 contest and recorded a streak of nine consecutive games with a point stretching from a two-goal night versus Kemptville Oct. 4th to an assist in a Nov. 1 contest versus Pembroke. During the streak Findlay amassed an impressive 14-8=22 points helping the Colts to a season-long four-game winning streak. The Bristol, Quebec native has posted three or more points in a game six times this season including four hat tricks. Most recently, Findlay netted three goals and an assist in a Colts' 6-2 victory over Kanata (Nov. 4). Findlay has also proven himself as a special teams threat netting five power-play goals and a short-handed goal in 2007-08.

Prior to joining the CJHL, Findlay played at least a portion of three seasons in the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. He began 2006-07 with the St. Jerome Panthers, which posted 42-10-2-0 overall record and a divisional championship. He netted 12-18=30 points in the first 27 games with the Panthers before being traded to Cornwall. With the Colts he scored 15 goals and 19 assists to tie for second on the team with 34 points despite playing in only 28 of the teams' 51 contests. During the 2005-06 campaign Findlay posted a career-high 28 goals and 18 assists for 46 points in 45 games to finish third on a College Champlain Cougars team that went 38-9-1-3 to finish second in the QJAHL. He scored 9-10=19 points for the Cougars in 2004-05.

In 2005, Findlay was selected by Central Scouting Service as a 'Player to Watch' for the NHL Draft.

“Darcy is a prototypical power forward. He is a strong skater, likes to finish his checks and will fit well into the style of play the Beavers are known for," said Belisle. "What is an added bonus is that he possess a tremendous shot which we think can translate into offensive success at the major college hockey level."

•Aaron Lewadniuk (F, 5-11, 172; 8/7/1989; Carman Manitoba), who is in his first season with the Omaha Lancers, has scored 5-5=10 points to stand sixth on the team in scoring. He has recorded 1-2=3 points on the power play and has two game-wining goals through 13 games this season. His best performance of the young campaign came Nov. 2nd, when he posted 2-2=4 points versus the Chicago Steel.

A proven scorer, Lewadniuk piled up 43-44=87 points last winter to lead the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and earn the 2006-2007 Vince Leah Trophy presented to the league’s top rookie. The Carman, Manitoba native also garnered the MJHL's Old Dutch Player of the Week honor Jan. 21, 2007 after scoring 4-4=8 points in a four game stretch leading the Flyers to a 2-1-1 record. In addition, he was the recipient of the Husky/Mohawk MJHL Rookie of the Month award four times during the 2007-06 season.

Lewadniuk capped the 2006-07 campaign playing for Team West in the 2006 Canadian Junior Hockey A League Prospects Game. The team was composed of players from one of the CJAHL's five western leagues. Lewadniuk participated along side 2007 draft picks such as Riley Nash and Casey Pierro-Zabotel in the game.

“We are excited to add Aaron to our program. "He has a great mix of puck skill, shooting ability and competitive desire that will only help him have an outstanding college career." Belisle added, "He is the youngest of this year's early signing class, but is just scratching the surface of potential."

• Shea Walters (F, 5-11, 176; 3/5/1987; Hibbing, Minn.) is in his first North Iowa, and through 14 games has scored 9-13=22 points and has a plus/minus rating of +7 for the 11-2-1 NJHL Central Division-leading Outlaws. Walters currently leads the team in total points and goals scored while he sits 10th among the league's top scorers. He has two power-play goals and four assists on the man advantage and has a short-handed goal this season.

Prior to joining the Outlaws, Walters logged two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. In two seasons, the Hibbing, Minn. native suited up for the Gamblers 110 times netting 5-34=39 points with 23 points coming during his final season. His 22 assists was good for fourth on the team while he finished eighth on the squad in scoring.

Walters was an honorable mention honoree for the Nov. 6, 2006 USHL Offensive Player of the Week award.

Walters will rejoin former teammate Tyler Lehrke when he joins the BSU program next year. Walters and Lehrke played together at Green Bay in 2005-06.

“Shea is a talented playmaker who sees the game extremely well and is able to make the plays as a result." Belisle added, "His success this season at North Iowa has resulted in him becoming the go-to guy on his team.”

Walters, Findlay and Lewadniuk and are the 11th, 12th and 13th fall early-period signees for Bemidji State since the program made the jump to Division I in 1999. That group includes senior captain David Deterding, who signed early in 2003, sophomores Tyler Lehrke, Chris Peluso and John Vadnais, who signed in 2005 and current freshmen Matt Dalton and Matt Read who, like Walters, inked their letters of intent during the 2006 early period.

Bemidji State is 4-5-1 and sits second in College Hockey America with a 2-1-1 record against the league. The Beavers are back on the road this weekend completing a four-game CHA road swing with a trip to Detroit, Mich. to face conference foe Wayne State University. Opening faceoffs for the series are slated for 6:05 p.m. each night at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

--bsu--