Tag: Jack Belanger ’21
Friars in the Pros
by The Cowl Editor on November 30, 2017
Professional Sports
As Providence College athletics are Divison I, the Friars have seen many of their athletes go on to play professionally in their respective sports. Three writers gave updates on Friars who play on professional soccer, hockey, and basketball teams.
Basketball
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
With their recent success in the Big East, Providence has seen multiple Friars appear in the National Basketball Association and other professional basketball leagues.
Marshon Brooks ’11 played four seasons at PC from 2007-2011, averaging 24.6 points per game (ppg) his senior year. He was the 25th pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics but was immediately traded to the Brooklyn Nets. After a promising rookie year where he averaged 12.6 ppg and was named to the NBA all-rookie second team, Brooks saw his playing time decreased dramatically and struggled to find a consistent role in the NBA. After the 2013-2014 season he signed with Emporio Armani Milano, an Italian basketball team.
Ben Bentil ’18 played only two seasons for the Friars. Bentil broke out his sophomore year in 2015-2016, averaging 21.1 ppg and 7.7 rebounds per game. He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.
After playing in three preseason games, Boston waived Bentil and he spent most of the year in the NBA D-league, the NBA’s minor league. Bentil managed to make his NBA debut for the Dallas Mavericks on Mar. 1 and became the first person born in Ghana to play in the NBA. Bentil currently plays for the Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket in the Ligue de Nationale de Basket in France where he is averaging 12.4 ppg.
Kris Dunn ’16 is one of the best players to come out from Providence College in a long time. Dunn played four seasons for PC (2012-2016), averaging 12.8 ppg and 5.8 assists per game, and was named the Big East Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. Dunn was the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. After playing limited minutes during his rookie year, Dunn was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he has broken out, averaging 10.6 ppg and has become the team’s starting point guard through 18 games.
Hockey
By Jeremy Perrigo ’18
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team has produced many professional athletes over the last several years. The Friars won the National Championship in 2015, and that roster contained four players that have already seen National Hockey League ice time.
Forwards Noel Acciari ’16, Mark Jankowski ’16, Brandon Tanev ’16 and goaltender Jon Gillies ’16 were part of the high-caliber roster.
Acciari had 32 points in 41 games during the Friar’s championship run, and on June 8, 2015, the undrafted forward signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. Acciari, a Johnston, Rhode Island native, has seven points in 57 games with Boston as of Nov. 26.
Jankowski played his senior year at PC, scoring 40 points in 38 games, an improvement from 27 in 37 during the championship season. Jankowski was drafted 21st overall by the Calgary Flames in 2012 and has three goals and an assist in 16 games.
Tanev was signed by the Winnipeg Jets in March 2016 and has eight points in 76 games with the team as of this past Sunday.
Gillies was drafted 75th overall by Calgary in 2012. He had a goals against average of 2.01 and save percentage of .930 in the Friars’ championship year.
Other notable alumni are current Providence Bruins head coach Jay Leach ’01 and long time NHLer Hal Gill ’97. Both were defensemen; Leach played 70 career NHL games while Gill amassed an impressive 1,108.
Perhaps one of the best-known Friars is long time Men’s Hockey head coach and athletic director Lou Lamoriello ‘63. A native of Johnston, Rhode Island, Lamoriello had a lengthy career in Friar athletics before winning three Stanley Cups as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils from 1987-2015. He is currently general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Soccer
By Joe Myko ’19
Sports Staff
The most recent Providence College alumnus to break into the world of professional soccer is Atlanta United’s Julian Gressel ’16 who was named Major League Soccer’s AT&T Rookie of the Year in November, after scoring an impressive five goals with nine assists in his debut season. The German-born midfielder is ranked third in the college’s all-time list of goal scorers, having netted 30 times for the Friars, and comes in at second for career assists with 26.
Ryan Maduro ’09 is another former Friar who has followed up his time at college with a successful career in soccer. The attacking midfielder scored 14 and assisted 22 goals during his time at Providence, before going on to sign with various clubs, including Iceland’s first division side Flykir and MLS’s New York Red Bulls, who he made his professional debut for in 2012.
Once former Friar Chaka Daley ’96 hung up his cleats in 1999, after having played for various professional sides including the MLS’s New England Revolution, he decided to return to PC to take up a coaching role enjoying a successful 11 years as manager from 2000-2011.
Midfielder Andrew Sousa ’10 was drafted by MLS’s side New England Revolution in 2011, before going on to enjoy an extensive career thus far, most notably at the likes of Portugal’s Operário (third division), Iceland’s Fylkir (first division), and Canada’s Ottawa Fury (who operate in the second division of the North American soccer leagues).
Chris Konopka ’06 has enjoyed a successful and wide-spread career since leaving Providence, having signed with various professional outfits including MLS’s Sporting Kansas City, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC and Portland Timbers as well as the Scottish Premiership’s Ross County. Konopka played 21 times for Toronto FC between 2013-15, becoming an integral part of the club’s first playoff appearance in club history in 2015. The New Jersey native also holds records with Toronto FC for the most regular season game wins with 11, as well as the best single-season win percentage for any goalkeeper in the club’s history with 59.5 percent.
Patriots Mid-Season Review
by The Cowl Editor on November 9, 2017
Professional Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
With the conclusion of Week 9, the NFL season is officially past the halfway point, and the Patriots are once again in first place in the AFC East at 6-2, though the team has not consistently performed to the expectations coming into the season. Here is a review of the season so far.
Defense:
The first four games for the defense were rough. The Patriots gave up more than 33 or more points in each of their first four games. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was the big name signing for the defense this off season and it was expected he would be a lock-down defender along with cornerback Malcolm Butler. So far, however, Gilmore has suffered miscommunications that have led to giving up multiple big plays.
Injuries have also been a big issue for the defense. Gilmore has missed a couple games with a concussion and an ankle injury. Linebacker Shea McClellin was initially on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, and now top linebacker Dont’a Hightower is out for the year with a torn pectoral muscle.
Through all the injuries and underperformances, defensive end Trey Flowers has been the MVP for this unit as he is tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5 and leads the team with tackles for a loss with four. With Hightower out, he and LB Kyle Van Noy are the anchors for the front-seven.
While the defense has improved in the last two games by only giving up a combined 20 points, overall this season the Patriots have given up the most yards per game with 417. The defense seems to be improving, and a favorable upcoming schedule with two of the next three games against weak offenses in Denver and Miami should help this unit make some strides.
Offense:
While it seems obvious, Tom Brady has been the reason this team is in first place in the division. While he looked mortal in the season opener (267 passing yards, 0 touchdowns), Brady has put his team in a position to win in every other game so far this year. He currently leads the NFL in passing yards with 2,541 and has 16 touchdown passes to only two interceptions.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski, has been healthy this season and has been Brady’s favorite target, leading the team in touchdown catches with five and second on the team in receptions with 34. New pickup Brandin Cooks has given Brady the deep target he has been missing leading the team in receiving yards with 563.
The one cause for concern for the offense is Brady’s protection. Brady has been sacked 21 times already (compared to 15 all of last year) and while Brady has been healthy so far, his 40-year-old body can take only so much punishment by the time the playoffs roll around.
Astros Win!
by The Cowl Editor on November 9, 2017
Professional Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
By winning Game 7 on Nov. 1, the Houston Astros officially won the 2017 World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston scored five runs in the first two innings off of Los Angeles starter Yu Darvish, to put the Astros ahead early and take the life out of the crowd.
The Dodgers threatened to score multiple times throughout the game, but left 10 men on base and would only score one run.
The Astros dominated all nine innings and won the game 5-1. Outfielder George Springer was named World Series MVP. He tied a series record by hitting five home runs and set a record for extra-base hits with eight and total bases with 29.
This is Houston’s first World Series title in team history, dating back to 1962 when they were known as the Houston Colt .45’s.
Since 2013 when they lost 111 games, the Astros have been improving every season to the point of winning 101 games this year.
A World Series to Remember
by The Cowl Editor on November 3, 2017
Professional Sports
By Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Co-Editor
What a series it has been. Every game in this World Series was a hard fought battle; neither team got blownout. The Dodgers and Astros won over 100 games this year and couldn’t have been more evenly matched. The teams have three Cy Young Award winners in Clayton Kershaw, Dallas Keuchel, and Justin Verlander. Neither team lacked any firepower as 14 different players hit at least one home run, and through five games the teams combined to hit 22 home runs which set a new World Series record.
In Game One, we saw Kershaw and Keuchel square off. Kershaw managed to put on one of the better pitching performances in recent years as he went seven innings only allowing one run on three hits, while striking out 11 Astros. Keuchel also seemed to be cruising, allowing one run through the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Dodger Justin Turner hit the go-ahead two run home run to give LA a 3-1 lead which they would hold onto.
Game Two foreshadowed the late game theatrics we would see later in the series. This game featured eight home runs, including five in extra innings. Down 3-2 in the ninth inning, Houston left fielder Marwin Gonzalez hit a solo shot to tie the game. Houston then took a 5-3 lead in the top of the tenth with home runs from Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. In the bottom of the tenth it was the Dodgers’ turn to rally as they tied the game with a home run from Yasiel Puig and a RBI single from Kike Hernandez. Houston finally took the lead for good in the 11th on a two-run homer from center fielder George Springer, making the lead 7-5.
Game Three did not feature any late game drama as Houston grabbed four runs early in the second inning off starter Yu Darvish, with a home run from Yuli Gurriel and RBI singles from Gonzalez and catcher Brian McCann. The Dodger close the gap with runs in the sixth but couldn’t gain any more ground on Houston.
Game Four saw the Dodgers rally for five runs, after a 1-1 tie, in the ninth inning off closer Ken Giles, to tie the series at two games apiece. Dodger Joc Pederson hit the dagger, with a three-run shot to make the game 6-1, and eventually tying the series at two games apiece.
Nobody could have expected how Game Five turned out. With Kershaw and Keuchel squaring off again, no one could have imagined the firepower that would be on display. The wild game featured seven home runs, three ties, and four lead changes. The Dodgers managed to grab a 4-0 lead but the Astros rallied to tie it in the fourth inning on a three-run shot from Gurriel. In the fifth, each team traded three-run home runs to make the score 7-7. In the seventh inning, the Astros managed to make it 11-8, but the Dodgers were not out yet. Down 12-11 in the top of the ninth inning with a guy on third and two outs, Dodger Chris Taylor hit a game-tying single to keep LA’s hopes alive and send the game into extra innings. Then, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Houston put the game to rest when Alex Bregman hit a walk-off single as Derek Fisher scored all the way from second base.
In game six, Verlander looked to seal Houston’s first ever World Series title, and through five innings that is what it looked like. Going into the sixth up 1-0, Verlander allowed the first two LA batters reach base. Then Taylor hit a double to tie the game. Seager hit a sacrifice fly to put the Dodgers up 2-1. Joc Pederson hit a homer in the 7th to make it 3-1 and the bullpen for LA was able to shut down the Astros to force a game seven.
Why the Packers are America’s Team
by The Cowl Editor on October 7, 2017
Professional Sports
by Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Staff
I wish I could proclaim the Patriots as “America’s Team,” but most of the country would be quick to disagree. While the Pats have been the best team recently, outside of New England they are probably one of the most disliked teams.
Being “America’s Team” is more than just being the best, you also have to have fans from all around the U.S. root for you at some point, while having a consistently strong home fan-base. The Green Bay Packers edge out the Pats because, unless you are a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, nobody really hates the Pack nor consistently roots for them to lose.
Green Bay fits the bill as “America’s Team” for a variety of reasons that help them edge out all the other 31 teams from the product on the field to the attention off it.
First, the Packers have consistently been one of the best teams on the field in recent years, making the playoffs for the past eight seasons while winning a Super Bowl during that run. Being one of the best teams in the league is key to be a favorite since nobody wants to root for a perennial loser (sorry, Cleveland).
But they also have not had a dynasty where people are hoping they lose. Behind the success is Aaron Rodgers, one of the most exciting players to watch with his ability to pull off a big play when needed.
Off the field, one of the more likeable features about Green Bay is they are publicly owned by many stockholders and are run by a board of directors. This means the team does not have to worry about a single owner who is the face of the franchise (i.e. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys).
Green Bay has one of the strongest fan bases in the league despite being one of the smallest markets. Deflated balls or not, the Packers have not been accused of cheating, leaving no room for people to question their success.
While the greatest quarterback and coach may very well reside in Foxboro, it’s hard to portray anyone in Green Bay as a villain in the league.
Why the Nashville Predators will Win the Stanley Cup
by The Cowl Editor on September 28, 2017
PCI
by Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Staff
There was a buzz like no other down in Tennessee last year when the eighth-seeded Predators made a memorable run all the way to game six in the Finals. While the team was not flashy on paper, “Smashville” was led by a strong, physical core on defense and spectacular goal-tending from Pekka Rinne.
With the majority of the team’s core returning plus some new additions, the Preds will be hungry to get back to the finals.
While Nashville’s defense gets most of the glory, their top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Viktor Arvidsson is as good of a first-line as you can find. With all three in their prime, you can expect around 55+ points from each.
To counteract the loss of Mike Fisher, the Predators signed Nick Bonino from Pittsburgh to give the team a veteran presence on the second line. They will be relying on young players like Colton Sissons and Pontus Aberg to continue their strong postseason play to give the team scoring options on the second and third lines.
Nashville’s defense will be the reason they win the title this year. While offensive-minded Ryan Ellis is out for six months, P.K. Subban and Roman Josi will anchor the defense.
Once Ellis comes back, the defense could look better than last year as the team added a physical player in Alexei Emelin, who will be strong fifth defender. Rinne proved he was an elite goaltender last year in the playoffs and will have a strong year as he has showed no signs of slowing down.
While teams like the Oilers, Blackhawks, and Ducks have stronger forward lines than Nashville, nobody can match-up with their defense. Their offense will be able to produce winning numbers while Rinne will make sure they have a chance to win every game.
If the Predators play to the potential we all saw last year, look for Smashville to be raising the Stanley Cup come June.
Field Hockey Bursts Into Big East Play
by The Cowl Editor on September 21, 2017
Friar Sports
photo courtesy of Kara Sanford ’20
by Jack Belanger ’21
Sports Staff
The Providence College Women’s Field Hockey Team had an eventful week. The team began Big East play against Temple University Friday night, then took the University of California-Davis, a team that traeled all the way from the west coast to play in Rhode Island. The Friars took both games, scoring nine goals over the two games and holding their oponents to two goals each.
Friday night marked the begining of Big East play for the Friars as they took on a Temple team that was 1-4 coming into the game. Allyson Parer ’20 got things started for PC as she scored the first goal of the game off a penalty corner shot that was assisted by Mary O’Reilly ’20 and Maddie Babineau ’21.
Temple responded with two goals of their own and took a 2-1 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Frars took control of the game, scoring three unanswered goals. Megan Hamilton ’18 tied the game for the Friars early in the second half on a tip-in shot from Manon van Weezel ’21.
With less than 20 minutes left to go in the game, Izzy Mendez ’20 gave the Friars the lead for good with a deflection off a pass from Babineau. This marked Mendez’s first career goal for the Friars. Later in the game, Babineau gave PC some insurance with her own goal, scoring three points (one goal, two assists), giving the Friars a 4-2 lead which they would hold on to.
Turning the page to Sunday morning, PC played a 1-6 UC Davis team that was looking to steal a win from the Friars. Those hopes were put to the test early on. Van Weezel scored her first goal of the season off a corner with assists from O’Reilly and Natalie Mitchell ’19. Mikayla Michals ’19 would give the Friars a 2-0 lead going into halftime off a pass from Mendez.
UC Davis showed some fight as they scored the first goal in the second half to cut the lead to 2-1. Mendez and van Weezel responded with each of their own goals to put the game out of reach at 4-1.
Each team would score another goal in the final minutes including a goal from O’Reilly from a corner penalty after the clock had already expired. Goalkeeper Megan Guilbert ’18 had a solid game in goal, coming up with several key saves when UC Davis started to amp up the pressure, keeping the game just out of reach for the visitors.
With the two wins this weekend, the Friars improved their record to 5-3 (1-0 in the Big East), while gaining some momentum as they start to settle into their Big East play.
PC will have a full week of practice as they don’t play until Sept. 22 ,when they go on the road to take on Villanova (1-6, 0-1 in Big East), then take on undefeated University of Connecticut in Storrs on Sept. 29. These are two big games for PC as a matchup against Nova is always big and UCONN will likely be a tight game.