MINNESOTA SIGNS EIGHT

[Sonny]

Five core players return, three draft picks inked

Minnesota Swarm General Manager Marty O'Neill announced this week the signing of eight players to contracts. The Swarm re-signed forwards Spencer Martin and Scott Stewart as well as defensemen Mike Kilby, Mark Miyashita and Eric Pacey. All five were on the Swarm last season and helped the team to their first ever playoff berth. Minnesota also announced the signing of three 2006 Entry Draft picks, inking goaltender Kevin Crosswell and forwards Hughie Johnson and Kevin Milkowski to contracts.

Mike Kilby notched four points on two goals and two assists, recorded 18 penalty minutes and collected 45 loose balls in 15 games last season. The six-foot, 200-pound native of Burnaby, British Columbia has collected seven points (two goals, five assists), 63 penalty minutes and 71 loose balls in 29 games during his two seasons with the Swarm.

Spencer Martin tallied 13 points on seven goals and six assists, tallied 13 penalty minutes and collected 22 loose balls in nine games with Minnesota last season, after being signed as a free agent on January 27, 2006. The six-foot, 185-pound forward has totaled 91 points (43 goals, 48 assists), 83 penalty minutes and 172 loose balls in 51 career games over five seasons.

Mark Miyashita tallied 14 points (four goals, ten assists) in 10 games with the Swarm last season. The defenseman led the club with 87 loose balls and also ranked first on the team in face-offs taken (183) and face-offs won (80). The Vancouver, British Columbia-native has notched 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists) and 183 loose balls in 32 career NLL games during three seasons in the league.

Eric Pacey recorded five points (three goals, two assists), 20 penalty minutes and 45 loose balls in 13 games with Minnesota last season. The six-foot-two, 212-pound defenseman has collected 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists), 62 PIM and 153 loose balls in 51 career NLL contests during five seasons in the league.

Scott Stewart was acquired by Minnesota in a trade with Portland on February 2, 2006 and recorded a goal in his first game with the Swarm before suffering a season-ending injury against Philadelphia on February 10th. The six-foot-one, 225-pound forward has collected 180 points (92 goals, 88 assists) and 337 loose balls in 68 career NLL games during five seasons in the league.

The Swarm also signed three Entry Draft picks. Kevin Crosswell was selected in the third round (31st overall) of the 2006 NLL Entry Draft, Hughie Johnson was taken in the sixth round (70th overall) and Kevin Milkowski was selected in the fourth round (44th overall). All-three signed one-year contracts.