BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program today announced the addition Jake Areshenko (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia), Brance Orban (Lethbridge, Alberta) and Brady Wacker (Jansen, Saskatchewan) to the Beaver men’s ice hockey program for the 2009-10 season. Each incoming student-athlete signed National Letters of Intent during the NCAA’s regular signing period beginning April 9.

“We are excited to welcome these three players into the Beaver hockey family,” commented Bemidji State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ted Belisle. “They each bring a good mix of skill, grit, and speed. They are quality kids who have honed their skills in junior hockey and we look forward to having them in Beaver jerseys.”

• Areshenko (6-0, 190, Defenseman, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia), a defenseman for the Fargo Force of the United State Hockey League (USHL), has played in 58 of 60 contests for a team that ranks second in the league’s Western Division in goals allowed (166). In addition, Areshenko has scored two goals and seven assists, which includes a lamplighter and three helpers on the power play. He carries a +7 plus/minus rating on the season.

The Force, 32-23-5 in its first season as a member of the USHL, clinched a playoff berth and after sweeping Omaha and is awaiting the winner of the Lincoln-Sioux Falls series. Areshenko contributed an assist on the power-play in Fargo’s 4-2 win over the Lancers April 11.
Highlights of the 2008-09 season in addition to his playoff helper include: Scoring is first goal as a member of the Force Oct. 18 in a 6-1 loss at Sioux City and recording a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory over Green Bay Feb. 6.

Areshenko has ties to Bemidji State University. His grandfather, Dave Gunther, was head coach of the men’s basketball team at BSU from 1995-2001.

“Jake has a good mix of size and skating ability and will bring a strong presence to the ice. He’ll be able to eat up minutes on the penalty-kill and in 5-on-5 situations.” Belisle added, “In all, his steady presence in the D-zone will pay dividends as far as us getting pucks up the ice and preventing goals.”

• Orban (5-9, 155, Forward, Lethbridge, Alberta), a three-year veteran forward of the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey league (AJHL) , has skated in 201 games and piled up 84 goals and 123 assists for an impressive 203 points as a Grizzly. A proven scorer, Orban has had his most productive season in 2008-09. He has accumulated 47 goals and 48 assists in 76 games to lead his team and rank fourth in the league in total points (95), which includes 19 goals on the power play and four short-handed tallies. His total of 47 goals ranks second in the AJHL this season while his 48 assists seat him ninth among his league counterparts.

Highlights of the 2008-09 season include: Twenty-eight multi-point efforts, three times piling up four points in a single game. March 16, Orban led the Grizzlys to a 7-1 playoff victory over the Okotoks Oilers with a season-best three goals and an assist. Dec. 16, the forward put up a season-high three assists, which included helping on the game-winner in a 7-3 victory over the Brooks Bandits. He also added a goal in the game.

The Grizzlys saw their season come to an abrupt end in the third round of the AJHL Southern Division Playoffs. The team posted a 35-23-1 overall record in the regular season gaining a berth in the 2008-09 post-season. After defeating Drumheller (3-2) and Okotoks (4-2) in the first two rounds of the divisional playoffs, Olds was defeated by Spruce Grove (4-0) in the league semi-finals.

“Brance is a highly-talented offensive player who has had a lot of success the last few years with the Olds Grizzlys.” Belisle added, “He really came out of his shell this year as far as scoring goals, learning what it takes to get to hard areas of the ice to produce points. He’s always been a fan favorite wherever he has played making up for his small frame with good feet and skill-level.”

• Wacker (5-7, 155, Defenseman, Jansen, Saskatchewan), a defenseman for the Humbolt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), finished third in the league in scoring, pacing the Broncos to their third consecutive SJHL Credit Union Cup with 17 goals and 65 assists for 82 points. His 65 assists led all SJHL players and his total of 50 points on the power play (10g-40a) was second to none.

Wacker, the Broncos’ captain, concluded the 2008-09 regular season as the first player in SJHL history to be selected as the league’s Player of the Year and its Defenseman of the Year while he fell just six points shy of the league’s scoring championship. The five-time SJHL Defenseman of the Week in 2008-09, was named to the SJHL ITECH Conference All-Star roster and is a finalist for the Cnadian Junior Hockey League’s (CJHL) National Player of the Year.

Highlights of the 2008-09 season include: Thirty-one multi-point contests including four-point efforts in victories over Flin Flon (9-2) Nov. 22 and Melfort (7-4) Dec. 3. The defenseman also assembled a 15-game scoring streak stretching from Oct. 22 to Dec. 7 during which he posted eight goals and 28 assists.

Wacker and the Broncos, the CJHL’s top-ranked team, have extended their season to the second half of April qualifying for the ANAVET Cup series to play the Portage Terriers, Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s champions, for a chance to compete for the Royal Bank Cup, the Junior “A” National Championship. The Broncos are the defending RBC Cup Champions.

“Brady is a special defensive talent. He is the ultimate competitor. His versatility and skill set allow him to play in every situation on the defensive side of the ice. He brings every element that is needed to be a solid defensive player at the collegiate level.” Belisle added, “Even though he may be considered small at five-foot, seven-inches, he has always been one of those players that can change the game with a big hit.”

BSU’s spring signees join forwards Jordan George (Madison, Wis.), Matt Hartmann (Hugo, Minn.) and Aaron McLeod (Ottawa, Ontario), who each signed National Letters of Intent during the NCAA’s early signing period Nov. 12-19. The Beavers’ 2009-10 signing class includes players from four Canadian provinces and two states, including a Minnesota native.

Bemidji State is coming off a season in which it captured its fourth College Hockey America regular-season title in six years, a CHA Tournament crown, an NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Championship and the first appearance in the Frozen Four in program history. The team posted an overall record of 20-16-1, while it was 12-5-1 in league play.