March 23, 2004

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass senior defensemen Thomas Pöck (Klagenfurt, Austria) and Nick Kuiper (Beaconsfield, Quebec) were both signed to contracts with a pair of teams from the National Hockey League today. Pöck inked a deal with the New York Rangers, while Kuiper signed a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Terms of both deals were not disclosed.

Head Coach Don "Toot" Cahoon was extremely pleased that both players were rewarded today.

"It was an exciting day and a new experience here at UMass having agents, scouts and general managers trying to negotiate deals today," said Cahoon. "Nick had about four teams really interested in him and Thomas had about a dozen teams really trying to get an edge. They are at a unique advantage is that they are both 22-years old, where as most college free agents are 24. It is a big advantage for them in terms of the learning curve and the teams signed them with every intention of them playing in the NHL. We had a team meeting today and the players were excited for them to see the opportunities that can present themselves."

Pöck, a Hobey Baker finalist, is expected to be in the lineup tonight (March 23) when the Rangers battle the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garder. He led the Minutemen with 41 points (16 g, 25 a) and became the school's seventh player to tally 100 points in a career. He finished his UMass career holding nearly every defenseman school record possible and was named the school's first-ever first team All-Hockey East All-Star. He was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team for the second straight year after leading all players with seven points and a plus-7 rating, and was the nation's top scoring blue-liner. He tallied 78 (33 g, 45 a) of his 102 career points in the final two seasons at UMass as a defenseman after starting his career as a forward.

Kuiper, a 6-2, 211-pound defenseman, was one of the top defensive players in the country and finished his UMass career playing in 118 of 122 games with the Minutemen. His senior season was his best statistically, finishing with 10 points (5 g, 5 a) and 28 penalties for 72 minutes. He ended his career with 28 points (10 g, 18 a).

"Ever since I began skating, I wanted to play in the NHL. You play hockey for a chance to play in the NHL," said Kuiper. "It hasn't really hit me yet, but this speaks a lot of what UMass has become. To have two players sign contracts on the same day says a lot about our program here. This never would have happened if the program wasn't successful, and it just shows that all the hard work the players and coaching staff puts has paid off. UMass has really prepared me to play at the next level and I am excited to have signed a deal. The Blackhawks have a lot of young players with character and I hope that I can fill the role of what they are looking for."

Pöck's appearance in tonight's game makes him the second UMass player to ever appear in an NHL game. Brad Norton (1994-98) has played with three teams, most recently, the Washington Capitals.