Northeastern University goaltender Brad Thiessen (Aldergrove, B.C./Merritt Centennials and Prince George Spruce Kings) has been named an NCAA Division I first-team All-American.
Thiessen, a Hobey Hat Trick finalist as one of the top three players in the nation, is the Huskies' first All-American since forward Jason Guerriero in 2005. Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy won the Hobey Baker Award.
Thiessen, a junior, signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins last week after leading Northeastern to one of the best seasons in program history. Thiessen became one of Northeastern's most decorated hockey players this season. In addition to All-American and the Hobey Hat Trick, he was named NU's first-ever Hockey East Player of the Year and New England's Most Valuable Player.
He was the only unanimous Hockey East All-Star, was named All-New England, Hockey East ITECH Goaltending Champion and won the Three Stars Award. He was named Hockey East Player of the Month in October and Hockey East Goalie of the Month in November, January and March. Thiessen led the Huskies to one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 25-12-4 record, 2.12 goals against average and .931 save percentage in 41 games.
Northeastern tied the program record with 25 wins, finished second in the Hockey East regular season for just the second time ever and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994. Northeastern has reached the NCAA Tournament just four times, including the Frozen Four in 1982 when the Huskies went 25-9-2.
Thiessen played every minute in net in 2008-09. Going into the NCAA Tournament, he led the nation in minutes and saves. He finished the season with totals of 2495:44 minutes and 1195 saves. No other goaltender had more than 1100 saves. His 2.12 goals against average ranked 12th in the nation. He averaged 29.1 saves per game. In 2008-09, Thiessen had three shutouts, 16 games allowing one goal or less, and 24 games allowing two goals or less. Northeastern was 19-1-4 in those games.
Thiessen set Northeastern's season records in every major category: wins (25), goals against average (2.12), save percentage (.931), saves (1195), games (41) and minutes (2495:44). Thiessen is Northeastern's career leader in goals against average (2.40), save percentage (.922) and shutouts (nine). He ranks second all-time in saves (3166) only to two-time All-American Bruce Racine (1984-88) and third in games (111) and minutes (6661:23) behind only Racine and Keni Gibson (2001-05).
Northeastern has only had three Hobey Baker Award top-10 finalists in Thiessen, Sandy Beadle (1981) and Jim Fahey (2002). Fahey, a defenseman, was also a Hobey Hat Trick finalist in 2002 when he had 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points in 39 games.
For more information about Husky sports, check http://www.GoNU.com, the official web site of Northeastern Athletics.
