FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact Bob Rothwell
November 30, 2001       (401) 865-2201

PROVIDENCE HOCKEY SIGNS THREE RECRUITS FOR 2002-03 SEASON

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Providence College men’s hockey coach Paul Pooley
announced today the signing of three recruits to National Letters of Intent
to play for the Friar men’s hockey team during the 2002-03 season. The
three recruits are: Bobby Goepfert (Kings Park, N.Y./Cedar Rapids
Roughriders-USHL), Torry Gajda (Westfield, Mass./New England Coyotes-EJHL)
and Bryan Horan (Farmingham, Conn./New England Coyotes-EJHL).
        “All three of these players bring a level of enthusiasm, experience and
excitement to our team,” PC coach Paul Pooley said. “Their signing is an
indication of the Providence program continuing to move forward.”
        Goepfert is a 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound goaltender, who is in his second
year playing for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey
League. In 2000-01, Goepfert was named to the USHL All-Rookie team,  voted
USHL Goalie of the Year and participated in the USHL All-Star game. This
season, Goepfert leads the USHL in almost all major goaltending statistics,
including wins (12), save percentage (.939), games played (19), minutes
played (1047), saves (573) and shutouts (5). He recently was selected to
participate in the Top Prospects’ Tournament to represent the United States
in an international tournament in early January. He is also a prospect to
make the 2002 U.S. Junior National Team.
        Gajda is in his third year playing for the New England Junior Coyotes of
the Eastern Junior Hockey League. He is a 5-foot-9-inch, 185-pound left
wing who is a co-captain for the Coyotes this season. Last season, Gajda
had a breakthrough year, leading his team in scoring with 110 points, being
named First Team All-EJHL and making the EJHL All-Star game. This year, he
is currently one of the top scorers in the league, despite being sidelined
with an injury.
        The final signee is Horan, who is also in his third year playing with the
New England Coyotes of the EJHL. In 2000-01, the 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pound
forward was the third leading scorer for the Coyotes behind Gajda and
current Friar Chris Chaput. He was selected to participate in the 2001 EJHL
All-Star game and also was selected to play for the U.S. Select Under-18
team that played in Germany last summer. This year, Horan was named
co-captain of the Coyotes. He only has seen action in seven games due to a
wrist injury.
        The three signees will join the Friars next fall and will add to the
former Coyotes and Roughriders already on the PC roster. Gajda and Horan
will join six other former Coyotes and Goepfert  will join a former
Roughrider. Gajda and Horan will join junior Jon DiSalvatore (South
Windsor, Conn.) sophomores John Luszcz (Ludlow, Mass.) and Peter Zingoni
(Newtown, Conn.) and freshmen Eric Lundberg (Vernon, Conn.), Chris Chaput
(Pawtucket, R.I.) and Jeff Mason (Easthampton, Mass.). Goepfert will join
freshman David Carpentier (Faribault, Minn.), who played for the
Roughriders last season.

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

GO FRIARS !