July 2, 2002

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --- It was announced on July 1 by the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee that the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. will serve as the site for the 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey East Regional. Providence College will serve as the host institution for the East Regional, which will be played on March 29-30.

The NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Tournament will expand from 12 teams to 16 teams in 2003. Due to this expansion, the tournament will increase from two regional sites to four regional sites. Worcester, Mass. and Ann Arbor, Mich. were selected to host the regionals in 2003 prior to the expansion of the tournament. In addition to Providence, Minneapolis will be the other new regional site in 2003.

Each site will host four schools with the winners of the first night of competition playing each other on the second day. Each of the four winners will advance to the Frozen Four. The 2003 Men's Frozen Four, which is sold out, will be held April 10-12 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. Game times for regional competition will be released at a later date.

"Providence College is dedicated to making the 2003 NCAA East Regional a first-class event," Providence College Athletic Director Bob Driscoll said. "The College and the Dunkin' Donuts Center have a long history of producing successful NCAA events together. The City of Providence has always supported college hockey and this will be one of the top sporting events in the City in 2003."

Providence College, which hosted the first-ever regional competition for the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship in March of 1992, has long been active in pursuing NCAA tournament action. Providence College has hosted the 1986, 1995 and 2000 Frozen Fours and, over the years, numerous NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship games.

The Dunkin' Donuts Center, which seats 11,484 for hockey, has been the site of six NCAA Frozen Fours (1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1995 and 2000).

"We selected cities that have a tradition of hosting successful events," Jack McDonald, chair of the Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee and director of athletics at Quinnipiac University, said. "We are very excited and know they will do a great job."

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