Long Sault's Sean Rudy has accepted a Division 1 NCAA scholarship to attend Bemidji State University in Minnesota next season.

PHOTO CREDIT - Pointstreaksites.com

Long Sault - Apr. 22, 2011 - The hard work at the rink has paid off for Long Sault's Sean Rudy.

Rudy has accepted a Division 1 NCAA scholarship to attend Bemidji State University in Minnesota next season, where he'll continue his hockey career with the university's men's hockey program.

The 20-year-old forward is currently in his second season with the Wellington Dukes of the OJHL. He led the team during the regular season in points (73), assists (51) and powerplay assists (19), and he was also selected to the OJHL First All Star Team.

Rudy helped lead Wellington to a 32-6-5-7 record and a OJHL East Division title during the regular season and a 16-4 playoff mark en route to the Buckland Cup Championship.

The Dukes are now playing for the Dudley Hewitt Cup in Huntsville, Ont., with the winner moving on to compete for the National Junior A Championship and rights to the Royal Bank Cup.

"Sean is still in the midst of a very successful junior season leading Wellington through the playoffs. He is both the team's captain and its leading scorer," said Bemidji State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ted Belisle in a press release.

"He is a very reliable player with a strong work ethic and possesses a lot of the intangibles that help you win. He is a hard player to play against and will add some height to our line up. We are excited to have him part of our program."

Beyond Rudy, there's another local connection to the Bemidji State Beavers. Former Cornwall Colts captain Darcy Findlay also plays for the team.