BREWER – The New Brunswick AAA Hockey Series Maine Black Bears announces the scheduling of identification camps for the upcoming 2008 program. The 2008 series will feature eight divisions:

. Mite Minor, players born in 2000.

. Mite Major, 1999.

. Squirt Minor, 1998.

. Squirt Major, 1997.

. Peewee Minor, 1996.

. Peewee Major, 1995.

. Bantam Minor, 1994.

. Bantam Major, 1993.

Female players will have the option of playing one division below their age category.

The 2008 series will feature regional teams based in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Acadie-Chaleur and Rivervalley – Woodstock to Edmundston, New Brunswick; and Maine.

Identification camps for the Maine Black Bears teams will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 19 and 21, at the T.J. Ryan Center in Brewer.

The basic objective of the AAA Series is to provide the opportunity for advanced hockey players, male and female, to progress to the next level of play.

This is accomplished by bringing together a group of advanced players under the direction of highly qualified coaches.

Players also will gain from the positive experience of being a part of a team made up of players from different towns and youth hockey associations. Each team will be staffed by a highly qualified head coach, assistant coach and a team manager.

Officials in the Atlantic Hockey Group said they were proud of the large number of players who have graduated from its Elite Hockey Programs, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

More than 100 players have gone on to play at the Major Junior – currently 65 active players – and university level. In addition, several former players have been drafted by the National Hockey League.

In the last three years, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski Oceanics; James Sheppard, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles; and Alex Grant, Saint John Sea Dogs, have been selected the top overall picks for the Quebec Major Junior League.

Players drafted by the NHL in the last three years, include Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh, first overall selection; James Sheppard, Minnesota, ninth overall; Luc Bourdon, Vancouver, 10th overall; Bruce Graham, New York Rangers; Jean Claude Sawyer, Minnesota; Kevin Cormier, Phoenix; Andrew Gordon, Washington; Justin Vienneau, Columbus; Chad Denny, Atlanta; Aaron Johnson, Columbus; Stephen Dixon, Pittsburgh; Cory Urquhart, Montreal; Randy Jones, Philadelphia; Marc Chevarie, Florida Panthers; Ryan Hillier, New York Rangers; Andrew MacDonald, New York Islanders; Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins; Bryce Swan, Anaheim Ducks; Mark Tobin, Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sidney Crosby and James Sheppard are presently playing in the NHL.

The AAA Hockey Series consists of a minimum of eight hours of practice time and 20 games, which begin at the end of the minor hockey season in early April to avoid any conflicts with youth minor hockey.

The objective of the on-ice training is to develop team systems. The practices also feature specialized training for the forwards, defensemen and goaltenders.

At the conclusion of the spring AAA Series, teams participate in the Atlantic “AAA” Cup Tournament in Moncton.

New Brunswick AAA teams are joined by teams from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Teams also participate in the annual Fall Jamboree at the Universit? of Moncton in late August and early September.

Founded in 1990, the Atlantic Hockey Group’s program has become one of the most successful in Canada. Through programs such as the Charlie Bourgeois Hockey School, the St. Andrews Hockey Academy, Atlantic Elite Hockey Program, the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick AAA Series and the Atlantic Selects, the Atlantic Hockey Group works with more than 3,000 hockey players each year.

Its four full-time staff members, regional directors and the network of more than 200 coaches associated with the Atlantic Hockey Group provide a strong structure to assure that the top players in Atlantic Canada form the teams.

Director Charlie Bourgeois has more than 12 years of professional hockey experience, having played with the Calgary Flames, the St. Louis Blues and the Hartford Whalers.

The schedule for team identification on Feb. 19 and 21 at the T.J. Ryan Arena in Brewer is:

. Mites, 5-6 p.m.

. Squirts, 6:10-7:10 p.m.

. Peewees, 7:20-8:20 p.m.

. Bantams, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

For information, visit www.atlantichockeygroup.com, call 888-421-0000, or contact the Maine representative, Roy Boothby, at 989-2507.