SYDNEY, Nova Scotia -- Providence College freshman goaltender Bobby
Goepfert (Kings Park, N.Y.) recorded eight saves to lead the U.S. National
Junior Team to an 8-2 victory over Belarus on Monday, December 30 in the
International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.
         The U.S. improved to 2-1-0 and will play Slovakia on
Tuesday,  December 31.  In his second start of the Tournament, Goepfert
played 29:57 and stopped all eight shots he faced to improve to 2-0. In his
first start, Goepfert made 30 saves as the U.S. defeated Switzerland, 3-1,
on December 28.  In three games at the Championship, Goepfert has posted a
0.99 goals against average and .963 save percentage.
         Goepfert has played in eight games for the Friars this season and
has a 5-2-1 record.  He is third in the nation with a .940 save percentage
and fourth with a 1.85 goals against average.  Goepfert was the runner-up
for Hockey East Rookie of the Month for the months of October and November
and runner-up for Hockey East Goaltender of the Month for November.
         Prior to coming to Providence, Goepfert played junior hockey for
the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League. He earned
USHL Goaltender of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and was named USHL Player of
the Year in 2002.  Goepfert was a sixth-round selection (171st overall) of
the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.  He is the son of
JoAnn and Steve Goepfert.
         The Friars will return to action on Friday, January 3 when they
host top-ranked Maine at Schneider Arena.