Courtesy: WMU http://www.wmubroncos.com/

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan hockey team and head coach Jim Culhane has announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

Ross Henry (Franklin, Wis./Lincoln Stars - USHL), Ben Miller (Oakland Township, Mich./Waterloo Black Hawks - USHL) and Matt Tennyson (Pleasanton, Calif./Cedar Rapids Rough Riders - USHL) will join the Broncos for the 2009-10 season. They join Brett Beebe, Jordan Gidaro and Luke Witkowski, who signed at earlier dates.

Henry, a five-foot-10, 188-pound defenseman currently serves as an alternate captain on the Stars. He is currently in his third season under head coach Jim McGroarty in Lincoln. During the 2007-08 season Henry notched three goals and six assists in 59 games, also playing along side current Bronco J.J. Crew. The Franklin, Wis., native finished the season with a plus-17 plus-minus rating and tallied 107 penalty minutes. Through 15 games this season Henry has registered one goal and one assist.

“Ross is a very solid and reliable defenseman that can make a strong outlet pass,” said coach Culhane. “He plays physical, competes at a high level of intensity and is a responsible defenseman.”

Miller spent most of the 2007-08 season playing with current Bronco freshman Kyle O'Kane on the St. Louis Bandits of the North American Hockey League. The Oakland Township, Mich., native tallied 11 points in 11 playoff games to help St. Louis win the Robertson Cup National Championship. After a season in which he scored 32 goals and dished out 29 assists in just 52 games, the six-foot-one, 190-pound forward was selected in the first round by Waterloo in the USHL Draft last spring. Miller began his Junior Hockey career in the NAHL with the Texas Tornado, playing with current Bronco Adam Flink, before he was traded to St. Louis after nine games last season. Miller has played 12 games so far this season under head coach P.K. O’Handley, scoring six goals and tallying four assists.

“Ben has excellent offensive instincts,” commented Culhane. “He has a talent for scoring goals and making plays on the power play.”

Tennyson will become the fifth Bronco to hail from the state of California, joining Crew (Placentia), P.J. Kavaya (San Clemente), Jared Katz (San Jose) and Beebe (Redondo Beach). The Pleasanton native spent the 2007-08 season with the Texas Tornado, scoring four goals and adding 10 assists in 58 games. The six-foot-two, 185-pound defenseman has played 11 games with Cedar Rapids under head coach Mark Carlson. Tennyson has scored one goal and tallied two assists in 13 games early on in the season.

“Matt is a big, strong defenseman that can make a strong outlet pass from his own zone and is very dependable defensively,” added Culhane. “He has a heavy shot and has the ability to join the offense.”

Western Michigan gets a chance to rest up during its bye week before heading to South Bend, Ind., to battle with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Nov. 28 and 29.