Kujava, Peterson and Arneson Earn PTP Player of the Week Honors

(December 29, 2011)

Taylor Kujava (Ada-Borup), Kyle Arneson (Fosston) and Troy Peterson
(Ulen-Hitterdal) have been selected as the Pine to Prairie Girls and Boys
Basketball Players of the Week for their efforts last week.

Taylor led the Cougars to a 72-50 victory over the previously unbeaten
Waubun Bombers. The senior forward scored 26 points, grabbed 8 rebounds
and played solid defense to help secure the win. Taylor also is a strong
leader for the 5-1 team.

Kyle (senior) scored 30 points on 14 of 19 shooting from the field in a 76-49 win at Climax-Fisher. Arneson also contributed 7 rebounds, 4 assists and
had no turnovers for the game from his guard position. The Greyhounds are
off to a 5-0 start to the season.

Troy shot an amazing 13 of 16 from the field on his way to scoring 26
points. Peterson also added 9 rebounds and 3 assists during a win over
Norman County West. The senior center has help the Ulen-Hitterdal boys
basketball team get off to a 6-1 start this season.

Several other notable efforts were turned in by student-athletes in the Pine to Prairie conference last week. Sean Benson (Bagley) scored 40 points in two games as the Flyers went 1-1, Angela Vanderplaats (Norman County West)had a 17 point game with 5 three pointers and added 7 rebounds in a win over Ulen-Hitterdal, DeMarcus Brown (Win-E-Mac) had 13 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Mahnomen and Kaine Lundmark (Bagley) scored 14
points and grabbed 7 boards in a loss at Fertile-Beltrami.

Skersick and Rufsvold Earn PTP Players of the Week Honors

(December 19, 2011)
Kari Skersick (So, Forward0 from Bagley and Payton Rufsvold (Sr., Guard)
from Norman County West have been honored as the Pine to Prairie Girls
and Boys Basketball Players of the Week.

Kari led the Flyers to a 1-1 record for the week. She scored 22 points and
grabbed 11 rebounds in a hard fought 63-52 loss to Waubun on Tuesday and
then followed that effort up with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals to help
the Flyers defeat Mahnomen on Friday. During the week, Kari also
connected on 14-17 free throws. For the season, she is shooting 84% from
the foul line.

Payton Rufsvold had a great week as he lead Norman County West to a 2-1
record for the week. In a win over Climax-Fisher, Payton scored 22 points,
added 13 rebounds and 5 steals. Against Waubun, Rufsvold had 32 points, 5
rebounds and 6 steals in the team’s win. To finish the week off, Payton
scored 26 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and had 3 steals in a 1 point loss to DG-
F. For the week, Payton had 80 points, 27 rebounds and 14 steals.

Other outstanding performances for the week in girls basketball included:
Ciara Austinson (Ulen-Hitterdal) scoring a total of 38 points for the week
and Andi Knudsvig (Lake Park-Audubon) scoring 51 points in two
conference wins.

On the boys side, Jason Hanks (Waubun) scored 56 points in three games,
Kris Skersick (Bagley) had 44 points and 32 rebounds for the week, Jake
Pavek (Mahnomen) netted 51 points and grabbed 30 rebounds, Jake Walker
(Win-E-Mac) scored 28 points in a win over Climax-Fisher in his first start,
Kyle Arneson (Fosston) scored 39 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in two
Greyhound victories and Taylor Carlson (Fosston) had 32 points and 22
rebounds in the victories highlighting the boys basketball play for the week.

BSU's Andrew Walsh named WCHA Rookie fo the Week

MADISON, Wis. – Goaltender Andrew Walsh, who backstopped his Bemidji State University men’s hockey team to a 2-1 home-ice victory over nationally-ranked Denver last weekend, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week for Dec. 13.

A 6-2, 190-pound freshman form Dawson Creek, B.C., Walsh turned aside a career-high 36 shots last Saturday to boost Bemidji State to it’s first win over the Pioneers in a series that dates to 1967 (1-9-0). His 36 saves on 37
shots resulted in a .973 saves percentage and he also served as the last line of defense for BSU’s league-leadingpenalty-kill unit that held the Pioneers scoreless

UND goalie Aaron Dell named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota junior goalie Aaron Dell has been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in UND’s series split with Nebraska Omaha last weekend.

Dell stopped 59 of 61 shots (.967 save percentage) in the series,including a 26-save shutout that earned him the game’s No. 1 star in UND’s 1-0 win on Saturday. It was his first shutout of the season and eighth of his career, which ranks fourth all-time at UND behind only Karl Goehring (15), Jordan Parise (10), and Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (10). One night earlier, Dell stopped 33 of 35 shots and was named the No. 2 star in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Mavericks.

Over his last three starts Dell owns a 0.99 goals against average and a .963 save percentage. In 16 games this season (15 starts), the Airdrie, Alberta, native is 6-7-1 with a 2.80 goals against average and an .895 save percentage.

Alaska Anchorage junior forward Mitch Bruijsten and Minnesota sophomore defenseman Mark Alt shared WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Bemidji State freshman goalie Andrew Walsh was named WCHA Rookie of the Week.

UND (9-8-1, 7-7-0 WCHA) closes out the first half of the season on Saturday with an exhibition game against the Russian Red Stars.

The puck drops at 7:07 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

PTP basketball players of the week

(December 12, 2011)
Jenna Lundon ( Sr., Guard) from Waubun High School and Lorenzo
Pemberton (Sr., Forward) from Bagley High School have been recognized as
the first Girls and Boys Basketball Players of the Week for the 2011-12
season.

Jenna scored a total of 52 points in victories over Fosston and Red Lake
Falls last week. She had 24 points in a 60-47 win over Fosston and then
added 28 points as the Bombers defeated Red Lake Falls 64-50. With her 28
points against Red Lake Falls, Jenna became the All-Time Leading Scorer
for the Bombers. She currently has a career total of 1871 points.

Lorenzo had 2 solid well rounded games this past week. He helped the
Flyers start their season with a 2-0 record. Against Park Rapids, Pemberton
had 14 points, 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. He followed that effort up
with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks against Ulen-
Hitterdal. Lorenzo is also a honor roll student and serves as a captain for the Boys Basketball team.

Other outstanding performances for the week include: Kari Skersick (So.,
Bagley) as she had 52 points and 21 rebounds as the Flyers went 1-1 on the
week and Marshall McKeever (Jr., Win-E-Mac) with 42 points, 17
rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 steals as the Patriots went 0-2 on the week.

The Beaver Dam announces extended holiday hours

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Beaver Dam is making it easy for you to give the give of Green and White this holiday season by announcing extended
store hours through Dec. 23.

Just inside Gate 2 at the Sanford Center, a wide variety of Bemidji State University and Beaver hockey merchandise and apparel has been
available on game days, but from now until Dec. 23, The Beaver Dam will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.
through the BSU men’s hockey game Saturday Dec. 17 for all of your holiday shopping needs.

This week only (Dec. 12-17), shoppers spending $100 or more at The Beaver Dam store or online at www.beaversportswear.com will get a
$10 gift Beaver Dam gift card.

Take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping. Whether you are home for the holidays, visiting Bemidji or are a long-time fan of the Beavers,
stop by The Beaver Dam.

The Beaver Dam is located in Sanford Center just off of First Street at 1111 Event Center Drive in Bemidji, Minn. or shop form the comfort of
your own home on the online store at www.beaversportswear.com.

Jeff Cheek Named Offensive Coordinator at the UM-Crookston

(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston and the Golden Eagle Athletic Department announced today that Jeff Cheek has been hired as the new offensive coordinator with the Golden Eagle Football program.

Cheek comes to the University of Minnesota, Crookston from Fresno State University where he was the offensive quality control assistant. At Fresno State, he assisted in game planning for third downs, assisted in weekly offensive scouting reports, broke down opponent game film and charted plays and defensive coverages on game days. Prior to Fresno State, Cheek was an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater Boise State University. Cheek gained coaching experience at Golden West College as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Humboldt State University, and Eastern Oregon University. He began his coaching career at Nampa Senior High School as the offensive line coach.

“Coach Cheek is a tremendous addition to the Golden Eagle Football program,” says Head Coach Paul Miller. “His playing and coaching experience will be an asset to both the coaching staff and our student-athletes,” Miller adds.

Cheek played left guard for Boise State University. He started in 13 games for the Broncos and was a member of two Big West Championship teams and two Humanitarian Bowl Championship teams. Prior to Boise State, he was a First Team All-Coast Conference player at De Anza College. In the classroom he earned a BS in social science and a MA in education pedagogy from Boise State University.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Basketball mementos, memorabilia solicited

The 2011-12 boys’ basketball season is under way with the first games of the season played within the last week. The girls have been playing for a week longer. The 2012 state tournaments are a little more than three months away. At both tournaments, the Minnesota State High School League will be celebrating the 100th state basketball tournament, marking the first boys’ event in 1913.

The centennial milestone will be commemorated many ways. There will be recognition of players, coaches, games, shots, tournaments and teams throughout the first 100 years. History will be paramount and the public is invited to assist with contributions of mementos and memorabilia that will be displayed at both state tournaments.

An earlier appeal resulted in a few contributions already. An extensive scrapbook has been shared. A championship trophy and photograph of a girls’ team from the ‘20s is in League possession. Ticket stubs and uniform patches have also been contributed.

Anything and everything is being solicited. Items such as tournament programs, books about the tournament, newspaper clippings, balls and uniforms, trophies, photographs — anything related to either state tournament is needed to fill display cases for fans to enjoy while at Target Center for the 2012 state tournaments.

League staff will take great care in securing any contributed item and will make sure it is returned in the same condition in which it was received. The League can arrange for pickup or delivery of items if required.

Potential contributors may inquire by sending an e-mail to hoops100@mshsl.org or by leaving a message in the general mailbox at 763-560-2262.

NDSU's Lopez Named Summit League Female Athlete of the Month

ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State women's volleyball player Jennifer Lopez was named the November Summit League Female Athlete of the Month by the league office Thursday, Dec. 8.

Lopez, a 5-foot-10 senior setter from Glyndon, Minn., was the first player in Summit League history to be voted both Player and Setter of the Year.

She was also named Summit League tournament MVP after posting 46 assists and 18 digs in the semifinal win over Oakland, and 34 assists plus 10 digs in a sweep over Oral Roberts in the championship.

Lopez averaged 10.91 assists, 4.09 digs and 1.18 kills per set while hitting .244 during the month and posted double-doubles in all six matches as the Bison went 6-0.

North Dakota State won its fourth straight regular-season championship with a 16-2 league record and finished 26-9 overall with a loss to Minnesota in the NCAA first round.

Oakland men's basketball player Reggie Hamilton was named Male Athlete of the Month after averaging 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Golden Grizzlies, who went 4-2 in November. Hamilton scored a career-high 35 points in an 89-81 win over Tennessee.

UMC's Brittani Wiese Named NSIC Player of the Week

(Burnsville, Minn.)- The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
announced today that *Brittani Wiese (G, 5-7, Jr., Albertville, Minn.) from UM-Crookston has been named NSIC Player of the Week for women's basketball.

Wiese had game-high performances of 21 and 19 points respectively as the
Golden Eagles split over the weekend. Wiese's 20 ppg was the third
highest average in the league this past week. She also led the NSIC with
a seven assists per game average. Wiese shot 50% (16-32) from the field
and 77.8% (7-9) from the charity stripe. She also grabbed two steals and
six rebounds on the defensive end of the court. UMC fell in overtime on
a last second shot to Minnesota Duluth (72-73) before rebounding on
Saturday to defeat Bemidji State (82-66).

The Golden Eagles return to the court on Saturday, December 10 when the
team travels to MSU Moorhead for a single NSIC weekend game. Tip-off is
scheduled for 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at:
http://www.goldeneaglesports.com .

Paul Miller Named Head Football Coach at UMC

(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston and the Golden Eagle Athletic Department announced today that the "interim" tag has been removed and offensive coordinator Paul Miller has been named the head coach of the Golden Eagle Football program effective immediately.

Coach Miller has been coaching football for over 35 years. He began his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota, Morris. He has worked with the Gophers (intern on Jim Wacker's staff), was an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas and head coach at St. Olaf College and Hamline University. Football coaching honors he has attained include, Minnesota State Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year, University of Minnesota, Morris Alumni Coach of the Year, KARE TV "Metro Coach of the Year" and Section Football Coach of the Year (7 times). Miller earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris. He was a triple major in physical education/health (K-12), political science and social sciences. He received his Masters of Arts in physical education (athletic administration emphasis) from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Coach Miller and his wife Judy, also a U of M graduate, have three daughters and five grandchildren.

"Paul has the experience as a coordinator and as a head coach to continue to move the Golden Eagle Football program forward," says Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson. "Paul is a proven recruiter. He and his staff will continue to recruit and bring quality student-athletes to the University of Minnesota, Crookston."

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at http://www.goldeneaglesports.com .

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at /Golden Eagle Sports /and on Twitter at /#UMCAthletics./

Bemidji State Teddy Bear Toss to be held Dec. 10

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its annual Teddy Bear Toss in conjunction with its hat and mitten drive at BSU men’s and women’s hockey games Dec. 9-10.

Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears or other stuffed animals, preferably new but used in good condition will also be accepted, wrapped in a clear plastic bag, to the men’s and women’s hockey games Dec. 10. When the Beavers score their first goal of each game, those in attendance will have an opportunity to toss their teddy bear donation(s) onto the Sanford Center ice.

Bemidji State athletics faithful are also encouraged to bring winter hats, mittens, gloves and/or other cold weather gear to contribute to at the main gate as they enter men’s or women’s hockey games at the Sanford Center Both Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.

All items collected will go directly to local charities and will be distributed to children and Bemidji area residents in need this holiday season.

SAAC is comprised of student-athlete leaders from each of BSU’s 15 varsity athletic programs. In addition to the Teddy Bear Toss and Hat and Mitten Drive, the organization plans several other civic-minded projects throughout the year as well as being a student-athlete voice within the structure of the NCAA and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).