BOSTON, Mass. – The Providence College men’s hockey team was selected No. 1
in the 2001-02 HOCKEY EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced Monday,
October 1 at the annual HOCKEY EAST media day, which took place at Legends
Restaurant at FleetCenter in Boston. The top spot in the Preseason Coaches
Poll marks the first time the Friars have been selected the top team in the
Preseason HOCKEY EAST Poll. Last season, PC was picked sixth and finished
tied for second in the final standings.

Providence accumulated more points in the poll than any other team, and
thus earned the top preseason ranking without receiving any first-place
votes. The Friars return two All-Americans in junior forward Devin Rask
(Parkside, Sask.) and junior goaltender Nolan Schaefer (Yellow Grass,
Sask.). PC reached the NCAA Tournament last year after posting a 22-13-5
overall record and 13-8-3 mark in conference play.

PC will face the University of Western Ontario on Saturday, October 6 in
the teams’ only exhibition contest at 7:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena. The
Friars open the season at the Maverick Stampede on Friday, October 12 when
they face Michigan at 6:00 p.m. in Omaha, Neb. The next night, Saturday,
October 13, PC will face either Minnesota-Duluth or Nebraska-Omaha. PC’s
home-opener is on Friday, October 19 when the Friars host Sacred Heart
University at 7:00 p.m. in Schneider Arena.

The following is the preseason coaches’ poll with the points that each team
received:

2001-02 PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
        Rank    Team (1st-place votes)  Points
        1.      PROVIDENCE COLLEGE      68
        2.      Maine (4)                               67
        3.      Boston College (3)                      61
        4.      New Hampshire (1)                       57
        5.      Boston University (1)                   54
        6.      UMass Lowell                                    34
        7.      Northeastern                                    33
        8.      Merrimack                                       18
        9.      UMass Amherst                   13

– FRIARS –
Bob Rothwell
Senior Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
Providence College
phone: (401) 865-2201
fax: (401) 865-2583

GO FRIARS !