Bakala named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

Madison, Wis. -- Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (WCHA) announced
today that Bemidji State University goaltender Dan Bakala (Jr., Calgary,
Alberta) has been selected WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after
leading the Beavers to the Mariucci Classic championship, Dec. 31 and
Jan. 1, with victories over Ferris State University and then-No. 14
Union College.

Bakala led the Beavers to the holiday tournament title with a pair of
wins. In 119:42 between the pipes, the junior recorded a 1.50 goals
against average, while turning away 65 of 68 shots for a .965 save
percentage. In addition, he backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that
conceded just one power-play goal in six opponent opportunities.

In the classic-opener, Bakala recorded 35 saves, including 17 in the
third period alone to hold off a late charge by Ferris State and
preserve the 3-2 victory. Saturday versus Union, the junior held the
nation’s fourth-ranked scoring offense and power-play unit ranked No.
1 in the country scoring on 34 percent of it chances this season, to
just one goal improving his record at 6-6-0 on the season in the
process.

The goaltender of record in 12 of the Beavers’ 18 games this season,
Bakala is 6-6-0 with a 2.31 GAA and .918 save percentage. He has won
five of his last seven appearances posting a 1.30 GAA and .956 save
percentage with a pair of shutouts during the streak.

The WCHA laurel marks the second time the league has selected Bakala
for the weekly honor after being picked as co-defensive player of the
week Dec. 7 after posting a pair of wins over then-No. 4 University of
Nebraska Omaha.

The Calgary, Alberta native and sophomore Jordan George (F, Madison,
Wis.), who garnered individual honors Nov. 9, remain the only Beavers to
gain league honors in the team’s inaugural season in the WCHA.

Bakala shares the conference honor Minnesota State University,
Mankato’s Michael Dorr, who was named WCHA Offensive Player of the
Week and the league’s rookie of the week Nic Dowd of St. Cloud State
University.

Bemidji State, which has won five of its last seven contests and is
6-10-1 on the season, rekindles one of its most storied rivalries this
weekend with a trip to Huntsville, Ala. to face the Chargers of the
University of Ala.-Huntsville. The two-game set featuring former
College Hockey America (CHA) foes is set to get underway at 7:05 p.m.
Friday and will conclude with a 3:05 p.m. affair Saturday at the Von
Braun Center.