Brian's Corner Of Cyberspace

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – After one of the best seasons in recent memory, the Bemidji State Beavers have swept three major College Hockey America awards, claiming the Rookie of the Year (Jordan George), Player of the Year (Matt Read) and Coach of the Year (Tom Serratore) honors.

George busted onto the CHA scene and has been a force for the nationally-ranked Beavers. George has scored 13 goals, 20 assists and 33 points for the Beavers, a point total which not only is the second highest on the team, but the most amongst rookies in the CHA. The freshman is currently fourth in the nation in points per game amonst rookies, while tied for 64th in the nation in overall points per game.

Read led the regular-season champion Beavers in scoring, notching 19 goals, 21 assists and 40 points thus far this season. Heading into the 2010 CHA Tournament, Read was tied for 25th in the nation in points per game, while tied for 20th in the nation in goals per game. The junior now has 107 career points, with one year of eligibility remaining.

Coach Serratore has been named the CHA Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season and for the fifth time of his career. Bemidji’s bench boss has led the Beavers to their third consecutive CHA regular-season championship with a record of 14-3-1, while amassing an overall record of 23-8-3.

Bemidji State senior defensemen Kyle Hardwick has been named CHA Student Athlete of the Year with a 3.93 cumulative GPA . Serving as the alternate captain of the Beavers, Hardwick has displayed superior defensive play on the ice while producing above average work in the classroom.

The Minnesota native majors in business administration with a minor in political science. He is a three-time honoree of the CHA All-Academic team and has consecutively made the Bemidji State Dean’s List in each of his collegiate semesters. Hardwick was the President’s Award recipient and a regular member of the Bemidji State Athletic Department’s 3.0 Club.

On the ice, Hardwick has played in over 70 career games This season, the defenseman has notched two assists, matching his career high. Hardwick has played a role on three CHA regular-season tournament teams, including the 2009 Midwest Regional Championship team where he posted two assists, including a helper on the Beavers’ game-winning goal versus No. 9 Cornell to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four.

"Kyle has served as an exemplary student-athlete throughout his time at Bemidji State," CHA Commishioner Ed McLaughlin said. "He is a role model for all student-athletes as well as aspiring college hockey players."

Beyond the ice and classroom, Hardwick has volunteered for the Special Olympics, is a participant in the Elementary Reading Partnership Program, and is a two year representative of the BSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Harwick has already been accepted into the Univeristy of Minnesota Law School.