Tag: Men’s ice hockey
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
Friar Sports
By Scott Jarosz ’21
Sports Staff
Men’s Hockey Update:
On the weekend of Oct. 18, the Providence College Men’s Hockey Team traveled to New York to take on St. Lawrence University on Friday and Clarkson University on Saturday. PC started the weekend off strong with a 6-0 win over SLU. Parker Ford ‘23 led the way for PC with two goals in the blowout win.
PC carried their momentum into its contest at CU, beating the home team with a score of 4-2. Tyce Thompson ‘22 powered the Friars with two goals. On Oct. 25, PC traveled to Chestnut Hill to face Boston College and beat the Eagles 6-2. There were six different goal-scorers for PC in the game. PC returned home to play the University of Massachusetts-Lowell the following day and would ultimately lose to the visiting team 3-2 in overtime. Thompson and Patrick Moynihan ’23 scored the goals.
Men’s Soccer Update:
The Providence College Men’s Soccer Team kicked off a three-game week on Oct. 19 at DePaul University. The Friars fell to the Blue Demons 2-0, but would bounce back when they traveled to play Villanova University the following Wednesday. PC beat the home team 2-0 with goals by Danny Griffin ’20 and Paulo Lima ‘22.
Following their win on the road, PC returned home to host Creighton University. The Bluejays scored the first goal of the game early on, but PC answered with goals by Christopher Roman ’22 and Davis Smith ’21. CU equalized the game late in the second half to force overtime, but Lima scored a golden goal stunner to win the game for the Friars in overtime.
Field Hockey Update:
The Providence College Field Hockey Team recently earned the No. 25 spot in the NFHCA Division 1 Coaches’ Poll, and its recent performance proves it is deserving of this ranking. On Oct. 18, PC beat Quinnipiac University in a 3-2 shootout win. PC hosted Merrimack two days later and beat the visitors 5-1. Olivia Ward ’21 led the scoring for the team with two goals.
PC then hosted Georgetown University on Oct. 25 and beat the Hoyas 2-0. Goals were scored by Mary O’Reilly ’20 and Amanda Collins ’22. The Friars looked to carry this momentum into its Oct. 27 Senior Day game against Rider University. PC fought out a 1-0 victory in the game thanks to a goal by O’Reilly. The team now looks forward to its next game on Nov. 1 at No. 17 Liberty University.
PCI: Which Winter Sports Team Will Have The Best Season?
by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019
PCI
Men’s Ice Hockey
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
Another winter is approaching and luckily at Providence College that means it is finally basketball and hockey season. Although both the teams have been preparing during preseason, the PC men’s ice hockey team is looking like they will have the most successful season.
After just a few short weeks, the PC men’s team has a record of 4-2, 2-1 in conference play. The difficulty of their schedule from the start foreshadows a strong season as the Friars have already faced Hockey East rivals University of Maine, Boston College and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Their two wins against UMaine and BC were not close games, as the Friars managed to score a combined 13 goals against these two teams, proving that the team does not have trouble finding the back of the net.
A good team has a superstar, but a great team has talent spread through the second and third lines. This year, the Friars have already introduced multiple players that can pass the puck well and score when the team needs it. The underclassmen have proven to be an important asset to the Friars’ team as well. Starting with the freshmen, Cam McDonald ’23 netted the game winning goal against no. 10/9 Clarkson as well as scoring again against Boston College the following week. Michael Callahan ’22, Jack Dugan ’22, Matt Koopman ’22, and Tyce Thompson ’22 are four sophomores who have tallied multiple points since the season started. Dugan was awarded Hockey East player of the week after leading the conference in points (5) and assists (4).
The upperclassmen bring the experience aspect to this year’s squad. Last year, the Friars made it to the Frozen Four in the NCAA tournament. The team fell short to Minnesota Duluth, the No. 1 seed after a long, impressive season. This was the Friars sixth season appearing in the NCAA Tournament and this year should be no exception.
The Northeastern University Huskies came up on top in the Hockey East Tournament in 2019, this year the Friars will want to beat the reigning champions. Boston College was the team that knocked PC out of the Hockey East running last year. The Eagles won the series 2-1. This past week the Friars beat Boston College 6-2, showing a glimpse of a promising season from PC.
There is no doubt the Friars will be tested this season, but their revenge tour might just give them the push they need to make it even further this year. Nate Leaman enters his ninth season as head coach for the Friars, and since it has been several years since his 2015 National Championship title, he is ready for another one.
Men’s Basketball
By Joseph Quirk ’23
Sports Staff
As October draws to a close, we are reminded just how close winter is. Winter is an especially exciting time in Friartown as some of Providence College’s best sports open their seasons and begin their quest for NCAA glory. However, of all of the winter sports, men’s basketball will have the best season this year.
Arguments can be made for a couple of different teams here as several are coming off successful seasons. In reality however, all eyes are on two squads, the men’s hockey and basketball teams.
Men’s ice hockey, lead by Nate Leaman for the ninth season, is five years removed from a national championship and one year removed from a Frozen Four appearance. The squad was ranked No. 7 in the nation before Saturday’s loss to University of Massachusetts-Lowell and boasts a young roster with six players currently having their draft rights owned by NHL teams. All this being said, men’s ice hockey will not be the most successful team on campus this winter.
Something is brewing in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and will be the big NCAA tournament run the Friars men’s basketball team has been expecting for some time now. The Friars will be led by ninth-year Head Coach Ed Cooley. Cooley returns after several rumors this offseason of him being considered a favorite for the Michigan coaching position, but ultimately withdrawing his name and signing an extension with PC. That was followed up with some big offseason acquisitions including University of Massachusetts-Amherst star graduate transfer Luwane Pipkins ’19G, transfers Noah Horchler ’20 and Jared Bynum ’22, and Greg Gantt ’23.
The Friars also expect a jump and improvement from David Duke ’22, Kris Monroe ’22 and AJ Reeves ’22. The Friars are also returning star center Nate Watson ’21 and seniors Maliek White ’20, Kalif Young ’20, and Alpha Diallo ’20, who even tested NBA waters this offseason.
This new Friars roster is filled with experience and new talent and has potential to far surpass last year’s team. Gantt was a four-star recruit and ranked no. 67 in the nation before joining the Friars. Diallo was considered an NBA prospect but has decided to keep his talent in Rhode Island. Pipkins is a very experienced and talented guard who scores with ease and is expected to start for PC this year. It would be wrong to assume this is not the best team on campus this winter.
Sports Shorts
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Friar Sports
By Eileen Flynn ’20
Sports Staff
Volleyball Update:
The volleyball team welcomed two Big East rivals, Butler University and Xavier University this past weekend. After two weekends on the road, the Friars faced Xavier on their home court. After losing the first set, the Friars fought back to win the second set 25-21. The Musketeers finished strong and took the next two sets to win the match. A similar pattern unfolded on Sunday for their next match-up against Butler. Despite battling to win the second set, the Friars fell 4-1. Addison Root ’20 fought hard against her opponents, hitting her 1000th career kill along with her seventh double-double of the season.
Men’s Soccer Update:
The Friars defeated Marquette University, 2-0, on Oct. 12. Esben Wolf ’23 scored his first career goal. His performance led him to be named Big East Freshman of the Week. The Friars traveled to DePaul University on Oct. 19. Despite outshooting the Blue Demons 15-7, the Friars fell 2-0. On Oct. 23, the Friars were victorious in Big East match-up against Villanova University with a score of 2-0. The Friars will head back home to welcome yet another Big East matchup against Creighton University.
Women’s Soccer Update:
Women’s soccer has an impressive current 8-5-2 record overall, 3-2-1 in the Big East. After drawing a tie against rival DePaul, the Friars faced Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier had possession for most of the game, testing goalkeeper Shelby Hogan ’20RS 22 times. Xavier finessed two goals to finish the game on top of the Friars 2-0. Turning it around in the next match-up, PC came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Creighton 2-1. The Friars dominated the second half, starting from the back with Hogan all the way to the top with Hannah McNulty ’21 who scored both goals for the Friars.
Men’s Hockey Update:
The Friars ventured to Upstate New York for a weekend of hockey against St. Lawrence University and No. 10/9 Clarkson University. The Friars found the back of the net six different times in the first matchup against St. Lawrence. Parker Ford ’23 scored twice, while Patrick Moynihan ’23 got his first collegiate goal. The momentum continued into their second game against Clarkson, which ended in another victory for the Friars. Tyce Thompson ’22 scored twice for the Friars to make the score 2-1 before the end of the first period. Trailing the whole game, Clarkson made the score 3-2 in the third period, only for Ford to respond with a goal for the Friars. Providence left the weekend with two more wins as their season starts to pick up over the next couple of weeks.
Saying Goodbye to Friartown
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
Friar Sports
Hockey and Basketball Players Sign Pro-Contracts
By Meaghan Cahill ’20
Sports Co-Editor
There will be noticeable absences on the rosters of both the men’s basketball and hockey teams next year. Asides from the six graduating seniors on the hockey team and two seniors on the basketball team, hockey players Josh Wilkins ’20, Brandon Duhaime ’20, Jacob Bryson ’20, and Jay O’Brien ’22 alongside basketball player Alpha Diallo ’20 have all decided to pursue a professional career in their respective sports.
Bryson was the first player to announce his decision to cut ties with his college eligibility when, on April 15 he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Having completed three full seasons with the Friars, the tri-captain of the hockey team recently earned Second Team Hockey East All-Star honors after a successful junior season that consisted of four goals and 24 assists (28 points total) in 42 games.
A 2017 fourth round draft pick (99th overall), Bryson has completed 121 games total with the Friars and notched 73 points during that time. He also was a two-time recipient of Hockey East’s Len Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award.
In place of completing both his junior and senior years at Providence College, Bryson will compete at an amateur tryout with AHL Rochester before his contract kicks in at the start of the 2019-2020 season.
Duhaime, like Bryson, also finalized an entry-level contract that will conclude his college eligibility. The fourth round, 106th overall 2016 draft pick was selected by the Minnesota Wild and will be playing for their AHL team, the Iowa Wild, on an Amateur Tryout Agreement. He dressed in 117 games as a Friar and during the course of three years, he totaled 22 goals, 50 assists, and a plus-18 rating.
Along with the April 16 announcement that he would not be continuing his career as a Friar, Duhaime made sure to thank the entire PC community, especially his coaches and teammates, for an “incredible” three years saying, “The memories made at Providence College were some that I will never forget.”
The last Friar who has decided to pursue a professional career is Josh Wilkins ’20, who signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.
“Been a crazy few days but I’m excited to sign my first NHL contract,” he announced on social media. “Thank you Friars hockey for an incredible three years.”
Wilkins posted 46 points (20 goals and 26 assists) this past season; this is the best offensive season a Friar has had in over 15 seasons. He is not just the only 20-goal scorer since 2002-2003, but Wilkins is also the 54th hockey player to reach the 100-point milestone (he totaled 108 points over the course of three seasons).
And finally, rounding out the members of the hockey team who will not be returning next year is O’Brien. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect has decided to leave the College after what he described as a “tough” year in terms of injuries and playing style. Wanting to “play more games” and “have fun playing hockey again,” O’Brien commented that he will be looking to play in either the United States Hockey League, the Canadian major junior level, or the British Columbia Hockey League to “get back on track.”
It may be the end of their career as Friars for Bryson, Duhaime, Wilkins, and O’Brien, but for basketball player Diallo, coming back for his senior season will still be an option if things do not pan out the way that he wants in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Diallo announced on April 16 that he will submit an application to be an early entrant, which means that he will have the opportunity to withdraw his name by May 29 and come back to PC for his senior year.
In an official statement announcing his intentions, Diallo said, “I am excited to go through the workout process. I believe this process will help me grow as a player. I enjoy being at Providence College and playing for the Friars. The Friars have a strong group of players returning next season, and I believe the team could compete for a conference championship.”
Named to the Second Team All-Big East, Diallo put up 1,155 career points in 99 games with the College; he ranks 33rd all-time in scoring for the College.
Head Coach Ed Cooley commented on Diallo’s decision saying that “this process will enable him to gain knowledge and experience about the potential for his future in professional basketball.”
With the exception of O’Brien, all four players will be joining a group of very successful Friars in the big leagues. Most noticeably, for hockey, is former Friar Noel Acciari ’15, who is currently playing with the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a key part of their third line. A member of the 2015 National Championship Team, the style of play that Acciari developed at PC is what makes his NHL career so successful today.
According to Head Coach Nate Leaman, “[Acciari] takes the puck to the net hard, stays on the rebound and scores. That’s Friar hockey. That’s why Noelly’s out there.”
And while Acciari may be the most notable recent PC alum in the NHL, Bryson, Duhaime, and Wilkins can also be added to a list that contains some NHL greats such as Hal Gill, Fernando Pisani, and Chris Therien.
In Diallo’s case, should he chose to keep his name entered in the draft, he will be joining a long list of former Friar players who have gone pro, as well as current pro-player Kris Dunn, who graduated in 2016 and is now playing with the Chicago Bulls after being picked fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dunn most notably scored a season-high 26 points—eight of which were in overtime—and had 13 assists in a 126-120 overtime win against the Washington Wizards on March 20.
On the former basketball player, PC Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said, “He plays both ends of the court at an elite level all the time. Usually people are good at one or two things. He can rebound, he can pass.” All of which are skills that he was able to develop and grow during his four years at PC.
In addition to former Friars making it big in both the NHL and NBA, PC can also boast that their athletes from all sports are having great success in their professional careers. Tate Boyce ’19 just signed with the Boston Cannons after they drafted him in the first ever Premier Lacrosse League Collegiate Draft. Also, former cross-country and track runner, Emily Sisson ’14 just became the sixth-fastest American in history on a record eligible course after finishing the London Marathon with a time of 2:23:08.
PC has a legacy of producing top-notch athletes who go on to have great careers in their chosen sport and while Wilkins, Duhaime, Bryson, and Diallo are only just taking the first steps to further their professional career, the College most certainly wishes them the best as they set out to make a name for themselves outside of a college setting.
What Was the Top PC Sports Moment of the Year?
by The Cowl Editor on May 2, 2019
PCI
Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Run
By Sullivan Burgess ’20
Sports Staff
On March 31 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, the Providence College Men’s Ice Hockey Team defeated Cornell University 4-0, punching their ticket into the NCAA’s Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four Tournament.
This would be the team’s second time in the Frozen Four in the last four years, and second appearance for Coach Nate Leaman and his Friars. This has also been the team’s sixth appearance in the tournament.
This moment not only brought excitement into the locker room, but also created buzz among students on campus ranging from freshmen to seniors. A moment such as this does not happen very often in the PC community and every student wanted to make sure they would be part of history in the making.
The season resulted in a 22-11-6 record for the Friars and put them in the fourth seed in the East Regional section of the tournament against Minnesota State, Northeastern University, and Cornell University.
The Friars’ first game took them against Minnesota State at the Dunk, where students, alumni, and fans from around the country gathered to support their Providence Friars. The crowd was electric and helped Providence secure the win with a 6-3 victory and move onto the next round against Cornell University.
The Friars then won 4-0 against Cornell University and the Dunk could not have been any crazier.
The Friars then found themselves preparing for the tournament in Buffalo to play the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Though the Friars hustled every period, they lost 4-1, ending the Cinderella story.
No one had expected PC would make it this far let alone be in the Frozen Four tournament, so defying the odds brought nothing but joy and excitement to the students. It is safe to say that even if some students were not the biggest hockey fans, they definitely enjoyed rooting for and supporting the accomplishments of the team.
While it may not have been the outcome we hoped for, the history behind it and the accomplishments the team achieved will never be forgotten.
Desharnais ’19 Nominated for Humanitarian Award
by The Cowl Editor on February 7, 2019
Athlete of the Week
Defenseman Raises Money to Fight Against Cancer
by Sam Scanlon ’19
Every eye in Schneider Arena is fixated on the home bench, as one by one the Friars enter the spotlight and take the ice, anchored by defenseman Vincent Desharnais ’19.
Standing at 6’6”, Desharnais plays the role of intimidator and aggressor on the ice, protecting his teammates at all costs. However, it is his contributions off the ice that have gotten him nationally recognized this year.
Desharnais is one of 17 nominees for the 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award, which recognizes college hockey’s finest citizens for their efforts in their communities through leadership in volunteerism. Donning the “A” on his chest as the team’s alternate captain for the second straight year, Desharnais is no stranger to leadership on and off the ice.
In December, with the help of two classmates, Desharnais held an event at Schneider Arena called “PC Beats Cancer” to benefit the Gloria Gemma Resource Foundation.
“We decided to partner up with the Gloria Gemma Resource Foundation, because they specify in providing free services for individuals and families who are affected by breast cancer,” explained Desharnias.
This event was also hosted in honor of Providence College Women’s Hockey Team goaltender, Clare Minnerath ’20. “She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma Cancer last April,” Desharnais said, “Her story was so inspirational that we decided to center our event around her.”
In order to raise funds during the event, $20 tickets were sold to members of the PC community, which allowed attendees access to food and beverages, as well as a raffle ticket for an autographed Noel Acciari ’15 jersey. Around 80 tickets were sold during the event.
“At first, our team’s goal was to raise $2,000…We ended up raising over $5,000 through our events and gofundme page within three weeks,” recounted Desharnais. The amount of money raised is certainly a terrific feat, but the leadership and determination of Desharnais is what set him apart and truly showed his character.
At first, not much money was being raised for their charity, which caused Desharnais plenty of frustration. Through positivity, he and his classmates were able to start raising more and more money. “I think my biggest takeaway is to have high goals and always stay positive,” a mentality that Desharnais utilized to have such a successful fundraiser.
“Also, if you want something, go get it. I sent over 150 personalized emails to my teachers, coaches, teammates, friends, and family members to let them know that I needed their help to make a difference.” Desharnais’ impressive motivation and leadership behind raising money for a cause that he is passionate about certainly shows why he is nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
Being nominated for an award for both on and off the ice contributions is assuredly a humbling experience, and Desharnais is well aware of that. He explained, “Being nominated for this award is truly an honor. I feel like not too long ago I was still in high school back home in Laval, Quebec. Now, here I am nominated for the Humanitarian Award.”
Since coming to Providence four years ago, Desharnais has matured significantly. From being a bottom defensive pairing player, to a two-year captain, to being recognized for community service, Desharnais has made the most of his college experience. It is clear that the Edmonton Oilers draft pick has mades strides both on and off the ice.
He is not planning on stopping here, however. As he enjoys his time reading to children in Providence schools, Desharnais has bigger plans for his community service. He stated, “I was passionate about the event and I would really like to hold an event yearly.”
Desharnais has demonstrated a tremendous amount of character throughout this entire process, and is incredibly deserving of this prestigious award. If you would like to support Desharnais and the Gloria Gemma Resource Foundation, visit www.gloriagemma.org to make a donation and find out more about this incredible cause.
Dropping the Mitts for Drew Brown
by The Cowl Editor on February 7, 2019
Friar Sports
PC Honors Former Hockey Player
by Meaghan Cahill ’20
The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team hosted more than the University of Vermont men’s hockey team this past weekend at Schneider Arena. In attendance at the game was none other than former Friar and Boston Bruins player Noel Acciari ’15 and family and friends of Drew Brown ’16.
Brown was a member of the hockey team that would go on to win the 2015 NCAA National Championships. During his junior year, Brown was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma, after he took a hit to his left leg during a hockey playoff game the season before.
Brown overcame the cancer which is known for its one in a million diagnosis, but unfortunately his remission did not last long. In the spring of 2016, the cancer returned to Brown’s body. This time around, Brown was unable to win the fight against cancer and after continuous treatments and 24/7 care, he passed away at the age of 25 on November 11, 2017.
“Drew touched everyone with whom he came into contact with his energy, his smile, and his big heart. Drew showed amazing courage in his battle with cancer. Our Friar Family will miss him dearly,” Head Coach Nate Leaman commented after the passing of Brown.
One person who was with Brown through it all was Acciari. The two had a friendship that went all the way back to Kent School, a prep school that they both attended and played on the same hockey team. It is due to their long-lasting friendship that Acciari decided to start the “Dropping the Mitts for Drew Brown” fundraiser.
Starting out as a gofundme.com page, which has accrued more than $60,000, the fundraiser has expanded to the national level as Acciari uses his public platform to raise awareness for his friend and cause. The most notable moment that he utilized his platform was in November during the National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer month-long campaign when he did a special interview about Brown while wearing a custom-made lavender suit in honor of his friend.
“He left his legacy…he was a character guy and he always brought a smile to your face and was always laughing…I can still hear his laugh, it’s definitely missed,” Acciari commented.
And now, once again Acciari is taking the opportunity to raise awareness for his friend, this time bringing it back to their old stomping grounds.
Before the official puck drop between PC and UVM, Acciari, along with Brown’s mother Sandy and fiancé Michelle, and PC Athletic Director Bob Driscoll, came out onto the ice for a ceremonial puck drop to kick off the “Dropping the Mitts for Drew Brown” night at Schneider Arena.
To honor and remember the late Friar, PC players wore special pins created by the non-profit organization, Beads of Courage, in honor of Brown. In between periods of the game, tribute videos were shown with both Leaman and Acciari expressing how Brown was an “important part of the Friar family” and that they, along with everyone from the PC community, thanked everyone who came to the game “in support of the night.”
Brown’s mother commented on how “very touched” she was by not only Acciari’s actions to honor and keep her son’s memory alive, but also by PC as a whole.
Jay O’Brien ’22 Plays in Junior Championships
by The Cowl Editor on January 17, 2019
Friar Sports
PC Freshman Appears in All 7 Games for Team USA
By Thomas Zinzarela ’21
Sports Staff
For many college freshmen, winter break is about going on vacation or binge watching a new show on Netflix. However, for Jay O’Brien ’22, his winter break consisted of representing the United States and traveling to Canada to compete with some of the best under 20-year-old hockey players in the world.
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, more commonly known as the ‘World Juniors,’ is an annual tournament between 10 countries that is rotated between each team. This year’s event was hosted in Vancouver, Canada where Finland was able to beat out the U.S. for the gold medal.
Playing for a national team for any sport at any level is truly a unique experience. O’Brien opened up about his experience, saying, “It was unbelievable, we had a really solid group, really good team, really good coaching staff…everybody checked their ego at the door and when you throw on that USA sweater you are playing for one thing and that is your country and the guys next to you. It was an unbelievable experience other than the fact that we came up short. I thought we gave it our all and had a really good tournament.”
Many hockey fans envision the thrills of USA Hockey through the lens of the Disney movie Miracle, with Mike Eruzione scoring the game winning goal against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympic games in Lake Placid, New York.
Just as that Olympic game was emotional for many, O’Brien believed that it was an emotional tournament. “There were a lot of highs and lows throughout the tournament. You create new friendships that you will have forever…playing for your country is something very special and something I was fortunate to do a couple of times. It is emotional for sure, I know when I got home it was tough because I missed the group…”
For many, we will never have the opportunity to skate or represent our country and wear a jersey with the letters USA in red, white, and blue across our chest. “Something I will never forget,” O’Brien stated. “After you win and stand next to your brothers and they are playing the national anthem, it’s something special for sure.”
With the U.S. securing a silver medal this year, they have now received medals for the 4th year in a row including gold in 2017. This recent run is by far their most successful streak in the 41 years of the U.S. competing. Prior to the U.S. gold medal in 2004, the U.S. only collected three medals total since the inaugural tournament in 1977. Having collected nine medals since, with four of them being gold, it is safe to say that Junior Hockey in the U.S. is on the rise.
Just as O’Brien brought home another medal for Team USA, he will also try to help the Friars reach their 6th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and bring home some bigger hardware in the likes of a National Championship trophy.
Hockey Team Signs Koopman Twins
by The Cowl Editor on January 17, 2019
Friar Sports
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team received some reinforcements prior to their 2018-19 winter break. Added to the roster was the dynamic twin brother duo of Matt Koopman ’22 and Kyle Koopman ’22, who joined the team in time for the second half of the regular season hockey schedule.
Natives of Marblehead, Massachusetts, the Koopmans started off their high school careers playing for the Marblehead Headers, before transferring their talents to the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts for their final two years of high school. The pair also spent their offseasons with the Mid-Fairfield Rangers Midget U-18 program, competing against top-notched competition while honing their respective skills.
While the news of the duo’s arrival is unexpected to the average fan, the brothers’ destination of PC has long been decided. Both committed to PC prior to their senior year of high school in 2016. “We always wanted a school that was the best fit for us,” said Kyle back in 2016. “Providence is excellent academically and obviously a great hockey school. It’s worked out perfectly.”
Following high school graduation in 2017, Kyle, a 5’11”, 190-pound defenseman, played parts of two seasons for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) before going up north to Canada to play for the West Kelowna Warriors of the British Columbia Hockey League. Koopman accumulated eight assists in 18 games for West Kelowna during his time with them this year.
Matt, a 5’10”, 178-pound forward, has spent the entirety of the last two seasons with Waterloo in the USHL. Koopman picked up eight goals to go along with 17 assists in just 24 games during the 2018-19 season for the Black Hawks, putting him at an astonishing average of over a point per game. He also tallied two game-winning goals while posting a plus 14 rating.
Matt has already impressed in his short time with the Friars, playing in all six games while also tallying the first goal of his college career on Jan. 4 against no. 16 ranked Miami (OH). He gave PC a 3-2 lead at the midpoint of the third period after tipping in a shot on goal by Josh Wilkins ’20. The Friars would go on to secure the victory at a mark of 4-2.
Matt expressed his excitement of attending PC back in 2016, calling Head Coach Nate Leaman “one of the best coaches in the country.” With an eye on the future, Matt also stated that “being Hockey East players, the both of us, it’s almost crazy to think about. There’s someone always wanting to take it away from you, so it makes you work that much harder to hold onto your position. You have to be prepared for the jump to college hockey.” With an electric start to his college career, it appears as if Matt Koopman is more than prepared.
The future is now for the Koopmans, as they look forward to four years of dazzling onlookers in Schneider Arena.
Remembering Mark Adams
by The Cowl Editor on November 29, 2018
Friar Sports
By Cam Smith ’21
Sports Staff
Mark Adams ’15RS always wanted to go to Providence College. Ten schools recruited the Boxford, Massachusetts native during his time with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, but only one ever had a chance of landing him. “He was hell-bent on going to Providence from day one,” explained his father, Mark Adams Sr. “That’s where he wanted to go.”
Adams, more affectionately known by his nickname “Roo” after the Winnie the Pooh character, appeared in 98 career games for the Providence College Men’s Hockey Team. The smooth-skating defenseman battled injuries for most of his career, limiting him to only seven appearances in both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Though frustrating, his scattered appearances allowed Adams to receive a medical redshirt to skate for a fifth season, a season which would culminate with the first national championship in PC hockey history.
As a redshirt senior, Adams appeared in 32 games for the championship Friars, notching a goal and two assists in addition to his shutdown defensive play. To top off the thrill of the victory, Adams was able to lift the championship trophy at TD Garden, in front of family and friends. The Friars defeated Boston University 4-3. “That was great for him, especially being in Boston, too,” said his brother Jack Adams. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.”
Following his graduation, Adams signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings, but recurring knee injuries forced him to retire from the game he loved. Instead, he entered into the world of business, and moved to New York to work for a hedgefund. However, the allure of the Bay State proved too strong, and Adams soon moved back to Boston. When his father’s company, Cambridge Therapeutic, expanded, Adams was offered a position running the pharmaceutical division.
Most days, Adams was up at 4 a.m. for a conference call with his associates in China. If someone walked into his office during one of these calls, they might see Mandarin scrawled across the whiteboard. Adams was teaching himself the language for an upcoming business excursion overseas. “People don’t realize how brilliant he was,” Jack Adams said. “He did a great job for us,” commented Adams Sr. on his son’s work. “He was very mature for his age. It was nice, as a dad, to watch that development. He’s 10 times smarter than I’ll ever be.”
It was one of these early mornings when tragedy struck. On Sept. 17, at the age of 27, Adams passed away after suffering a heart attack.
The 2014-15 PC championship team had already lost one of their members when they heard the news about Adams: forward Drew Brown ’16 passed away in November 2017 after a battle with bone cancer. Once again, this close-knit team had to look to each other for support as they grieved the loss of another beloved teammate.
Adams’ teammates mourned the passing of a man whose impact on the team went far beyond his stellar performance on the Schneider Arena ice. “Roo was one of those teammates that would do anything for another guy on our team,” remembered Kevin Rooney ’16, a member of the championship-winning squad. “Almost every single day he would ask the guys to come over to his place for dinner. It got to the point where sometimes we had to say no because we felt bad not buying any of the food.” Rooney recalled a time where Adams hosted the entire team at his apartment in downtown Providence for a Christmas party.
“Roo’s (passing) kind of came out of nowhere,” remarked Mark Jankowski ’16, another key player for the 2014-15 team. “It’s tough any time one of your good buddies passes, never mind two of them,” Jankowski said referring also to the passing of Brown. “They were both ‘one of the boys’ and it’s now tough knowing you won’t be able to see them again.”
The Adams family held a celebration of Mark’s life at Turner Country Club on Sept. 24. Five hundred people attended, while an additional 200 were turned away because the room was well over capacity. Another 80 people sat in the side rooms listening to the service over a speaker. “It was pretty amazing that many people came. I love hearing all the reflections of stories about relationships he had,” said Adams Sr. “…he definitely cared and wanted to do things for other people.”
On Friday, November 30, the Friars will host “Roo Adams Night” for their home game against the University of New Hampshire. There, the Most Outstanding Teammate Award, given annually, will be renamed in Adams’ honor.