Dec. 6, 2007

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass hockey head coach Don "Toot" Cahoon announced today that six future Minutemen signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. David Boehm, Daniel Hobbs, Matthew Irwin, T.J. Syner, John Carlson, and Michael Marcou will join the Mass Attack for the 2008-09 season.

Boehm, Hobbs, Irwin, and Syner were announced as signing NLI's last spring, but delayed enrollment to balance UMass' future recruiting goals.

The class is made up of three forwards and three defensemen.

"We think we've done two things with this class," said Cahoon. "We are going to be able to replace a very talented and effective senior class with the incoming players who are strong both offensively and defensively. We will be able to augment certain pieces of our special teams and continue to improve our team speed. As a whole, I couldn't be happier with the group."

David Boehm
Position: Forward Height: 5-10
Weight: 160 lbs
Born: 6/30/1989
Last Team: Cedar Rapids Rough Riders
Hometown: Naples, Fla.
* Landed a roster spot with the Rough Riders thanks to a strong effort in the June, 2006 tryout camp ... finished second in Empire Junior (B) Hockey League in assists and points in 2004-05 ... one of two players (along with Ian Slater) from the state of Florida to start the 2007-08 season on the Riders' roster ... scored in his USHL debut, a season-opening 4-2 loss to Green Bay on October 7, 2006 ... collected a USHL career high three points (two goals and one assist) in a 4-3 win over Chicago on January 12, 2007).

Daniel Hobbs
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Born: Feb 22, 1989
Last Team: Columbus Junior Blue Jackets
Hometown: Shawville, Quebec
* Hobbs is currently in his second season with the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets ... last season, he played in 60 games and notched 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points while also tallying 36 penalty minutes ... this season, Hobbs has appeared in 17 games and totaled four goals and five assists.

Matthew Irwin
Position: Defense
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Born: November 29, 1987
Last Team: Nanaimo
Hometown: Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
* Currently in his fourth season with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) ... last season Irwin registered 22 goals and 27 assists in 60 games with the Clippers ... this season, the Clipper Captain has played in 32 games and has tallied eight goals and 21 assists ... Irwin reached the 100 point plateau earlier this season and now has 102 career points in Nanaimo.

Timothy (T.J.) Syner
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Weight: 180
Born: Oct 13, 1988
Last Team: New England Jr. Falcons
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.
* In his first season with the Indiana Ice and is a teammate of John Carlson ... in 18 games this season with the Ice, the Springfield, Mass native has five goals and four assists.

John Carlson
Position: Defense
Height: 6-2
Weight: 215
Born: Jan. 10, 1990
Last Team: Indiana Ice (USHL)
Hometown: Colonia, N.J.
* In his second season with the Indiana Ice ... after only playing in two games with Indiana last year, Carlson has five goals and 10 assists in 18 games this season.

Michael Marcou
Position: Defense
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Born: Aug. 19, 1989
Last Team: Waterloo Blackhawks
Hometown: Kings Park, N.Y.
* In his second season with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) ... tallied one goal and five assists in 44 games with the Blackhawks last season ... in only 18 games this season, Marcou has one goal and three assists ... is the younger brother of current UMass Minuteman James Marcou.