FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   July 2, 2002
Contact: Arthur Parks

NCAA HOCKEY RETURNS TO PROVIDENCE
Providence College And The Dunkin' Donuts Center To Host 2003 NCAA East
Regional

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --- It was announced on July 1 by the NCAA Division I
Men's Ice Hockey Committee that the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence,
R.I. will serve as the site for the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey
East Regional.  Providence College will serve as the host institution for
the East Regional, which will be played on March 29-30.
The NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Tournament will expand from 12 teams to 16
teams in 2003.  Due to this expansion, the tournament will increase from
two regional sites to four regional sites.  Worcester, Mass. and Ann Arbor,
Mich. were selected to host the regionals in 2003 prior to the expansion of
the tournament.  In addition to Providence, Minneapolis will be the other
new regional site in 2003.
Each site will host four schools with the winners of the first night of
competition playing each other on the second day.  Each of the four winners
will advance to the Frozen Four.  The 2003 Men's Frozen Four, which is sold
out, will be held April 10-12 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.  Game
times for regional competition will be released at a later date.
"Providence College is dedicated to making the 2003 NCAA East Regional a
first-class event," Providence College Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said.
 "The College and the Dunkin' Donuts Center have a long history of
producing successful NCAA events together.  The City of Providence has
always supported college hockey and this will be one of the top sporting
events in the City in 2003."
Providence College, which hosted the first-ever regional competition for
the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship in March of 1992, has
long been active in pursuing NCAA tournament action.  Providence College
has hosted the 1986, 1995 and 2000 Frozen Fours and, over the years,
numerous NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship games.
The Dunkin' Donuts Center, which seats 11,484 for hockey, has been the site
of six NCAA Frozen Fours (1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1995 and 2000).
"We selected cities that have a tradition of hosting successful events,"
Jack McDonald, chair of the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee and
director of athletics at Quinnipiac University, said.  "We are very excited
and know they will do a great job."

- end -