Senators Articles: USHL alumni leading way for all AHL Rookies
February 11, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: ushl.com

USHL alumni leading way for all AHL Rookies

February 11, 2005

Binghamton (N.Y.) Senator rookie winger Brandon Bochenski (Lincoln Stars) was selected to play for the Planet USA AHL All-Star team.

Bochenski, was standout at the High School level for Blaine, MN and then moved on to the United States Hockey League where he continued his success by producing 80 pts in 55 games played and was a USHL All-Star in 200-01. After his All-Star season with the USHL he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the seventh round of the 2001 NHL entry draft. The USHL helped land Bochenski on the University of North Dakota roster where he played in 120 games scoring 154 pts.

After three seasons with the Fighting Sioux, Bochenski joined the Binghamton Senators where he leads all AHL rookies in scoring with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points. This will be Bochenski's first appearance in an All-Star game since his rookie season in the USHL back in 2001.

In the 2001-02 season with North Dakota Bochenski was named the WCHA Rookie of the Year and also the UND Rookie of the Year. He led his team in scoring in the 2002-03 campaign and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, which is awarded to the top player U.S. College Hockey.

Bochenski is being chased for the lead in scoring by all rookies from the Rochester Americans rookie Thomas Vanek. Vanek also played three seasons in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede where he appeared in two USHL All-Star games, 200-01and 2001-02. Vanek was the All-Star MVP in 2001-02.

The All-Star Game is at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 14, and will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 in the United States.