WCHA names Bakala Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Madison, Wis. -- Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (WCHA) officials
today announced that Bemidji State University goaltender Dan Bakala
(Jr., Calgary, Alberta) has been selected WCHA Co-Defensive Player of
the Week after leading the Beavers to a sweep of then-No. 4 University
of Nebraska Omaha.

Bakala, a native Calgary, Alberta, was the backbone of a BSU defense
that held a nationally-ranked Nebraska Omaha offensive attack, averaging
more than four goals per game, to a single goal on the weekend, while
BSU posted its first WCHA series sweep. Bakala stopped 64-of-65
Maverick shots on, while allowing just one goal and finished the weekend
with a 0.50 goals against average and .985 save percentage. He improved
to 4-4-0 on the season.

In addition, Bakala served as the last line of defense on a BSU
penalty-kill unit that held UNO’s power-play unit scoreless on nine
man advantage opportunities (0-for-9).

Friday, the junior turned away 26 shots for his second consecutive and
fifth career shutout, 3-0, before making a career-best 39 saves Saturday
en route to leading the Beavers to a 3-1 victory. Saturday’s
first-period goal by UNO snapped a 134:09 shutout streak by Bakala that
stretched back to Nov. 12.

The WCHA honor is a first for Bakala, while it stands as the second for
a member of the BSU men’s hockey team during its inaugural season in
the league. He follows sophomore Jordan George (F, Madison, Wis.) who
garnered individual honors Nov. 9 following a series at St. Cloud State
University.

BSU, 5-8-1 overall and 4-7-1 in WCHA play, is back on the road Dec.
10-11 to close out the first half of the season with a trip to Madison,
Wis. to battle the University of Wisconsin. The Beavers and Badgers are
set for a 7:07 p.m. opening face-off from the Kohl Center Friday and
Saturday.