April 16, 2008

BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University men's hockey program today announced the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent. Dan Bakala (Calgary, Alberta), Brad Hunt (Ridge Meadows, British Columbia), Tyler Jundt (Williston, N.D.), Ben Kinne (St. Paul, Minn.), Jamie MacQueen (London, Ontario) and Brent Tamane (Pickering, Ontario) will join the Beavers marking the largest incoming class since seventh-year head coach Tom Serratore took the reigns of the program prior to the 2001-02 campaign.

The newest additions to the BSU hockey program include formal commitments for the fall of 2008 from three forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender.

"We are optimistic about the ability of this class to contribute to the future success of our program," commented Bemidji State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ted Belisle. "As a group, they possess a nice mix of skill, size and the competitive nature that will fit nicely with the way we
play hockey here at BSU."

Dan Bakala (G, 5-11, 175; 12/23/87; Calgary, Alberta/AJHL-Calgary) joins the Beavers after playing the last three seasons for the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Calgary Royals. Bakala saw time in 122 games for the Royals and logged 4,840 minutes between the pipes.

Bakala earned decisions in 43 of the Royals 62 contests in 2007-08 accounting for 14 of the Royals' 19 victories while piling up 2,610 minutes in net for Calgary.

In his final game as a junior, Feb. 26, Bakala earned the first star for his role in preserving a 5-4 victory over the Canmore Eagles. The goaltender stopped 39 shots in the third period alone and finished the contest with 62 saves.

He finished the season with a 3.52 goals against average and an .895 save percentage.

Belisle on Bakala: "Bakala is a goalie that has played a lot of minutes and has seen a lot of rubber through his junior hockey career and has displayed a consistent ability to win games. He possesses athletic ability in the net and a determination to stop the puck that should translate into collegiate success."

Brad Hunt (D, 5-9, 171; 8/24/88; Ridge Meadows, British Columbia/BCHL-Burnaby) comes to Bemidji State after two full seasons with the Burnaby Express of the British Columbia Hockey League. In 2007-08 he helped lead the Express to a 33-22-0-3 overall record and a berth in the BCHL Coastal Conference Divisional Playoffs.

In 60 games during the 2007-08 regular season, Hunt averaged nearly one point per game totaling 16 goals and 39 assists for 55 points to finish fourth on the team and second in the league in scoring among all defensemen. Of his 16 goals, 10 came on the power play placing him third on the team in power-play scoring. For his efforts he was named the Express' Most Valuable Defenseman at the conclusion of the regular season.

During his first full season with Burnaby (2006-07), Hunt posted four goals and 34 assists with all four markers coming on the man advantage.

Prior to his time with the Express, Hunt patrolled the blue line for the Junior 'B' Ridge Meadow Flames where he was selected as the Flames' Rookie of the Year and earned a roster spot in the PIJHL All-Star and Prospect Game.

Hunt joins fellow defenseman and current Beaver Cody Bostock as alums of the BCHL. Bostock played for the Vernon Vipers in 2004-05.

Belisle on Hunt: "Brad Hunt is an exciting young defensive prospect that already owns great power-play ability and excellent offensive instincts. He comes into the program with skills that will allow him to be a threat with the puck in any area of the ice."

Tyler Jundt (D, 6-0, 190; 3/7/88; Williston, N.D./NAHL-North Iowa) joins the BSU men's hockey program after playing in 51 games for the North Iowa Outlaws of the North American Hockey League in 2007-08. The back liner netted seven goals and 13 assists to rank third among Outlaws' defensemen with 20 points. His +19 plus/minus ranking was good for second on the team, while he logged a total of 51 penalty minutes.

This season Jundt recorded four multi-point games, which included a pair of multi-goal contests. He also added a game-winning goal in a 6-2 victory over Bismarck Jan. 25 and registered one of the team's 12 short-handed goals.

Jundt helped direct North Iowa to a 38-16-4 overall record and a 2007-08 NAHL Central Division Championship. The Outlaws were bumped from the Robertson Cup playoffs by the Springfield Junior Blues in the first round. In three playoff games, Jundt posted an assist and recorded 10 shots on goal.

Prior to 2007-08, Jundt posted a goal and five assists in 47 games for the United States Hockey League's Green Bay Gamblers.

Jundt will join current North Iowa teammate and Hibbing, Minn. native Shea Walters in committing to the Beavers. Walters, who signed his NLI last spring, will begin his collegiate career at BSU in the fall of 2008.

Belisle on Jundt: "Tyler is another experienced junior defensemen that will bring size and ability to our blue line. He is a high-end student-athlete that will excel in the classroom as well as on the ice. He possesses a strong, well-rounded game that should translate to a successful career in college hockey."

Ben Kinne (F, 6-1, 190; 6/4/88; St. Paul, Minn./USHL-Sioux City) is one of two native Minnesotans to commit to the Beavers this spring. Kinne comes to BSU after a season in the USHL playing for the Sioux City Musketeers. Seeing time in each of the Musketeers' 60 contests this season, Kinne ranked fifth on the team with 43 points, which included 17 goals and 26 assists. Of his 17 lamplighters, three came on the power play, while one was short-handed. He also added a pair of game-winners.

Kinne recorded a 2007-08-best three assists in a 7-1 victory over Indiana Jan. 5 while in the midst of a streak of 13 games in which he recorded 6-8--14 points, netting a point in nine of the 13 contests.

Sioux City (33-27-3) is currently in the midst of a best-of-five Clark Cup quarterfinal series with Omaha. The Lancers lead the series 2-1. Kinne paces the Musketeers into the equalizer with a pair of power-play markers and an assist.

Kinne joins a long list of former Musketeers to lace up their skates for the green and white, most recently, three-time captain and defensive mainstay David Deterding.

Prior to his time in the USHL, Kinne experienced a tremendous amount of success at Cretin-Durham Hall High School. In addition to being an all-conference and All-State Honorable Mention pick in 2006, he helped guide the Raiders to a "AA" State Championship. For his efforts in the event, he was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Belisle on Kinne: "Ben is a high-character, seasoned veteran of junior hockey. He has had a great year with Sioux City and has really established himself as a reliable scoring threat in the second half of the season. He is a great all-around player that knows how to win. We look forward to having him as part of the program next year."

Jamie MacQueen (F, 6-0, 200; 8/2/88; London, Ontario/OPJHL-Vaughan) comes to Bemidji State after netting 75 points for the Vaughn Vipers and Pickering Panthers in 2007-08. After posting 22 goals and 21 assists and being named OPJHL South Player of the Month for Pickering during the first 32 games of the season, MacQueen was traded to Vaughn for the final 15 games of the season. After swapping jerseys, he registered an additional 15 goals and 17 assists to average nearly two points per game. He was potent on special teams potting 11 power-play goals while collecting three short-handed markers.

MacQueen saved his best hockey for last. He finished the regular-season on a 19-game scoring streak, which included a string of nine consecutive multi-point games between Jan. 5 and Feb. 2. During that streak, he also registered eight games of three or more points and tallied four game-winning goals.

The Vipers posted a 41-4-4 regular-season mark to nab the No. 2 seed and a bye in the first round of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League South playoffs. MacQueen netted a pair of goals in the best-of-five, second-round series versus Markham, but Vaughn was defeated in the series 3-1.

During the 2006-07 campaign, MacQueen spent time with Pickering and Aurora. He posted 15 goals and 11 assists in 27 games for the Tigers and totaled seven goals and 10 assists in 19 games with Pickering.

He joins current BSU blue liner Dan MacIntyre and CHA Rookie of the Year Matt Read as OPJHL veterans on the roster. MacIntyre, a sophomore at Bemidji State, played the 2006-07 slate with the Port Hope Predators while Read skated for Milton during the 2005-06 campaign.

Belisle on MacQueen: "Jamie MacQueen is a tremendously talented player who brings size and skill to our program. He has a fabulous shot and can excel offensively in almost any situation."

Brent Tamane (F, 5-9, 160; 2/23/88; Pickering, Ontario/OPJHL-Toronto) officially commits to BSU after playing the past two seasons for the OPJHL's Toronto Junior Canadians. He led the team in scoring in 2007-08, netting 26 goals and 34 assists in just 40 contests. He leaves the Junior Canadian program after rolling up 49 goals and 74 assists in 87 games. He has accounted for 12 power-play goals, eight game-winners and four short-handed markers.

Tamane finished the season scoring in 24 of the last 25 games, including a 16-game strand to cap the season. He posted a season-best five points (2g-3a) in a 10-1, Sept. 30 victory over Durham and recorded a season-high four assists in a 13-4 win over Ajax Oct. 6.

The 29-18-2 Junior Canadians posted an opening series victory over North York, 3-2, in the OPJHL South playoffs before seeing its post-season come to an end dropping the best-of-five second-round series to St. Michaels, 3-2. Tamane scored a goal and added four assists in eight playoff games.

During his time with the Junior Canadians, Tamane earned a spot on the OPJHL South All-State squad and was named the league's Player of the Month in January 2007.

Prior to his OPJHL career, Tamane skated for the Wexford Raiders of the Metro Junior Hockey League (MTJHL) where he played in 42 games and notched 20 goals and 24 assists, which included a short-handed goal and three game-winners.

Belisle on Tamane: "Brent Tamane possesses an extremely high hockey sense. His greatest asset is the ability to make big plays. We are excited about his potential here at BSU."

BSU's spring signees join forwards Darcy Findlay (Bristol, Quebec), Aaron Lewadniuk (Carman, Manitoba) and Shea Walters (Hibbing, Minn.), who signed with the Beavers during the fall early period.

The Beavers' 2008-09 signing class includes players from five Canadian provinces and two states, including two from right here in Minnesota. The geographical breadth of the class stretches from the Atlantic Ocean and Canada's eastern province of Quebec to the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia.

Bemidji State is coming off a season in which it captured its third College Hockey America regular-season title in five years. The team posted an overall record of 17-16-3, while it was 13-4-3 in league play.

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