HALLOWELL -- Brad Holt sits alone in the stands, a Maine Moose Super Elite roster and statistics in hand, and surveys the action on the ice. He's looking for forwards and defensemen. He's looking for players with good hands, good vision and a good shot. But most of all, he's looking for players who want to become part of history at the University of New England, which is launching a Division III hockey program next season.

"I need to know a lot of the players, a lot of the players from Maine," said Holt, the program's first varsity head coach. "I need to get the best Maine players I can. We need the Maine players; it's a natural for us."

Holt, who was hired in August, was at the Kennebec Ice Arena on Friday night to watch three junior games as part of a showcase tournament the Moose are hosting.

The three-day tournament is sandwiched around the annual International Junior Hockey League all-star game, which is at 4:30 p.m. today.

Moose officials invited coaches from about 50 collegiate programs across New England, billing the showcase as an opportunity to see the league's top players in one building over one weekend.

For Holt, whose program will ease into Div. III by keeping some club teams on its schedule next season, the tournament is a magnificent opportunity. After all, he's building a program from scratch.

"We're a brand new program," said Holt, who played at the University of New Hampshire under his father, legendary Wildcats coach Charlie Holt. Charlie Holt, who was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, went 347-232-18 in his 18 years at UNH.

"Outside of three kids, we really are a recreational hockey team," Brad Holt continued. "We want to bring in seven kids next year and six more the year after that to help with the natural progression of the program."

UNE, which plays in the NorthEast Collegiate Hockey Association with club teams from Boston College, University of Connecticut and the University of Vermont, among others, scrimmaged the Moose Super Elite in October. Holt said after that game he knew he needed to make a return trip to KIA.

"I'm always recruiting," he said. "We practice in the morning, so every day I'm going to a practice or a game in the afternoon and night. The Moose really impressed me, and I knew I had to see them again."

The players are well aware they are being watched this weekend. For some, like 20-year-old Moose forward Nate Frechette of Winthrop, the window of opportunity to play collegiate hockey is slowly closing.

"For myself, it's crunch time," said Frechette, who scored a goal in a 4-2 victory over Exeter on Friday night. "We have to show what we got. If we don't, we won't be playing college hockey. This is a big opportunity for us. We have to play smart hockey, because that is what the scouts are looking for."

Frechette, who says he wants to play for a Div. I or a "top-notch" Div. III program, said the addition of UNE to the college hockey landscape is a boost for the players.

"It's a good opportunity," he said. "It's always good to get looked at."

"Every guy has different interests, but a lot of guys would take the opportunity if they got it," added Moose forward Andy Harrington, 17, of Richmond. "If you get an opportunity, take it."

Holt, who last year was a referee evaluator for Hockey East, said he is targeting players who would be "recruited walk-ons" at other programs.

"When you get to that borderline D-I kid, you have to ask, do you want to try and walk on or go where you can play for four years and be a part of history? You can come here and make something happen."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com