Munich, Germany - The Hannover Scorpions today announced the signing of defenseman Paul Mara. Mara, whose NHL rights belong to the Phoenix Coyotes, is expected to make his debut in the German Elite League on November 5 when the Scorps host the Kassel Huskies at TUI Arena.

Mara is the 11th current NHLer to sign a lockout deal in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He will join Jochen Hecht, Sven Butenschön, Cristobal Huet (Adler Mannheim), Eric Cole (Eisbären Berlin), Stephane Robidas (Frankfurt Lions), Marco Sturm, Andy McDonald (ERC Ingolstadt), Mike York (Iserlohn Roosters), Jim Dowd (Hamburg Freezers) and Nick Schultz (Kassel Huskies).

At 6'4", 217 lbs, the 25-year-old Ridgewood, New Jersey-native has the perfect size for a blueliner. He skates very well for his size, can quarterback the power-play an and loves to lead rushes. There is still room for improvement in his defensive game and physical play.

Mara played in 81 games for the Phoenix Coyotes in 2003-04. He set career highs in games played (81), assists (36), points (42), shots (140) and average time-on-ice (23:36). He finished tied for 6th in both assists and power play assists among NHL defensemen.

The 7th overall-draft pick of the 1997 Entry Draft, Mara made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1998-99. A multiple-player trade sent him to the desert late in the 2000-01 season. The Coyotes acquired Mara along with Mike Johnson, Ruslan Zainullin and a 2nd round choice in the 2001 Entry Draft for Nikolai Khabibulin and Stan Neckar in March 2001.

On the international level, Mara helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2004 World Championships in Prague, recording a goal and two assists in nine games.