April 3, 2001

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- It was announced on April 2 that three Providence College hockey players were named to the 2001 New England Hockey Writers Association Men's Ice Hockey All-Start Team. Sophomore Devin Rask (Parkside, Saskatchewan), senior Matt Libby (Saco, Maine) and sophomore Nolan Schaefer (Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan) earned All-New England accolades. In addition, Friar Head Coach Paul Pooley was named New England Coach of the Year

Pooley, in his seventh season as the Friars' head coach, guided the Friars to their best finish ever in HOCKEY EAST regular season and their ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament. He is the first Friar Head Coach to earn New England Coach of the Year honors since Mike McShane earned the accolade in 1989. The Friars, 22-13-5, were the runners-up in the HOCKEY EAST Tournament (losing to Boston College, 5-3, in the finals) and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, falling to Wisconsin, 4-1 in the West Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Friars' were picked sixth in the HOCKEY EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll and overcame numerous losses due to graduation to finish tied for second-place with Maine. The Friars posted a 13-8-5 record in league play, which marked the most HOCKEY EAST wins for a Providence College team since the 1988-89 squad finished 13-11-2..

Rask, the Friars' top scorer, was named to the New England Division I All-Star Team. This season, Rask tallied 23 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, placing second overall in HOCKEY EAST. Rask also was second in scoring in HOCKEY EAST play with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 24 games. In addition, he also earned First Team All-HOCKEY EAST accolades. Rask, a former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League star, is the son of Roger and Arlene Rask.

Libby, a first-time All-New England selection, was the Friars' highest scoring blueliner, notching 10 goals and 20 assists in 38 games. Libby, PC's co-captain, was the second-highest scoring defenseman in HOCKEY EAST and was a vital part of the development of Providence's young defensive core. Libby was named Second-Team All-HOCKEY EAST in March. Libby, a graduate of Thornton Academy, is the son of Gene Libby.

Schaefer, emerged as one of the top netminders in HOCKEY EAST this season, backboning the Friars resurgence while earning New England All-Star accolades. The sophomore goaltender was second in HOCKEY EAST play with a .912 save percentage. In 25 games this season, Schaefer recorded a 15-8-2 record with a 2.47 goals against average. The sophomore sensation also earned Second Team All-HOCKEY EAST honors. Schaefer, a graduate of Yellow Grass High School, is the son of Peter and Tracy Schaefer.

Coach Pooley and the All-Star Selections will be formerly recognized at the 2001 New England Hockey Writers Association Banquet, which will be held at the Prince Restaurant in Saugus, Mass. on Wednesday, April 11. Contact John Bishop at Northeastern University (617-373-4458) for further details.

DIVISION I ALL STAR TEAM
Brian Gionta	F	Sr.	Boston College
Jeff Hamilton	F	Sr.	Yale
Devin Rask	F	So.	Providence College
Krys Kolanos	F	So.	Boston College
Carl Corrazini	F	Sr.	Boston University
Dominic Moore	F	So.	Harvard
Ron Hainsey	D	So.	UMass-Lowell
Bobby Allen	D	Sr.	Boston College
Matt Libby	D	Sr.	Providence College
Trevor Byrne	D	So.	Dartmouth
Ty Conklin	G	Sr.	New Hampshire
Nolan Schaefer	G	So.	Providence College
Coach of the Year		Paul Pooley, Providence College