EDMONTON – Fifth-year University of Manitoba Bisons goaltender Jesse Deckert is the September / October Canada West men’s hockey Husky-WHL Graduate of the Month.

Deckert becomes the 12^th member of the Bisons to take the monthly honour and the 24^th Canada West goaltender to win since it was first awarded in October 1989.

Each monthly winner throughout the season receives a $500 cheque towards the cost of education, a plaque, a letter from WHL Commissioner Ron Robison and a computer bag.

In seven games Deckert, who played five years in the Western Hockey League, posted a 4-2-1 record with a 2.24 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. During October, over a six-game span, Deckert did not allow more than two goals as Manitoba split a series with the then CIS #4-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies, swept at series at Mount Royal and earned three of a possible four points on the road against #9 Calgary.

In a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) career that began back in 2007-08 with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, Deckert was 12-13 overall in Canada West regular season play through October 31^st and is now a starting netminder for the first time in his university career.

Every year the Western Hockey League recognizes hundreds of hockey student-athletes across Canada as parts of its scholarship program. In 2011-12 alone there were 155 student-athlete recipients from Canada West Athletics.

Deckert, a 26-year-old Arts major, is the first member of the Manitoba Bisons to receive the Husky-WHL award since Blair Macaulay in November / December 2011.

A former goalie for the Regina Pats, Tri-City American and Prince Albert Raiders and a native of Winnipeg, Deckert posted a 47-62-8 WHL record with a 3.22 GAA and five shutouts. In five playoff games, all for Prince Albert in 2007, he was 1-2-2 with one shutout.

Jesse Deckert’s career statistics, courtesy www.hockeydb.com and the WHL Network:

Teammates during his days with the Western Hockey League included Minnesota Wild (NHL) goaltender Josh Harding, Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Colton Orr, pro veteran Kyle Chipchura, 2011-12 CIS Academic All-Canadian Top 8 winner Kyle Ross and former University of Manitoba star forward Mike Hellyer.

Other nominees for this month’s honour were Kurtis Mucha (Alberta), Scott Wasden (UBC), Chase Schaber (Lethbridge), Mike Brown (Mount Royal) and Lucas Gore (Regina).

“HUSKY, proud sponsor of the WHL Education Program & the Canada West men’s hockey Graduate of the Month”

Jesse Deckert’s goaltending statistics for September / October 2012

Date                Opponent                 Result         Min        Sh-Sv      Pct.         Notes

Sept. 29            at Alberta                 L,7-0         60:00        48-41       .854

Oct. 12             vs. Saskatchewan     W,3-1        60:00        23-22      .957        2^nd Star

Oct. 13             vs. Saskatchewan     L,2-1         58:40        22-20      .909

Oct. 19             at Mount Royal        W,4-1        60:00        17-16      .941

Oct. 20             at Mount Royal        W,3-2        59:25        29-27      .931

Oct. 26             at Calgary                 W,4-1        60:00        31-30     .968         2^nd Star

Oct. 27             at Calgary                L,3-2 (SO) 70:00        34-32      .941        stopped 1/3 in Shootout

TOTALS                                            4-2-1        427:05      204-188  .922        2x2nd Star

University of Manitoba “HUSKY-WHL GRADUATE OF THE MONTH” winners:

Bisons (12)         No.  Months

Paul Deniset (F)         3       Oct. 03, Jan. 05, Feb. 06

Karry Biette (F)         2        Nov. 94, Jan. 95

Blair Macaulay          2        Jan. 11, Dec. 11

Scott Laluk (D)         1        Jan. 99

David Cameron (F)   1        Nov. 02

Krister Toews (G)     1        Nov. 07

Mike Hellyer (F)       1        Mar. 10

Jesse Deckert (G)     1        Oct. 12