BOSTON – The Boston University men’s ice hockey team is pleased to announce its five-member recruiting class for the upcoming 2006-07 season, featuring a trio of players from the U.S. National Under-18 Team and two skaters from the United States Hockey League (Junior A Tier I). Included in the five newcomers are two forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender to add to the 21 returning letter winners from last year’s squad.

The three players from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program are defenseman Brian Strait (Waltham, Mass.), forward Luke Popko (Skillman, N.J.) and goaltender Brett Bennett (Williamsville, N.Y.), while forward Zach Cohen (Schaumburg, Ill.) of the Tri-City Storm and blueliner Eric Gryba (Saskatoon, Sask.) of the Green Bay Gamblers round out the freshman class.

“I think we’ve filled in the areas where we lost guys,” said Terrier Head Coach Jack Parker, who will enter his 34th season behind the BU bench. “We added two real solid defensemen to replace Dan Spang and Jekabs Redlihs, a top-notch goaltending prospect to replace Stephan Siwiec and a couple of forwards to try to fill the shoes of Brad Zancanaro, David Van der Gulik and John Laliberte – we’re still working on a third forward for that class.”

Strait, who captained Team USA to the gold medal at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship this past April, joins the Terrier team after spending two years with the U.S. development program. In two seasons, the 6-foot-1-inch, 200-lb. defenseman amassed 34 points on seven goals and 27 assists as he now sits 22nd among North American skaters on the final Central Scouting Services rankings. Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Mich., he played two years for the Northfield Mt. Hermon School in Gill, Mass.

“Brian is a great skater,” said Parker. “He’s a real solid defenseman who also has offensive capabilities – he is going to give us a physical presence on the blue line that we lack.”

Also hailing from the U.S. contingency is Popko, a 5-foot-10-inch, 200-lb. forward who totaled 38 points (18-20) in two seasons with the Red, White and Blue. Also a member of the gold medal-winning team at the U-18 worlds, he registered a pair of goals and an assist in Team USA’s six victories. His previous experience includes a year at the Taft School (Watertown, Conn.) and a season with the New Jersey Rockets of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (Junior B).

“Luke is a real solid two-way center iceman,” said Parker. “He’s a good playmaker, a great penalty killer and a great faceoff guy.”

Rounding out the NTDP trio is Bennett, a 6-foot-1-inch, 185-lb. goaltender that came back after a shoulder injury last season to tally a 10-2-0 record with a 1.71 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Holding the number six spot among North American goaltenders on the final CSS rankings, he posted a pair of wins at the world championship, including one shutout, for a 0.50 GAA and .969 save percentage. The previous season, with the U-17 team, he held a 20-12-2 record, 2.71 GAA and .913 save percentage, while in 2003-04, he had a 1.23 GAA in 31 games with the Honeybaked Midget Major team in Michigan.

“Brett is a top-notch goaltender and proven winner at every level he has played at thus far,” commented Parker. “He has size and skill and is very competitive.”

Adding size to the blue line will be Gryba, a 6-foot-3-inch, 215-lb. defenseman out of the Green Bay Gamblers organization in the USHL. Ranked 66th among North American skaters by the CSS, he led the USHL with 205 penalty minutes during the 2005-06 regular season, was second on the team in scoring among defensemen with 15 points (3-12) in 56 games and was selected to play in the 2006 All-Star Game. Prior to that, he played two seasons for the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, where the team won the Canadian Midget AAA National Championship in 2005, leading him to be named the National Defensive Player of the Year.

“Eric is another big, strong defenseman and a good skater,” said Parker. “He will give us a physical presence and is a real pro prospect.”

Finally, the last member of the class of 2010 is the 6-foot-3-inch, 195-lb. Cohen, who ranks 147th among North American skaters. Fresh off a two-year stint with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, he nearly doubled his previous-year point total in 2005-06, putting up 33 points (18-15) in 60 games to earn a spot in the All-Star Game. His point production put him third on the team in scoring, while he ranked first with nine power-play goals and three playoff goals. In 2003-04, he put up 106 points (52-54) in 83 games for Chicago of the United States Midget Hockey League.

“Zach is a power forward and is real good offensively down low,” noted Parker. “He will add needed size up front, while playing with finesse or being physical.”

The 2006-07 Terriers will take to the ice for their first exhibition game versus New Brunswick on Oct. 7 at Agganis Arena. For ticket information, please click here.