PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA)
announced on March 23, that Providence College hockey coach Paul Pooley is
one of 12 finalist for this year's Spencer Penrose Award which is given
annually to the Men's Ice Hockey University Division Coach of the
Year.  The finalist are comprised of the top vote-getters in conference
Coach of the Year balloting.
This season, Pooley guided the Friars to the most wins in his six-year
tenure at Providence (22-13-5).  The Friars, picked to finish sixth in the
preseason coaches poll, finished tied with Maine for second-place in HOCKEY
EAST play.  The second-place finish was the best finish ever for a
Providence College team in HOCKEY EAST action.  For his efforts, Pooley
earned HOCKEY EAST Coach of the Year honors becoming the first Friar head
coach to claim the honor.
Pooley has compiled a 125-118-21 record in his six years as head coach at
Providence.  He also was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award in 1996
when he led the Friars to their second HOCKEY EAST Title and a NCAA
Tournament birth.
Tom Eccleston is the only Friar head coach to ever capture the Spencer
Penrose Award.  Eccleston earned the honor in 1964 after leading the Friars
to their first ECAC Title and their first NCAA Tournament berth.
The Spencer Penrose Award was named after the Colorado Springs, Colo.
benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel complex, site of the first 10 NCAA
Hockey Championships.  This year's award falls on the 50th anniversary of
the first award which was presented in 1951.  The winner will be announced
in early April and the award will be presented during the annual AHCA
Convention in Naples, Fla., on Saturday, April 28.

-end-

M.J. Connors
Providence College
Sports Information
Ph: 401-865-2202
Fax: 401-865-2583