7:00 p.m. at PC's Schneider Arena

UMASS-AMHERST (5-12-1) - Friday will mark the first meeting of the season between UMass-Amherst and PC ... The Minutemen are in ninth place in league standings with a 2-7-1 record ... Last season, UMass posted a 1-2 record against PC. The lone UMass win was a 3-1 decision in Amherst on Jan. 30, 1998 ... UMass recorded an impressive weekend earlier in the season when they earned a win and a tie against Maine at Amherst ... Junior Jeff Blanchard (Stouffville, Ontario) is the team's top scorer. He has tallied five goals and 13 assists in 18 games this season. Goaltender Markus Helanen (Vantaa, Finland) has been one of the top freshman in HOCKEY EAST this season with a 3.36 goals against average and an .893 save percentage.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE (10-9) - The Friars are 3-1 since the holiday break. Friday's game is a key HOCKEY EAST battle ... PC is in sixth place in league standings with a 5-5 mark ... On Tuesday, PC defeated Brown 3-2 to capture the Mayor's Cup ... The Friars have posted a 14-4-1 mark all-time against the Minutemen, including aN 8-2 record at Schneider Arena. The Friars' last win against UMass was a 5-3 victory on Nov. 22, 1997 at Schneider Arena ... PC junior center Jerry Keefe (Billerica, Mass.) leads the team in points (33), goals (12) and assists (21). Senior goaltender Mark Kane (St. Albert, Alberta) made 27 saves in PC's 3-2 win against Brown in the Mayor's Cup. He has recorded a 3.26 goals against average and an .890 save percentage.