CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, announced today that they have agreed to terms with forward Mike Liambas and defenseman Ryan Blair.

Liambas (Lee-AM-bus) will embark on his first full season with the Cyclones after skating in the final 15 regular season games of the 2010-11 season and all four Kelly Cup Playoff contests last spring. During that short stint, the 22-year-old Woodbridge, Ontario native collectively posted four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and 80 penalty minutes. Just ten days after making his ECHL debut, Liambas scored his first ECHL goal on March 15, 2011 against the Gwinnett Gladiators – which turned out the be the game-winning tally. Before joining the Cyclones last season, the five-foot-nine inch forward logged 24 games with the University of British Columbia where he posted nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) and 65 penalty minutes. He has also spent time playing in the International Hockey League (IHL) and Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

“Mike is a hostile player, and we like that here,” said Cyclones Head Coach Jarrod Skalde. “He adds a lot to our locker room; Mike is a quality person who comes from a great family and I think there’s a lot more that he’ll be able to give our hockey club this year. In addition to his on-ice talent, Mike wants to be a big part of this community and understands the bigger picture.”

Blair, a 25-year-old Ashburn, Virginia native, is set to enter his first season as a professional after a four-year collegiate career with UMass-Lowell. In 141 career-games with the Riverhawks, the six-foot-four inch, 210-pound rear guard posted 36 points (3 goals, 33 assists) and 203 penalty-minutes. During his junior campaign (2009-10), Blair recorded a +8 plus/minus rating, which was third highest among all UML defensemen that year. Also that season, he was a teammate of 2010-11 Cyclones forward Sam D’Agostino. One year prior, in 2008-09, Blair finished tied for third on the team with a +11 mark.

“Ryan is going to be a big part of our penalty kill,” said Skalde. “His playing style will make him a good shutdown guy for us. I think anytime you add a player with size and reach like that, it is a great benefit. We’re very excited to have him on our blue line this year.”

The countdown to the 2011-12 season is officially underway! Secure your seats for Saturday, November 5 when the Cyclones welcome the Chicago Express to U.S. Bank Arena for the first time at 7:30pm. Contact a ticket representative today at 513.421.PUCK or log on to CyclonesHockey.com for more information. Fans can also get the latest team updates during the offseason on Facebook and Twitter.

To view both players career statistics, click here.