As it prepares to say goodbye to seven seniors and faces the imminent threat of players leaving early for the professional ranks, the No. 8 Michigan hockey team announced its first five additions for the 2007-08 season yesterday at Yost Ice Arena.

In recent years, one or two players have headlined Michigan's recruiting classes, namely sophomores Jack Johnson and Andrew Cogliano last season and freshman Chris Summers this year. But with the new class, the Michigan coaches expect immediate contributions across the board.

The Wolverines signed forwards Aaron Palushaj, Louie Caporusso and Ben Winnett, along with defensemen Tristan Llwellyn and Kevin Quick.

"With these five, it would be hard to separate the three forwards and the two defensemen," assistant coach Billy Powers said. "I think that will be the theme of this class - an all-around impact class."

The three forwards include two Canadians and one American, all from backgrounds that have become regular recruiting grounds for the Wolverines. The American, Aaron Palushaj, hails from Northville and has spent the past two seasons playing for the United States Hockey League's Des Moines Buccaneers.

Michigan currently has eight skaters who played in the USHL before coming to Ann Arbor. The Wolverines recruited Los Angeles Kings first-round draft pick Trevor Lewis from Des Moines this past season, but he left for the minor league ranks before joining the team.

The two Canadian recruits, Louie Caporusso and Ben Winnett, come from the St. Mike's Buzzers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks British Columbia Hockey League, respectively.

Both of these teams have produced some of Michigan's most notable recent recruits. Cogliano played for St. Michael's and former captain Andrew Ebbett played for Salmon Arm. A continued relationship with these Canadian leagues has provided long-term benefits for the Wolverines.

"It's nice to keep a connection with the (British Columbia) Hockey League," Powers said. "Especially with an organization like Salmon Arm, which produces so many high-end players year after year, it's nice to have the top players from their organization come to Michigan."

Caporusso and Cogliano are both from Woodbridge, Ont., but that's where the similarities end. When Cogliano came to Michigan, his numbers attracted a great deal of fanfare. He scored 102 points during his final season at St. Michaels's.

Caporusso's numbers aren't as prolific, but Powers believes that he can still make a strong impact.

"He is a skilled centerman," Powers said. "I compare him a lot to Ebbett. He doesn't have Cogliano's flat-out speed, but he's got the intelligence and the stick skills."

Winnett, on the other hand, is a more explosive forward. He leads the Silverbacks with 37 points in the team's first 18 games. According to Powers, he has great speed and great hands, and has been near the top of the league in scoring at every level.

The defensive core of this recruiting class continues the recent trend toward the offensive style of blue liners that have become Michigan's bread and butter in recent years. Tristin Llwellyn, an Ann Arbor native, and Kevin Quick, from Salisbury Prep in Connecticut, should step in for the likes of captain Matt Hunwick and alternate captain Jason Dest, who will graduate after of this season.

Quick has already produced good offensive numbers. He has scored three goals, and added 20 assists in 28 games played. He was drafted in the third round of the NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Llwellyn, on the other hand, has the potential to develop a more offensive game, but is more of an all-around defensemen for the Tri-City Storm Chasers.

"(Llewellyn) reminds me of (sophomore Mark) Mitera," Powers said. "He's not 6 foot 4 like Mitera, but he's a big kid and he plays big. He loves to get physical. But he also has an offensive upside, so we look at him as a good two-way addition to our back end."

The early signing period for NCAA hockey ends today, and the Wolverines expect to sign several additional players. When the early period elapses, Michigan will have to wait until April 11 to add new signees to their roster.