ORONO, Maine - University of Maine freshmen forwards Josh Nadeau and Bradly Nadeau have been named to the initial 32-player watch list for the Tim Taylor National Rooke of the Year Award, as announced today by the Hockey Commissioners Association.

The award is voted on by the nation's assistant coaches. At season's end, a ballot consisting of each Division I conference's Rookie of the Year will be presented to the assistant coaches and they will vote, one vote per school, to identify the winner. This year's National Rookie of the Year will be announced during April's Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.

The Nadeau brothers are two of seven Hockey East student-athletes on the watch list.

Josh Nadeau leads Maine in points (32) and assists (20). He is ninth overall in the country and fourth among rookies with a 1.45 points per game average. He also leads Maine and is second in Hockey East with six in power-play goals. On the year, he has 12 multi-point games, second in Hockey East. Bradly Nadeau is second for Maine in points with 31 (14-17-31). His 14 goals lead the team and tie for 20th nationally among all players and fourth among all rookies. He is 10th in the country and is fifth among rookies with a 1.41 points per game average.

Both Black Bears four game-winning goals on the year to lead all rookies nationally.

-UMaine-