WOLVERINES SIGN THREE RECRUITS FOR 2009

Head coach Red Berenson has announced the signing of three U.S.
National Team Development Program Under-18 Team members for the 2009
season. Forwards A.J. Treais, Kevin Lynch, and Chris Brown will add a
mix of size, skill, and speed.

Treais is a tiny but skilled centerman. Measuring just 5?8, 150
pounds, and ranked a ?C? prospect by the NHL Central Scouting
Bureau-?meaning he?s projected a potential late round pick in the 2009
NHL Entry Draft-?associate head coach Mel Pearson puts Treais in the
mold of some big names in Wolverine history.

?A.J. Treais is a smaller player, dynamic, highly skilled,? Pearson
said. ?He?s not unlike some of the kids we?ve had like T.J. Hensick,
Mike Comrie, Mike Cammalleri, Louie Caporusso?he?s along that line.
He?s not a really big player, but he?s very talented. He has excellent
stick skills. He?s a guy who I think can really add something on the
power play down the road.?

Lynch is a 6?1, 190 pound grinder who is rated a ?B? prospect by the
NHL CSB, meaning a potential mid-round draft pick. So far this season
he has three goals and four assists in 19 games with the Under-18 Team.

?Kevin Lynch is a really hard-nosed, two-way player,? Pearson said.
?He?s the kind of guy you?d like to have on your team. He?ll play the
same whether you?re playing at home or on the road. You know what to
expect out of him every game, which is important. He has really good
hands too. I don?t think he?s scored as well as maybe he could have at
the program. They have him in a little bit different role. He has
excellent hands. As he gets closer to the net he?s got better hands. I
think he?s a guy who can finish as well as give you a good two-way
game.?

Chris Brown is Michigan?s first ever recruit from Texas and is the
highest profile of the three. He has the potential to be a big power
forward. At 6?2, 195 pounds, Brown has five goals and seven assists in
19 games with the Under-18 Team this season. He is rated an ?A?
prospect by the NHL CSB, meaning a potential first or second round
draft pick.

?Chris Brown has a lot of potential,? Berenson said. ?He?s a big,
strong, physical winger who can score.?

Added Pearson: ?Chris Brown has had a good career at USA Hockey. I
think he?s really come into his own this year. He?s learned to play
more physical and use his size. He has really good hands. He has a
great shot. We expect him to come in here and use that size and add
some scoring to our team.?

The Wolverines have one more verbal commitment who hasn?t signed his
Letter of Intent yet.

U-M graduates six players this season-?four forwards, one defenseman,
and one goalie. Pearson said on tonight?s Red Berenson Show he
expects to sign two or three more players, probably one of each
position, but for sure a goalie one way or another.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net