The University of Maine men’s hockey team received National Letters of Intents from four players, raising the number of incoming players to eight for next season.

Forwards Andrew Sweetland from Bonavista, Newfoundland, and Nicholas Philips from Copenhagen, Denmark, along with Ontario defensemen Josh Van Dyk and Mike Banwell have signed NLIs, joining November signees Glen Belmore, Robbie Dee, Tanner House, and Keif Orsini, who are all forwards.

Maine has lost its top three scorers and seven of its top 10 point-producers and will have only one returnee who scored more than eight goals last season, left winger Billy Ryan (13 goals, 20 assists in 40 games).

The Black Bears went 23-15-2 and reached the Frozen Four for the third time in four years, losing to eventual national champion Michigan State 4-2 in the semifinals.

“We definitely expect some of them to make an immediate impact,” said Maine recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Guy Perron. “There will be some big shoes to fill. We have a lot of guys coming back and they’ll be asked to do a lot more. Hopefully, the group of newcomers will support them.”

Sweetland, a 6-foot-2, 198-pounder, scored a club-record 56 goals and added 61 assists in 54 games to win the Maritimes Junior A Hockey League’s scoring title. He was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

“He’s a goal scorer. He’s got some skills. We expect him to contribute right away,” said Perron.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Philips had 8 goals and 17 assists in 34 games for Mora in the Swedish Under-20 Elite League. He was a member of the Danish Under-18 and Under-20 National teams.

“He has great skating ability. Hopefully, he’ll be able to kill penalties for us,” said Perron.

The 6-1, 180-pound Van Dyk, a native of Woodstock, Ontario, had 18 goals and 40 assists in 47 games for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. He had 10 power-play goals. In 19 playoff games, he collected 22 assists.

“Josh is a real good offensive-minded defenseman. He can dish the puck and he’s a good skater,” said Perron. “He’ll have a chance to play right away.”

Banwell, a 6-2, 185-pound native of Scarborough, Ontario, had seven goals and 19 assists with the Pickering Panthers of the OPJHL. He had six assists in 18 playoff games.

“Mike is a hard-nosed guy, a two-way player. He brings intensity every game. He’s a pretty tough kid and a great competitor,” said Perron.

Bears honored for being on track

The UMaine track and field teams held their annual banquet Tuesday to honor several student-athletes for memorable seasons.

Arel Gordon, who is also a varsity football player, was given the Roger Castle Male Outstanding Performer of the Year award after he broke school records in the 55-meter run, the 60, and the 200. He also was seventh in the 60 at the NCAA championships. Belgrade native Hana Pelletier won the Friends of Track and Field/Cross Country Female Outstanding Performer of the Year award. She won the 800 meters at the New England Championships.

Kirby Davis of Falmouth and Erin Hatch of Saco were presented with the Chester Jenkins Gold M Awards; Joshua Mimmovich of Portland got the Rhett Morse Award, that goes to an athlete who has returned to participate following a difficult situation; and the most improved awards went to Max Ludwig of South Portland and Courtney Francis of Waltham.

Also honored at the banquet for setting records were Gordon, the women’s 800 relay team, the women’s 3,200 distance medley team, Ludwig, Davis, and Clarissa Michalalak of Cumberland.

UMaine’s spring track and field team will compete in the America East Championships Saturday and Sunday at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore.