Friar coach Paul Pooley has announced the signing of seven recruits and 1 transfer student. The transfer, Tom Sheehan of West Warwick, played for UMass-Amherst last season. He will be eligible to play for the Friars in January. Sheehan played his high school hockey at La Salle Academy in Providence. Coach Pooley sounded very excited about having Sheehan wear the black and white: "Tommy is a player with outstanding ability, who is an intense competitor. He'll be a great addition to next year's squad." The other 7 recruits are: Mike Omicioli of West Warwick. Omicioli was Sheehan's teamate at La Salle before transferring to the Gunnery School in Washington, CT. I spoke to Coach Pooley at the Civic Center during the tournament and he was very pleased with Omicioli. He considers him an exciting skater, good stickhandler and a great shot. He described him as a Quenneville type player. Ben Stadey, a 6-foot 175 pound defensman from Boring, OR. He played for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. Stadey had his number retired in his last game for the Blackhawks. Pooley describes him as a "steady, solid defensive player, good skater, and fierce competitor." Scott Swanjord, 6-4, 210 pound goalie from Fairfax, VA. He last played with teh Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. Swanjord saved 84 of 87 shots in the longest game in USHL history last season. According to Pooley, "He's a goaltender who will challenge a shooter and has had much success in pressure situations." Mark Kane, 6-0, 175 pound goalie from St. Alberta, Alberta. He last played with the Estevan Bruins. Coach Pooley had mentioned that he was after two goaltenders and said he needed players that could jump right in. Junior Bob Bell is inelligible next season, leaving the Friars with backup Dan Dennis and walk-on Vinny Martino. Pooley considered Dennis to be too inconsistant for the starting role and said he had to go out and recruit a starting goaltender. According to Pooley, Kane is "a confident goalie who will challenge the shooter and should compete for the starting position next season. His puck-handling skills will make him a strong addition to our goaltending corps." Troy Lake, a 6-0, 190 pound left wind grom Edmonton, Alberta and the Kidersley Klippers. Pooley descriges him as "a power winger, a proven goal scorer, who scores and controls the puck." Jon Cameron, a 6-2, 178 pound right wing from Langley, British Columbia. He last played for the Notre Dame Hounds. Pooley expects Cameron to "have an impact down the road with his combination of good hands and strong instincts as a player." Jon Coe, a 5-11, 185 pound center from Anoka, MN. Coe is "a strong player, the type of guy you can use as a defensive center," according to Pooley. Overall, it sounds like an exciting recruiting class for the Friars. Providence lost three key players in Quenneville, Kramer, and Bell. Pooley's efforts have gone a long way to fill that void, looking for players that can step in and contribute from the onset. -- Ron