Beuker’s star shines four times as bright

By Darren Zary of The StarPhoenix

The stars continue to be aligned in Dean Beuker’s favour. Beuker — a four-year member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies — has been named to the Canada West men’s hockey first all-star team for the fourth straight year, the league announced today.

The native of Watson, who played midget AAA hockey for the Saskatoon Contacts before moving on to the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks and Regina Pats, was one of three Huskies named to the first allstar team.

Also picked were team captain Brent Twordik and freshman goalie Jeff Harvey.

Beuker becomes only the second player in conference history to be named a first-team all-star four times. Former Alberta defenceman Jeff Zorn of Tisdale was the first player to accomplish the feat, from 2002 to 2005.

There were four selections, overall, for the Dogs. Harvey was also named to the all-freshman squad, along with University of Alberta Golden Bears rookie Aaron Sorochan, a former Prince Albert Raider.

Harvey led the conference in both goals-against average (2.03) and save-percentage (92.6) in 15 games and tied for the lead with two shutouts. Sorochan topped the conference with 15 wins and was second with a 2.29 GAA.

Beuker was the top vote-getter among forwards and led the conference in scoring with 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 27 games. His 47 points were a single-season Canada West career high and earned him the Dave “Sweeney” Schriner Trophy as the conference’s leading scorer for the third time. He becomes only the fourth player in Canada West hockey history to win the scoring title three times, joining Vern Pachal of Alberta (1957-1958, 1960), Jarret Zukiwsky of Lethbridge (1994-1996) and Alberta’s Russ Hewson (1999-2001).

With 47 points, Beuker finished tied for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) scoring title with Jesse Pyatt of the University of Guelph Gryphons (26-21—47 in 24 games) and Acadia University Axemen forward Kevin Baker (24-23—47 in 28 games).
Twordik (11-24—35) ended the season tied for third place in conference scoring.

Beuker, Twordik, Harvey and Sorochan are joined on the first team by Alberta defencemen Chris Ovington and Ben Thomson.

The Canada West all-stars were selected by a vote of the seven Canada West hockey coaches.

dzary@sp.canwest.com