BEMIDJI, Minn. – For the first time this season, Bemidji State University Men's Hockey defenseman Kyle Looft was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Defenseman of the Week after a two-goal and three-point weekend against No. 14 University of Minnesota Duluth.
 
The fifth-year senior from Mankato, Minn., recorded all three points in the Beavers' 5-4 overtime loss to the Bulldogs Saturday night at Sanford Center for the first three-point night of his collegiate career. Looft scored the Beavers' first two goals of the game while on the power play for his first career multi-goal game and later assisted on the Beavers' third goal. He finished second on the team with seven shots over the weekend while also blocking a team-high five shots and held a +1 rating on the ice.
 
This is Looft's third career weekly accolade from the league and his first since the 2020-21 season (WCHA Defenseman of the Week, Jan. 26).
 
He is second among league defensemen with four points (2g-2a) through four games this season and eighth in the league with eight blocked shots.
 
Looft is joined by University of St. Thomas' Liam Malmquist and Jake Sibell as the league's Forward and Goaltender of the Week while Northern Michigan's Tanner Latsch was named the league's Rookie of the Week.
 
League points will be on the line for the Beavers this weekend as they welcome St. Thomas to Sanford Center for the first CCHA Association series of the year. On Saturday, the Beavers will attempt to bring awareness to organ donation and will host an Organ Donation Awareness game as two members of the Beavers men's and women's hockey teams have been affected by organ donation.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeaversMHKY), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu--