The season may have come to an end last weekend, but there were still some honors to be bestowed upon members of the 2008-09 Yellowjackets.  Forward Braden Desmet (Jr. Strathmore, Alberta) and Chad Beiswenger (Sr. Moorhead, Minnesota) were both named First Team All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association.  Beiswenger was also the runner-up for the Sid Watson Award, which goes to the player of the year in Division III hockey.  The award announcements were made during the banquet at the 2009 Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships, being held this weekend in Lake Placid, N.Y.

All-Americans are determined by a vote of the coaches in the respective regions while the player of the year award is voted on by Division III coaches nationwide.

"Chad and Braden both had incredible years for us.  They are both elite players who can take the game to a different level on a nightly basis and the coaches in this region recognize that," said Yellowjacket Head Coach Dan Stauber.  "I'm not allowed to vote for my own players, but I would have voted for both of them if I could have.  They were that good all season long, truly among the best in the nation."

After an injury-riddled sophomore season, Desmet stayed healthy and had his best season in Superior.  Appearing in all 30 games, he scored a career-high 15 goals and also established career-highs in assists (20) and points (35).  In three seasons, Desmet has played 67 games for the Yellowjackets, scoring 33 goals, 48 assists and 81 points.  He is the top active scorer on the team.

"Braden is a supremely talented offensive hockey player," Stauber said.  "He is such a skilled hockey player out there that when he decides he wants to be the best player on the ice, he usually is.  He had an outstanding year for us and I'm thrilled for him to receive this honor.  He truly does deserve it.

Desmet was a First Team All-WIAC selection and a First Team All-NCHA pick as well in 2008-09.

Beiswenger put the wraps on a career that leaves him among the most decorated goaltenders in school history.  And as great as his junior season was, his senior season may very well have been his best.  Beiswenger played all 30 games for the 'Jackets, posting a 23-4-3 record with a 1.98 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and five shutouts.  He played 75 games in his career and is one of just three goalies in school history to record 50 wins.  His all-time record is 50-14-10.

Beiswenger holds several school records, including lowest goals against average (2.07), highest save percentage (.921) and most shutouts (14).  He also holds several individual season records.  All of these numbers were put up by Beiswenger in just three seasons, as he played parts of only two games as a freshman.

"Chad was the backbone of this team all season.  He allowed our guys to take more chances and do some things offensively that maybe they wouldn't have otherwise done.  You feel more comfortable doing certain things when you know you have a guy like him back there who is going to bail you out," Stauber said.  "We had a great year as a team, and Chad was a huge part of that.  He put us in a position to win every night and that's all you can ask of a goaltender."

Beiswenger, too, was a First Team All-WIAC pick and a First Team All-NCHA player.  He was also named the 2009 NCHA Player of the Year, the third Yellowjacket ever to receive that honor.

Desmet and Beiswenger become the 14th and 15th Yellowjackets to receive First Team All-American honors from the AHCA.  There are now 57 Yellowjackets who have been named All-Americans in school history.