HAMILTON, NY - Colgate University men’s ice hockey has announced the addition of six skaters that will make up the Class of 2004. Rob Brown (Brockville, Ont./Brockville Braves, CJHL), David Cann (Brampton, Ont./Mississauga Chargers, OPJAHL), Kyle Doyle (Petrolia Jets, GOHL), Paul Kelley (Grand Forks, B.C./Quesnel Millionaires, BCHL), Matt Nicholson (London, Ont./Strathroy Rockets, WJBHL) and Tucker Veenis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Salisbury School, NEPSFL) will all don Maroon for the Red Raiders next season.

Brown is a 5-10 defenseman who finished with 57 points (14-43--57) in 52 games playing for the Brockville Braves last year. The Braves finished second overall in the CJHL and playoffs. Brown was second among defensemen in scoring earning second team All-Star honors and was a member of the All-Scholastic team.

Cann, a 6-2 goaltender, is the lone man between the pipes in the 2004 class after playing for the Mississauga Chargers of the OPJAHL appearing in 35 games and maintaining a 4.55 goals against average.

Doyle enters the Red Raider program off a very strong final season with the Petrolia Jets of the GOHL scoring 33 goals and adding 46 helpers for 79 points. Doyle, a three-year assistant captain for Petrolia, was a prolific scorer for the Jets which also produced 2000 Colgate graduate Darryl Campbell. Doyle, a 5-8 center, was selected team MVP last year finishing tied for fourth among league scoring leaders and earned an All-Star game appearance.

Kelley is a 5-9 forward who enters after a strong final campaign with the Quesnel Millionaires of the BCHL. He appeared in 50 games serving as assistant captain of the team last year registering 20 goals and adding 36 assists for 56 points.

Nicholson, a 6-0 defenseman playing for the Strathroy Rockets (WJBHL) which has produced two of Colgate’s recent top players in Andy McDonald (1999-2000 All-America and current member of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) and Sean Nolan. Nicholson appeared in 55 games last year for the Rockets scoring six goals, 14 assists and accumulated 184 penalty minutes. He helped lead Strathroy to the league finals, finishing as runner-up to Chatham.

Veenis comes to Colgate after a strong senior campaign serving as assistant captaining at the Salisbury School of the New England Prep Schools Founders League. He scored five goals and added 13 helpers for 18 points in 25 games in his senior season. He finished fourth on the team in scoring and led defensemen in goals, assists and points. Veenis also earned Founders League All-Star selection and Hockey Night in Boston All-Scholastic honors.

Colgate registered its sixth 20-plus win season in 1999-2000 with a 24-9-2 finish and made its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament advancing to the NCAA East Regional in Albany, N.Y. The Red Raiders fell valiantly in overtime against Michigan 4-3 in the quarterfinals of the East Regionals. Colgate finished second in the ECAC regular season behind St. Lawrence which advanced to the Frozen Four of the NCAA Tournament last year. Red Raiders’ head coach Don Vaughan enters his ninth season at Colgate and nears the 150-win plateau with a 139-114-23 overall record.