DENVER, COLO. -- The 10th-ranked Providence College Friars defeated the
Ferris State Bulldogs, 4-2, in college hockey action, in the opening game of
the 2000 Denver Cup, on Friday, December 29, 2000 at Magness Arena in
Denver, Colorado.
        Ferris State took a 1-0 lead at the 3:28 mark of the first period.  The
Friars failed to clear the puck from their defensive zone and the Bulldogs
took advantage as Kevin Sweeder notched his ninth goal of the season.
        PC's Devin Rask tied the game 10 seconds after Ferris State's goal.  Rask's
goal was his ninth of the season.
        Late in the second period the Friars were able to capitalized on a
five-minute game misconduct penalty assessed to Ferris State's Lewandowski
for hitting from behind.  Devin Rask gave the Friars their first lead of the
game at the 15:11 mark of the second period.  Rask received a pass from
Peter Fregoe just in front of the crease, and then fired a shot past Bulldog
goaltender Phil Osaer, a power-play goal.  At 18:04, sophomore Mike Lucci
added to the Friars' lead scoring his fourth goal of the season. Matt Libby
fired a shot that deflected off of Osaer's pads, Lucci charged the net,
collected the rebound and notched PC's second power-play goal of the night.
        At the 00:15 second mark of the third period, the Bulldogs were called for
their second game misconduct penalty of the night.  Once again, giving the
Friars a five-minute man-advantage. Libby tallied the Friars' third
power-play goal of the game and his sixth  goal of the season at the 00:47
mark.  Libby received a pass from Fregoe and ripped a slap-shot from the
point, beating Osaer, extending PC's lead to 4-1.
        The Bulldogs closed to within two goals as Rob Lightfoot recorded a
power-play goal at the 7:30 mark of the third period.
        Boyd Ballard stopped 28 shots in the victory, while Osaer recorded 19 saves
in the loss.
        With the win,  Providence improves to 9-4-3, while Ferris State drops to
4-11-4.
        The Friars will return to action on Saturday, December 30, in the
Championship Game of the 2000 Denver Cup,  versus the winner of the
University of Denver/Air Force game at 9:05 p.m.(EST)

Providence College      1       2       1       -- 4
Ferris State    1       0       2       -- 2

First period - FS, Swider 9 (Lewandowski) 3:28; PC, Rask 9 (Libby, Kelly)
3:38.  Penalties - PC, 3-6; FS,2-4.

Second period - PC, Rask 10 (Fregoe, Leach) PP, 15:11; PC, Lucci  3 (Libby
Leach) PP, 18:04. Penalties - PC, 2-4; FS, 5-21

Third period - PC, Libby 6 (Fregoe, Rask)PP,  00:4; FS, Lightfoot 2,
(Collins, Milam), 7:30. Penalties - PC, 4-8; FS, 2-15


Saves - Ballard, PC, 9-8-12 -- 29 (60:00); Osaer, FS, 9-9-2-- 19 (58:36).

Records - Providence College, 9-4-3; Ferris State, 4-11-4.

Attendance: N/A (Magness Arena)