Feb. 2, 2009

NIAGARA, N.Y. -- Bemidji State University defensemen Graham McManamin (Anchorage, Alaska) and Brad Hunt (Ridge Meadows, British Columbia) have been selected for College Hockey America’s weekly honors. Today league officials announced that McManamin has been named Defensive Player of the Week, while Hunt was tabbed Rookie of the Week for their roles in the Beavers’ series sweep over Robert Morris University Jan. 30-31.

The announcement marks the first time this season Bemidji State student-athletes have pulled down two CHA awards in a single week.

Entering the weekend series versus the Colonials with a goal and assist in 2008-09, McManamin more than doubled his season point total. After scoring an even-strength goal in the series opener, he potted the game-winning goal and assisted on a pair of others Saturday to record the first three-point contest of his career. Accounting for a goal and two assists on the power-play, the Anchorage, Alaska native was vital to a BSU special teams unit that was 6-for-11 on the man advantage, including a 4-for-7 performance Saturday.

Hunt led all BSU rookies netting two goals in the sweep over Robert Morris to garner a CHA nod for the third consecutive week. The defenseman netted a second-period goal to put the Beavers back in the lead Friday and got BSU on the scoreboard Saturday with his second power-play goal of the weekend.
The award marks the fourth of the season for Hunt, while it’s the first conference award of McManamin’s career. Bemidji State student-athletes have now been recognized by the league 10 times in 2008-09.

In addition to Hunt and McManamin, Matt Dalton (So., G, Clinton, Ontario), Shea Walters (Fr., F, Hibbing, Minn.) and Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) have earned the league’s weekly honors.

BSU is coming off of a 2007-08 campaign in which it set a CHA record with 17 player of the week honorees.

Along with the Bemidji State duo, the CHA recognized also Niagara University senior Vince Rocco as its Offensive Player of the Week Monday.

Bemidji State returns home this weekend to host longtime foe University of Alabama-Huntsville. The CHA series will open with a 7:35 p.m. contest Friday and wrap up Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. start at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

2008-09 Bemidji State CHA Player of the Week recipients
Oct. 13 - Shea Walters - Rookie of the Week
Oct. 27 - Matt Dalton - Defensive Player of the Week
Nov. 10 - Brad Hunt - Defensive Player of the Week
Nov. 24 - Shea Walters - Rookie of the Week
Dec. 8 - Matt Dalton - Defensive Player of the Week
Jan. 5 - Tyler Scofield - Offensive Player of the Week
Jan. 19 - Brad Hunt - Rookie of the Week
Jan. 26 - Brad Hunt - Defensive Player of the Week
Feb. 2 - Graham McManamin - Defensive Player of the Week
Feb. 2 - Brad Hunt - Rookie of the Week

--bsu--