FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact Bob Rothwell
October 1, 2001 (401) 865-2201

PROVIDENCE MEN’S HOCKEY RANKED NO. 5 IN
USA TODAY/AMERICAN HOCKEY MAGAZINE PRESEASON POLL

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College men’s hockey team was ranked No.
5 in the USA TODAY/American Hockey Magazine Preseason Poll, which was
released on Monday, October 1. The Friars finished the 2000-01 season
ranked 11th in the nation and were ranked as high as eighth in the country
last season.

Providence garnered 169 points to debut at No. 5 in the preseason poll.
Michigan State, who received six first-place votes, topped the poll with a
total of 263 points. North Dakota received 243 points and garnered seven
first-place votes to start the season ranked No. 2. The University of
Minnesota received two first-place votes and 236 total points for a No. 3
ranking. No. 4 Michigan totalled 191 points  to rank just in front of the
Friars. Ironically, the Friars and Wolverines begin the season by playing
each other in the first game of the Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Nebraska on
October 12 at 6:00 p.m.

The Friars are the highest ranked HOCKEY EAST school after learning that
they were picked at the top of the HOCKEY EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll for
the first time ever. Providence could face as many as eight schools who
were ranked in the top 15 of the USA TODAY/American Hockey Magazine
Preseason Poll.

The complete poll is listed below.

2001-02 USA TODAY/AMERICAN HOCKEY MAGAZINE PRESEASON POLL
        Rank    Team (1st-place votes)  Points
        1.      Michigan State (6)      263
        2.      North Dakota (7)        243
        3.      Minnesota (2)   236
        4.      Michigan        191
        5.      PROVIDENCE COLLEGE      169
        6.      Colorado College        166
        7.      Boston College (4)      147
        8.      Harvard 126
        9.      St. Cloud St.   118
        10.     Maine   114
        11.     New Hampshire   91
        12.     Nebraska-Omaha  90
        13.     Clarkson        76
        14.     Wisconsin       66
        T15.    Dartmouth College       31
        T15.    Denver  31

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: St. Lawrence 28, Ohio St. 26, Boston University 22,
Miami (Ohio) 20, Cornell 14, RPI 12.

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

GO FRIARS !