GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The ACHA D1 hockey team took a big step toward getting back to national prominence with a No. 9 ranking to finish the 2012-13 season and head coach Phil Sweeney continues to add talent with hopes of making a longer run in next year's national tournament. Sweeney recently inked two defenseman from Canada to the DU roster that graduates only one player as DU finished the season with a 30-10-0-1 overall record.

After a successful season, the Davenport coaching staff has used the momentum to sign two players already.  The coaching staff would like to announce the signing of Aaron Beally and Liam VanBuren.  Both players are defenseman. 

Aaron Beally - Aaron comes to DU from Aurora, Ontario, Canada.  Aaron spent his few years of junior in Canada, playing Jr. A for three different teams before settling in at Welland and playing for the Junior Canadians his final two seasons.  At 6'2, Aaron brings some size on the blue line for the Panthers.  Aaron can move the puck, has a good shot, but what impressed the coaches most was Aaron's defensive awareness and tight gap control.  Aaron will be called upon to help stop some very impressive power plays the Panthers will face next season along with some very strong top lines. 

"Aaron played very solid in our summer skate this year, and I really liked what I saw on film as well, said Sweeney.  We play some very explosive teams next season and Aaron will be out against some very good players.  Aaron has played over 200 junior hockey games at a very high level in Junior A and Junior B.   I could tell right away Aaron plays with an edge and cockiness that we expect players to have at Davenport.  He plays hockey the right way, this is a great signing for us!"

Liam VanBuren - Liam comes to Davenport from Brighton, Ontario Canada.  This is Liam's fourth year of juniors and he is taking advantage of it.  He was second on his team in scoring as a Defenseman and is 12th in the league.  He has some experience playing against very good players in the OJHL Jr. A in Canada before going back to his hometown team in Amherstview Empire Junior B.  Liam is a very solid D and one that is very good at making the first pass and jumping up into the play.  Liam also has very good size as he stands 6'3 and plays bigger than that.  Liam was named Defenseman of the Year for his league for the 2012-13 season. 

"Liam stood out in our summer skate, said Sweeney.  He was one of the best players on the ice and I was very excited to see how much he liked it here at Davenport.  I can already see Liam on our Power play running the point and excelling in our up tempo style of play.  Our transition from defense to offense was kind of slow at times and Liam will be a huge addition in that area.  I think Liam is going to tear it up here.  I believe he could be one of the better offensive defenseman in the country."

"I am very excited by adding Liam and Aaron to the d-core for the upcoming seasons”, said defensive coach Bill McSween.  “Both players will make everyone around them better and there will be some good competition for ice time on the defensive end.  That is what championship quality teams have and it is what we need.  Both of these players will make our team that much better heading into September next season”.