Peoria, Ill. (May 10, 2007) – Peoria Rivermen General Manager of Hockey
Operations Kevin McDonald announced today that NCAA Division I
University of Maine (Black Bears) senior forward Josh Soares
(SORR-ihss) has been signed to a one-year American Hockey League (AHL)
contract for the 2007-08 season.


Soares, 25, played in one game for the Rivermen on April 7 against the
Manitoba Moose after signing an Amateur Try-out contract.  The
5-foot-11, 202-pound native of Hamilton, Ontario, played in all 40
games as for the Black Bears this season, as the team appeared in the
2007 NCAA Frozen Four and lost to Michigan State 4-2 in the Semifinals;
he netted a goal and added an assist in the game’s first four minutes. 
He led the Black Bears in points (T-45) and goals (20), while leading
Hockey East with nine power-play goals and being named to the Hockey
East All-Star Second Team.


Soares registered 112 points (49g, 63a) in 132 career games at Maine.