Panthers Ink College Prospect Andrew Sweetland

[Thrillhouse]

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager and Head Coach Jacques Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent college prospect F Andrew Sweetland on an entry level contract.

“Andrew is a player that we identified a few years ago and have followed his progress closely, and he participated in our development camp last year,” said Martin. “He is a player that posses good size, speed, skill and hockey sense. He will have an opportunity to make our team during training camp and we look forward to his long-term contributions to our team.”

Sweetland, 21, played in 28 games for the University of Maine Black Bears this year scoring eight goals with nine assists. Prior to playing for Maine, he spent the 2006-07 season with the Amherst Ramblers (Junior A) where he set a club record with 56 goals and 61 assists in 54 games played. The Bonavista, Newfoundland native also played for the Couchiching Terriers (OPJHL) for two seasons (2004-06).

"I am very excited about the opportunity presented with the Panthers organization,” said Sweetland. “It will be a challenge to make a successful step to the next level of play, but I intend to work hard this off-season to prepare myself for training camp in September.”

[Habs Fan 1987]

Bonavista has developed an amazing amount of good hockey players. There's Michael Ryder, Daniel Ryder (who stands a good chance of making the NHL if he decides to come back), Adam Pardy, and Andrew Sweetland. There's only about 4,000 people that live there. If all four of those guys are in the NHL, that would be one player for every 1,000 people.

[blackngold]

Haha, that's not a hockey name.