FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   June 26, 2000
Contact: Arthur Parks (401) 865-2759


FIVE FRIARS SELECTED IN 2000 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
Providence Tops In HOCKEY EAST And Second In the Nation With Five
Collegians Drafted

        PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College had five players selected in the
2000 NHL Entry Draft on June 24-25.  PC had more players drafted than any
other school in HOCKEY EAST and only the University of Minnesota (nine
players) had more collegians selected in this year's draft.  Sophomore
right wing Jon DiSalvatore (S. Windsor, Conn.), sophomore goaltender Nolan
Schaefer (Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan), freshman center Peter Zingoni
(Newtown, Conn.), freshman defenseman Jason Platt (Portola, Calif.) and
freshman defenseman Regan Kelly (Imperial, Saskatchewan) were all drafted
in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft.
        DiSalvatore, a 6-foot-1-inch, 185-pound forward was the first Friar
selected when he was picked in the fourth round (104th overall) by the San
Jose Sharks.  DiSalvatore, who finished fourth on the team in scoring (27
points) and second in goals, registered a plus/minus rating of nine in
1999-00.  His 15 goals was the most recorded by a Friar rookie since Craig
Darby notched 17 in 1991-92.  For his efforts, he earned the team's
Reverend Herman Schneider Award (Most Valuable Freshman) and the squad's
Plus/Minus Award.  Prior to attending Providence, DiSalvatore played for
the New England Coyotes of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
        Schaefer, a 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound goaltender was selected by the San
Jose Sharks in the fifth round (166th overall).  He had a strong rookie
campaign for PC in 1999-00, posting a 6-5-1 mark, a 3.24 goals against
average and a .904 save percentage in 14 games.  A 1997 graduate of Yellow
Grass High School, Schaefer played for the Nipawin Hawks of the
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League prior to attending Providence.
        Zingoni, a 6-foot, 180-pound center was selected in the eighth round
(231st overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets.  He played two seasons with
the New England Coyotes of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.  In 1999-00,
Zingoni was second on the team in goals (40) and was third on the team in
scoring (79 points).  Zingoni, a two-time EJHL All-Star, helped the Coyotes
capture the EJHL Playoffs in 1999-00.
        Platt, a 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound defenseman, was picked by the Edmonton
Oilers in the eighth round (247th overall).  He played two seasons for the
Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League.  Prior to playing for
Omaha, Platt helped Cushing Academy capture the NEPSIHA Division I title in
1998.  He was a member of the U.S. Select 16 Team in 1997.  Platt is a 2000
graduate of Westside High School in Omaha, Neb.
        Kelly, a 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound defenseman was drafted in the eighth
round (259th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers.  He recently finished his
second season with the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey
League.  A two-time SJHL All-Star, Kelly registered 30 points (eight goals,
22 assists) in 47 games for Nipawin.  This season, he was named Nipawin's
"Best Defenseman."  In 1998-99, Kelly earned SJHL All-Rookie Team honors.
        After this NHL Entry Draft, PC now has seven members of its 2000-01 hockey
team drafted by NHL squads.

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