Press release from Orono today!

   Dean in Colorado

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Men's Ice Hockey Announces Commitments

May 2, 2007

ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine men's ice hockey coach Tim  
Whitehead announced today that his program has received National Letters  
of Intent from Mike Banwell, Nicholas Philips, Andrew Sweetland and Josh  
Van Dyk to attend the University of Maine in the fall of 2007.

"We are pleased to announce the signings of these four student-athletes,"  
said Whitehead. "We look forward to having them with our program this fall  
and are expecting them to make an immediate contribution to the team."

Mike Banwell is a 6-2, 185 pound defenseman from Scarborough, Ontario. He  
played this past season with the Pickering Panthers of the OPJHL. In 48  
games played he had seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points along with 73  
penalty minutes. In addition, in the 2007 playoffs he had six assists in  
eighteen games. During the 2006 season Banwell also played for Pickering,  
seeing time in 36 games with five goals and seven assists for twelve  
points.

Nicholas Philips is a 5-10, 165-pound forward from Copenhagen, Denmark. He  
played this season for Mora in the Swedish Under-20 Elite League, where he  
played in 34 games with eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points. He was  
also a member of the Danish Under-18 National Team and the Danish Under-20  
National Team.

Andrew Sweetland is a 6-2, 198 pound forward from Bonavista, Newfoundland.  
Last season he played for the Amherst Ramblers of the MJAHL where he  
scored a club-record 56 goals and assisted on 61 others to pick up 117  
points in 54 games. He earned MJAHL Most Valuable Player honors as he won  
the league's scoring title. In 2005 and 2006 he played for the Couchiching  
Tigers, earning Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors in 2005  
when he lead the team in scoring. In 2006 he had 52 goals and 39 assists  
in 69 games played.

Josh Van Dyk is a 6-1, 180 pound defenseman from Woodstock, Ontario. He  
played the last two seasons with the Hamilton Red Wings of the OPJHL. In  
2007 he played in 47 games with 18 goals and 40 assists for 58 points as  
he was the leading scorer on the blueline and fifth on the team in  
scoring. Ten of his goals were on the power play. In addition, in 19  
playoff games he had 22 assists. During the 2006 season he played in 48  
games with nine goals and 20 assists, including three power play goals.

  	


These four players join forward Glen Belmore (Cornwall, Ontario/Wellington  
Dukes), forward Robbie Dee (Plymouth, Minn./Omaha Lancers), forward Tanner  
House (Cochrane, Alberta/Penticton Vees) and forward Keif Orsini  
(Montreal, Quebec/St. Jerome), all of whom signed National Letters of  
Intent in November.

The Black Bears will begin the 2007-08 season with an exhibition game  
against the US Under 18 Team on October 6, followed by a two-game series  
at Denver. For more information on Maine Athletics, please visit  
www.GoBlackBears.com.

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