MARQUETTE - Collin Saint-Onge and James Gallagher of Marquette will be back for another season with the Marquette Rangers Tier II Junior hockey team.

They join newcomer Kevin Gravel of Kingsford in making the team's preliminary roster for training camp scheduled to open in early September.

Rangers head coach Kenny Miller and his staff picked 25 players for the North American Hockey league squad from a field of 43 hopefuls who competed for spots over the weekend at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.

After three weekend games, Miller said he and his staff had to make some difficult choices in picking the squad.

"It was a very competitive camp," the first-year Rangers coach said Sunday. "We had to cut some guys who I think can play in this league.

"But at the end of the day, we took what we feel are the best 25 players from the weekend. We're confident we can do very well with this group of guys."

There could still be some revisions to the roster, as off-season trades and acquisitions are expected to continue throughout the NAHL as the season approaches.

In all, nine veterans and 16 newcomers are slated to don the Rangers' jersey this coming season, which begins Sept. 17-20 at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn.

There will be 18 Rangers from Michigan, two from both Wisconsin and Illinois, and one each from Virginia, Minnesota and New York.

The roster (* denotes returning player):

FORWARDS

* Jimmy Gallagher, Marquette.

* Garrett Ladd, Fenton.

* Dustin Partacz, Naperville, Ill.

* Collin Saint-Onge, Marquette.

* Chad Pietila, Brighton.

* Josh Bussell, LaSalle.

Doug Beck, Plymouth.

Kent Daavettila, Howell.

Kevin Gibson, Grosse Pointe.

Kyle Heck, Plover, Wis.

Scott Henegar, Trenton.

Ryan Johnson, Blaine, Minn.

Mike Lennon, Reedsburg, Wis.

Nathan Milam, Westland.

DEFENSE

*Tyler Matthews, Buffalo, N.Y.

*Michael Thompson, Farmington Hills.

Austin Accettura, Novi.

Evan Accettura, Novi.

Brendan Bandyk, Mokina, Ill.

Kevin Gravel, Kingsford.

Andrew Chovich, Macomb.

Jeff Slusser, Kentwood.

GOALTENDERS

*Matt Brooker, Richmond, Va.

Kevin Kissaw, Goodrich.

Robert Tadazak, Lapeer.

Editor's note: This report was prepared by the Rangers' media relations department.