Athlete of the Week

by Flagg Taylor ’27 on September 18, 2025

Athlete of the Week

Roger McQueen ’29

On June 27, Roger McQueen ’29 was drafted tenth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL draft. Entering his freshman season for the Friars, McQueen is the first top 10 draft pick in the program’s history, and only the sixth first round pick in program history. Standing tall at six feet six inches, McQueen will play center and wear the number 29. Weighing just around 200 pounds, his size makes this righty center an imposing and dominant presence on the ice. McQueen joins the Friars among many other freshman and transfer signings after an impressive recruiting offseason by coach Nate Leaman and his staff. However, McQueen stands out from the rest as a historic signing for Leaman and Friars hockey.

McQueen was born on Oct. 2, 2006 and grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a town in central Canada. McQueen was raised in a hockey household and looked up to his father, Scott McQueen, a former hockey player. At the age of two, McQueen began skating at the local river rink in his hometown. At the age of four he picked up a hockey stick and began playing at the river rink, honing his skills to eventually become an NHL star.

At an impressively young age of 15, McQueen signed with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2021. The Wheat Kings play in the Western Hockey League, a junior hockey league with teams based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League, the highest level of junior hockey in Canada. McQueen’s father Scott also played in the WHL. McQueen’s admiration for his father made playing in the WHL one of his first major goals. During McQueen’s rookie season in 2022–23, he scored four goals and 10 assists. McQueen’s breakout was the 2023–24 season where he recorded a staggering 21 goals and 30 assists in 53 regular season games. After an injury at the tail end of the season, he returned to lead his team in scoring in the playoffs with four goals. In McQueen’s last season with the Wheat Kings (2024–25), he scored four goals in the debut of the season. He continued on with 11 goals and assists before having a season ending injury after only eight games.

McQueen has been selected to represent Canadian Hockey on multiple occasions. McQueen won a gold medal in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he scored four goals and recorded three assists in five games. McQueen also won gold with Canada a second time, representing his country in the 2024 U18 world championship. McQueen’s stellar young career was guaranteed to be noticed by coaches in all NCAA division one and NHL locker rooms. McQueen was slotted in at No. 8 in the pre-NHL draft NHL Central Scouting final rankings. McQueen is scary fast on skates while standing at 6’6” with an enormous wingspan. His impressive physical attributes combined with his passing and playmaking allow him to control the game with ease and composure. He is an electric talent to watch.

Every student at the school should be excited to see McQueen play hockey this season. He will join the team with former Wheat Kings teammate, Quinn Mantei ’29. McQueen also played with Hudson Malinoski ’27 in the 2021–22 season with the Saskatoon Blazers. The hype around McQueen is well deserved and he will make an immediate impact on the roster and on the ice. Although McQueen is expected to sign with the Anaheim Ducks directly following the 2025–26 season, in one year’s time McQueen could very well leave his mark as one of the greatest Friars to play hockey at Providence College.

Sports Shorts

by The Cowl Editor on September 3, 2021

Sports

Men’s Soccer

The Providence College Men’s Soccer team took on Saint Peter’s University at Chapey Field Sunday, Aug. 29, to improve their record to 2-0-0. Providence College beat Saint Peter’s with a final score of 6-2. Davis Smith ’21GS and Thomas Tuglar ’25 each had a goal and an assist. Miguel Candela ’21 and Brendan McSorely ’24 also each had goals in the match. For the first time since 2011, the Friars scored six goals. The last time was against Seton Hall University.

Women’s Soccer

The Providence College Women’s Soccer team shut out Sacred Heart University on Aug. 25 with a score of 4-0. Fifth-year Amber Birchwell scored early for the Friars. Shortly after, Maria Paveglio ’25 scored her first career goal to make it 2-0. In the second half, Angie Suaza ’23 scored her first career goal, followed by a goal by Kyla Gallagher ’24. Emma Bodmer ’24 earned her first career shutout in net for the Friars. Providence College travels to Piscataway, NJ to take on Rutgers University Sunday, Aug. 29.

Field Hockey

The Providence College Field Hockey Team faced Bryant University on Friday, Aug. 27. The Providence Friars bested the Bryant Bulldogs beating them 4-0. Goals were scored in the first, second, and third quarters by Olivia Ward ’21GS, Roose Michiels ’24, and CeliaPreveza ’25. Sunday Aug. 29, the Friars took on Boston University. Providence beat Boston with a score of 2-1. Ward scored early in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter Niamh Gowing ’21 scored to give the Friars the lead back. Sophomore goalkeeper Asia Porter had an impressive second quarter making four saves in the frame.

Women’s Volleyball

The Providence College Women’s Volleyball team took on Iona College Aug. 28. The Friars took down Iona winning the match 3 sets to 1. In set on Allison Barber ’21GS led the Friars with 13 assists while Maryanne Boyle ’24 and Shaliyah Rhoden ’25 led the set with fourkills apiece. Iona took the second set of the match, but the Friars would come back to win the third and fourth sets. Barber shined in the third set as well with 10 assists and five digs. In the fourth set, Providence led for the majority. Rhoden recorded seven kills on 10 total attacks, and Barber added 15 assists, while leading the team with seven digs.