Minnesota Swarm signs five players

[Sonny]

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Swarm general manager Marty O'Neill announced today that the National Lacrosse League (NLL) team has signed D Nate Andres, F Dean Hill, D Anthony Kelly, D Tyler Perry and D Shawn Summerfield to 2006 contracts.

Andres, 21 (1/14/84), was selected by Minnesota in the fourth round (37th overall) of the 2005 NLL Entry Draft. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories notched 17 points (9-8=17) in 22 games with the Whitby Warriors of the Ontario Junior 'A' Lacrosse Association this summer.

Hill, 21 (10/26/84), was the Swarm's fifth round selection (48th overall) in the 2005 NLL Entry Draft. He tallied 80 points (41-39=80) in 20 games with the Spartan Warriors of the Ontario Junior 'B' Lacrosse Association this summer. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Scarborough, Ontario led the team in scoring and ranked fifth in the league in goals and seventh in scoring.

Kelly, 25 (5/30/80), started every game during his four-year career at Ohio State University (2000-03). He collected 16 points (12-4=16) and 238 ground balls in 57 games with the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound native of North Olmsted, Ohio led the club in ground balls all four seasons becoming the first and only player in team history to led team in ground balls four straight years.

Perry, 21 (5/22/84), was selected by Minnesota in the fourth round (38th overall) of the 2005 NLL Entry Draft. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound native of Toronto, Ontario recorded 67 points (35-32=67) in 22 games with Whitby this summer. He led the team in goals and scoring and ranked tied for seventh in the league in scoring.

Summerfield, 24 (3/16/81), made his NLL debut against Philadelphia on April 15 after being signed as a free agent by the Swarm on March 25, 2005. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Scarborough, Ontario recorded four assists and 22 penalty minutes in ten games with the Ajax-Pickering Rock of the Ontario Senior 'B' Lacrosse Association this summer.

For more information on becoming a Minnesota Swarm season ticket holder please call (888) MN-SWARM. The Swarm opens its 2006 NLL regular season schedule at Xcel Energy Center on Friday, January 6 against the Philadelphia Wings.