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Men's Ice Hockey
vs Simon Fraser (Exhibition)
Providence College Athletics
Men's Hockey To Open League Schedule Versus UMass
10/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 28, 2009
Providence Game Notes in PDF Format 
| | Live Audio
FRIARS OPEN HOCKEY EAST SCHEDULE... After playing five consecutive non-conference games to open the season, the Providence College hockey team will begin its Hockey East schedule on Friday, October 30 against the UMass Minutemen at Schneider Arena. The two teams will complete the weekend series on Saturday, October 31 in at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass.
FRIARS IN HOCKEY EAST OPENERS... The Friars are 12-11-2 all-time in Hockey East openers. Last season, the Friars opened the league schedule with a 4-0 home loss against Northeastern on October 17 at Schneider Arena. The only time that Providence College opened its Hockey East schedule against UMass was on October 29, 1994 when PC recorded a 5-4 victory at Schneider Arena. The last time the Friars won a league opener was on October 21, 2005 against UMass Lowell.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS... In 52 all-time meetings between Providence College and Massachusetts, the Friars lead, 30-19-3. The Minutemen captured the first two meetings between the two teams last season (9-4 on 10/31 and 5-1 on 11/1) before the Friars posted a 5-4 victory in the final meeting in Amherst on January 16. The Friars' last home win against the Minutemen was on January 18, 2008 (3-2).
FRIAR QUICK NOTES • Providence's 8-2 win over Bowling Green on October 23 marked the most goals that the Friars have scored in a game since December 4, 2007, when they scored eight against Brown University ... The Friars' two victories at Bowling Green marked the first time that PC swept a CCHA opponent since 2004 when they posted two wins at Lake Superior State ... The eight goals also marked the most goals in a road game since January 7, 2001 when they scored eight at Massachusetts ... The Friars (4-1) are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season ... Sophomore Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.) scored a career-high three goals in the 8-2 win on Friday. Bergland became the first PC player to record a hat trick since October 11, 2003 when Peter Zingoni accomplished the feat ... Freshman Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing, Minn.) scored two power-play goals in Friday night's win at Bowling Green marking the first goals on the man advantage for the Friars this season ... PC has allowed just eight goals this season and ranks fifth in the nation with a 1.60 goal against average ... Junior Jordan Kremyr (Cloverdale, B.C.) has four assists this season, which is the same number of assists he had in his first two seasons at Providence.
SCOUTING MASSACHUSETTS... The 17th-ranked Minutemen have started the season with three consecutive wins, including a 5-3 victory over Maine on Friday, October 23. In that game, James Marcou recorded one goal and three assists, while Paul Dainton stopped 26 shots to lead the way for the Minutemen. UMass also has posted home wins versus Boston University (10/16) and Rensselaer (10/8). Marcou leads the team in scoring with eight points (one goal, seven assists), while Matthew Irwin is second with six points (three goals, three assists). Dainton has played all three games for the Minutemen and has a 2.34 goals against average and .930 save percentage.
TIMELY SCORING... In three of their four victories this season, the Friars have scored late goals in the second and third period. The Friars scored with 1:18 left in the second period in their 2-1 victory over Holy Cross on October 10. On Thursday, October 15, PC posted a 3-2 win at No. 7 Notre Dame thanks to a goal with 3:46 left in the third period. The Friars also scored with 3:46 left in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and post a 3-1 triumph at Bowling Green on Saturday, October 24. In addition, Providence also has scored in the first five minutes of the opening period in three of its four wins.
BEAUDRY AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS... Sophomore goaltender Alex Beaudry (Cumberland. Ont.) comes into the weekend among the top-11 in the nation in two statistical categories. He ranks 11th with a 1.76 goals against average and 10th with a .939 save percentage. Beaudry has helped the Friar defense allow just eight goals in five games.
BERGLAND NAMED HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK... Matt Bergland was named Hockey East Player of the Week on October 26. It marks the first time in his career that Bergland has earned the honor. In addition, Aaron Jamnick and sophomore goaltender Justin Gates (Cranston, R.I.) were named to the weekly honor roll. Bergland scored a career-high three goals and added one assist in PC's 8-2 victory over Bowling Green on Friday, October 23. The following night, he assisted on the game-winning goal as the Friars defeated the Falcons, 3-1. Jamnick scored two power-play goals in the 8-2 victory on Friday and added two assists in Saturday's win. It marked the first power-play goals for the Friars this season. Gates matched his career high with 33 saves to lead the Friars to a 3-1 triumph over the Falcons on Saturday.
FRIARS IN CLOSE GAMES... Two of Providence College's four wins this season game been one-goal contests. PC edged Holy Cross, 2-1 on October 10 and Notre Dame, 3-2, on October 15. In addition, the Friars recorded a 3-1 win at Bowling Green on October 24. Last season, the Friars posted a 3-3 record in one-goal games.
FRIARS AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE FOES... The Friars have posted a 4-1 record in non-conference games this season, including a 3-1 mark against teams from the CCHA. Providence also defeated Atlantic Hockey foe, Holy Cross. The Friars also will play against Brown and Dartmouth from ECAC Hockey. Last season, the Friars posted a 3-4-0 record in non-league action.
FAMILY TIES... Providence College freshmen Chris Rooney (Canton, Mass.) and Alex Velischek (Kinnelon, N.J.) are sons of former Friar hockey greats. Rooney is the son of former Friar, Steve Rooney. Steve Rooney scored the game-winning goal as the Friars defeated Boston College, 2-1, in double overtime in the inaugural Hockey East championship game in 1985. Steve, who finished his collegiate career with 124 career points, went on to play in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens team that claimed the 1986 Stanley Cup title. Alex is the son of former Friar Randy Velischek, who is one of the best defensemen to play at the College. He was named ECAC Player of the year in and 1982-83 earned All-America honors. Randy, who helped the Friars to the 1981 ECAC championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances (1981, 1983), played 10 seasons in the NHL (509 games). He played for Minnesota, New Jersey and Quebec.
FROM THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES TO THE OCEAN STATE... The 2009-10 Friar squad has six players from Minnesota, more than any other state or province. Last season, Matt Bergland (Faribault) and Rob Maloney (Eagan) were the representatives on the squad from Minnesota. In addition, David Brown (Centennial, Colo.) played high school hockey in Minnesota. This season, the team will have four more players from the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." They are: Willie Hess (Lino Lakes), Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing), Tyler Landman (Roseau) and Billy Simon (Burnsville).
FRIARS DRAFTED BY NHL TEAMS... This year's PC team features two players who were selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Senior Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) was chosen in the fifth round, 155th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2005 draft. Freshman Alex Velischek (Kinnelon, N.J.) was selected in the fifth round, 123rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
OCEAN STATE CONNECTION... The 2009-10 men's hockey team has a strong contingent of Rhode Islanders. In addition to four players, Head Coach Tim Army (East Providence) and Assistant Coach David Berard (Coventry) also hail from the Ocean State. The Rhode Islanders on this season's team are: seniors David Cavanagh (Warwick) and John Cavanagh (Warwick), junior Eric Baier (North Kingstown) and sophomore Justin Gates (Cranston).
FRIAR ALUMNI UPDATE... Two Providence College alumni are currently playing in the NHL. Fernando Pisani `00 is playing for the Edmonton Oilers, while Hal Gill `97, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup title, is currently skating with the Montreal Canadiens. In addition, there are two former Friars who will play an integral part on U.S.A. men's hockey team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Brian Burke `77, who is the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, will serve as the general manager of Team U.S.A. Ron Wilson `77, the head coach of the Maple Leafs, will be the head coach of Team U.S.A. Lou Lamoriello `63, former student-athlete, head coach and athletic director at PC, is the current President and General Manager of the New Jersey Devils. Lamoriello will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fall on November 9, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario.
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