It's been 10 years since the University of Minnesota-Duluth has produced an American Hockey Coaches Association All-American, but that drought, the longest in school history, came to an end on Wednesday when senior right wing Junior Lessard landed an AHCA All-American first team spot while senior defenseman Beau Geisler was selected to the second team.

It marks the first time since Chris Marinucci attained AHCA first team acclaim in 1993-94 that a Bulldog has been so honored.

Lessard, who earlier this week was chosen to a pair of other All-American groups (insidecollegehockey.com and uscho.com, which also both tabbed him their 2003-04 Player of the Year), heads into tomorrow afternoon's NCAA Frozen Four semifinal matchup with the University of Denver holding the title as the NCAA goal (30) and points (61) leader. The St. Joseph deBeauce, Quebec, native is also one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (outstanding U.S. collegiate player), which will be presented this Friday.

Geisler, who has captained the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Frozen Four appearance since 1985, currently ranks third among all NCAA defensemen in scoring with a .94 points per outing average. In UMD's seven post-season games thus far, Geisler, a native of Coleraine, MN, has been credited with one goal and nine assists. He is within two points of becoming just the sixth UMD blueliner ever, and first since 1986, to crack the century scoring mark for a career.

The addition of Lessard and Geisler now gives UMD 21 AHCA All-American picks since the Bulldogs joined the NCAA I ranks in 1961-62