3/3/2010 - MEN'S ICE HOCKEY Toronto acquires rights to BSU's Peluso in NHL trade deadline-move

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BEMIDJI, Minn. -- In one of the many moves the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Toronto Maple Leafs made leading up to the trade deadline, President and General Manager Brian Burke announced today that organization has obtained the rights to Bemidji State University defenseman Chris Peluso (Sr., Wadena, Minn.) from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the Maple Leafs’ six-round draft pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

Peluso, a seventh-round selection (194th overall) of the Penguins in the 2004 Entry Draft, has logged time in 121 games for BSU during the last four seasons netting a goal and 35 assists for 36 collegiate points.  He ranks in the top 20 on BSU’s Division I-era assists list (since 1999-00) and is just one point from finding a place among the top 50 on the program’s all-time defensemen scoring list.

The two-time Academic All-College Hockey America selection has recorded seven assists and a +4 plus/minus rating in 24 games this season,  for the a 22-8-2 BSU team that has been ranked among the nation’s top 15 teams for a school-record 20 weeks.  The senior has three helpers in CHA play helping the Beavers to a 13-3-0 league mark and their third consecutive CHA regular-season crown.

While at Bemidji State, Peluso has been a contributing member of three CHA regular-season championship teams, has played in two NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournaments and was an anchor on a BSU blueline that earned the program’s first appearance in the Frozen Four in 2009.

Peluso stands as the second NHL draftee of BSU’s Division I-era.  He followed current Columbus Blujacket Andrew Murray (2001-05) who was selected in the eighth round of the 2001 Entry Draft.

In all, six former BSU players have gone on to log time in the NHL.  The list includes: Jim McElmury (Minnesota/Kansas City/Colorado 1972-78), Dale Smedsmo (Toronto 1973-73), Gary Sargent (Los Angeles/Minnesota 1975-83), Joel Otto (Calgary/Philadelphia 1984-98), Murray (Columbus 2008-present) and Matt Climie (2009).

Peluso and the Beavers wrap up the 2009-10 regular-season with a league series at University of Alabama-Huntsville this weekend.  The two-game set is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening and will conclude with a 3 p.m. matinee Saturday.  Both games will be played at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.

--bsu--