DETROIT, Mich. - Bemidji State University freshman forward Matt Read has been named to the 2008 College Hockey America All-Rookie team in a vote by the league's coaches.
The Ilderton, Ontario native's placement on the squad marks the 14th time a BSU skater has been picked for the honor since the league's inception in 1999-2000.
Read was one of six newcomers to earn a spot on the team and one of three student-athletes to garner a unanimous vote. Joining him on the team were Nathan Longpre (F, Robert Morris), Andrew Coburn (F, Ala.-Huntsville), Denny Urban (D, Robert Morris), Ryan Adams (D, Wayne State) and goaltender Adam Avramenko (Niagara). In addition to Read, Longpre and Urban also were unanimous selections.
Read capped the 2007-08 regular-season as BSU's leading scorer with 8-17--25 points, tying him with teammate Tyler Scofield for fifth place on BSU's Division I-era freshman scoring list.
One of five BSU skaters to log time in each of BSU's 34 contests this season, he also paced the team with 17 assists. His 7-14--21 points in CHA play was not only tops among newcomers league-wide, it was established him as the league's fifth-leading scorer.
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Read was a three-time CHA Rookie of the week honoree during the 2007-08 regular-season, while earning the league's offensive player of the week laurel Jan. 14.
As a selection to the CHA All-Rookie team, Read becomes eligible for CHA 2008 Rookie of the Year honors. That award will be announced from Niagara, N.Y., the site of the 2008 CHA Tournament, Thursday in conjunction with the unveiling of the league MVP, Student-Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year recipients.
As the 14th All-Rookie team selection at Bemidji State, and the fifth in the last four seasons, Read joins teammates Matt Climie (2005), Cody Bostock, Scofield (2006) and last year's honoree Joey Moggach as current Beavers picked to the team.
Bemidji State finished its 2007-08 regular season with a record of 16-15-3 and captured its third College Hockey America regular-season title with a mark of 13-4-3 in the league.
The Beavers open play as the No. 1 seed at the 2008 CHA Tournament on Saturday when they face off against the winner of the tournament's quarterfinal game between Wayne State and Ala.-Huntsville. BSU's semifinal match up is set for 1 p.m. central time at Dwyer Arena.
Follow the Beavers
For those not making the trip to Niagara this weekend, there will be several ways to follow the Beavers in their quest for the CHA Tournament title and a bid to the NCAA tournament.
As always, Brian Schultz will be describing the Beavers¹' every step as he handles play-by-play duties for BSU's flagship station KKBJ Mix 103.7 FM. For those out of Mix 103.7 reception area KKBJ also streams the broadcast over the Internet for a nominal fee. See www.kkbj.com/sports/ for more details.
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The CHA league office also announced this week that the entire tournament will be available on the B2 Network on a pay-per-view basis. Fans can purchase individual game passes for $8.
In order to view the games, subscribers will need a high-speed internet connection and the current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player.
Purchases can be made at www.b2tv.com or www.collegehockeyamerica.com .
Finally, if the Beavers earn a semifinal victory and a spot in the championship game, they will play in font of a nation-wide television audience as College Sports Television (CSTV) is slated to air the game live Sunday.
Matt McConnell will handle the play-by-play dutie.
CSTV is available in Bemidji and the surrounding area on Paul Banyan Television channel 63 for customers with the sports package. It is also available to Direct TV subscribers on channel 610 and to Dish Network customers on channel 152.
