GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Head coach Phil Sweeney has started his recruiting class for the 2015-16 season with three signings. This past week, Sweeney announced that he signed Louie Abounader, who is a transfer from Nichols College, Brandon Cottrell, who played in the Maritime Hockey League, and Alex Hulford who played in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League this past season.
 
Louie Abounader – Montreal, Quebec – Nichols College
 
Abounader comes to Davenport from Montreal, Quebec and he played prep hockey at Gilmour Academy in Ohio. He most recently played collegiate hockey at Nichols College who is part of the ECAC in NCAA DIII. Sweeney talked about what Abounader will be able to bring to the team this coming season, "We are building our team around speed and Louis has a chance to be one of the fastest players we have ever had at Davenport. He has a good set of hands and looks to shoot the puck when it is on his stick, and he will be a great fit in our systems."
 
Brandon Cottrell – Muskegon, Mich. – St. Stephen Aces (MHL)
 
Cottrell is a local player from nearby Muskegon, Mich., where he played his high school at Mona Shores, before he started his junior hockey career in the Maritime Hockey League. He started his junior career playing for the Woodstock Slammers before he was traded to the St. Stephen Aces this past season. Sweeney said "Brandon is very skilled offensively and is a very good skater, along with being tough on the puck in the offensive zone. He is good on the rush an in open ice with the puck, and he will be able to add the team speed along with more offensive firepower.
 
Alex Hulford – Ottawa, Ontario – Cambridge Winterhawks (GOJHL)
 
Hulford, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, comes to Davenport after playing for the Cambridge Winterhawks in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League this past season. He averaged almost a point per game throughout his junior career in the GOJHL and the NOJHL. Sweeney discussed what Alex will bring to the table this coming season, "Alex is extremely gifted on the power play and will find a way to put the puck in the net. He will help us on the power play that really started to pick up towards the end of last season, especially in the playoffs."
 
Head coach Phil Sweeney recapped his first class of signings for the 2015-16 season, "I am very excited to all add all three of these guys, and we are building something special here at Davenport. Our team speed is going to be at another level next season and we will have a lot of firepower up front, as these three guys will a huge factor in our offense this coming season. The former coaches of these players said they work hard at practice and compete at a high level.
 
"Alex, Brandon and Louis are going to be a huge factor where we would like to end up next season, and all of them carry experience from their junior and college careers. All three of them will be expected to produce, compete and contribute right away. This is an exciting time at Davenport, and the coaches are very happy we can bring in three players this early that are very good on the ice."
 
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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