Oct. 5, 2009

2009-10 Prospectus in PDF Format | 2009-10 Schedule

The Providence College Friars are looking forward to the 2009-10 season, seeking to grow from last season and earn a spot in the Hockey East playoffs, which is one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

Last season, the Friars went through a rebuilding campaign, but recorded impressive wins, including a 4-2 victory over then second-ranked Boston University, which went on to capture the national title. The 2009-10 Friars, who return 20 veterans and welcome 11 newcomers, will have depth, skill and speed as they look to have a breakthrough season in 2009-10.

The Forwards (Returning 12; Lost 6; Newcomers 7)

Last season, the Friars generated plenty of scoring opportunities as they averaged 30.1 shots on goals per game, which ranked fifth in Hockey East. The returning forwards accounted for nearly 60 percent of the team's goals last season and will look to continue to improve.

Leading the forward crew is senior co-captain John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) and sophomore Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.). In 2008-09, John Cavanagh finished tied for the team lead in goals with a career-high 10. The crafty, versatile center, who saw ice time on the power play and penalty kill, finished as the fourth leading scorer on the team with a career-high 19 points.

Bergland, a speedy right wing, enjoyed a strong freshman season as he led the team in scoring with 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points. In addition, Bergland was tops on the team in game-winning goals (2) and finished second in power-play goals (3). He became the first PC freshman to lead the team in points since the 1988-89 season when Rob Gaudreau recorded 57 points.

Juniors Matt Germain (Rockland, Mass.), Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut, Calif.) and Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) will continue to provide a strong impact for the Friars. The trio has been a prevalent presence in the Friar lineup and each recorded career-high in points during the 2008-09 season.

Germain played in 32 games last season and finished with 14 points on four goals and 10 assists. Germain, who scored one power-play goal, earned the team's Academic Award.

MacKinnon, who is one of the top penalty killers and face-off players on the team, scored six goals and added seven assists for 13 points in 33 games. MacKinnon also was presented with the team's Thomas Eccleston, Jr. Unsung Hero Award.

O'Connor finished last season tied for fifth on the team with 16 points on six goals and 10 assists. The speedy left wing had four multiple-point games and will look to continue his scoring production for the upcoming season.

Seniors Chris Eppich (Surrey, B.C.) and Greg Collins (Hingham, Mass.) will add depth to the Friar forward group. Eppich played in 20 games last season and scored four goals, including his first career tally on December 5 at Quinnipiac. Collins played in 10 games last season and finished with one assist.

Jordan Kremyr (Cloverdale, B.C.) and Ben Farrer (Calgary, Alberta) will look to bounce back from injuries, which caused them to miss nearly half of the games during their sophomore seasons. Kremyr played in 17 games and recorded the game-winning goal in a Mayor's Cup victory at Brown on December 9. Kremyr also finished with three assists on the season. Farrer saw action in 18 games and recorded four assists.

Junior Paul Golden (Milton, Mass.) also will add depth to the Friars. Golden saw his first action in a Friar uniform as he played in five contests and scored one goal, which came in his first career game on October 25 at Holy Cross.

Sophomores Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.) and Robert Maloney (Eagan, Minn.) round out the list of veteran forwards. Balysky and Maloney each gained significant experience as freshmen last season and will look to continue to improve. Balysky played in 23 games and recorded two goals and one assist for three points. Maloney played in 30 games and finished his first season at PC with two points on one goal and one assist.

Willie Hess (Lino Lakes, Minn.), Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing, Minn.), Tyler Landman (Roseau, Minn.) and Billy Simon (Burnsville, Minn.) are four of the seven incoming freshmen forwards who played in the Minnesota High School Hockey League.

Hess played at Centennial High School where he recorded 27 goals and 16 assists in 26 games during the 2008-09 season as team captain. Jamnick attended Hibbing High School and enjoyed a strong senior season. He finished with 34 goals and 27 assists and was named to the Associated Press and the Pioneer Press Honorable Mention All-State Teams. Landman led Roseau High School in scoring last season as he finished with 45 points (16 goals and 29 assists). He guided Roseau to a Class AA State title in 2007. Simon played at Lakeville South High School and finished his senior season with 46 points on 21 goals and 25 assists. He earned All-Lake Conference First Team honors.

Chris Rooney (Canton, Mass.), Tim Schaller (Merrimack, N.H.) and Rem Vanderbeek (Warren, N.J.) round out the list of freshman forwards. Rooney played for the Bridgewater Bandits of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. In 39 games as team captain last season, Rooney recorded 51 points (14 goals, 37 assists) and led his team to the EJHL semifinals. He was named to the EJHL All-Star Team. Schaller also was part of the EJHL in 2008-09 as he played for the New England Huskies. He saw action in 47 games as team captain and finished with 40 points on 16 goals and 24 assists. Vanderbeek played for the New Jersey Rockets of the AJHL where he was a team captain and helped his squad capture three-consecutive league titles.

The Defensemen (Returning 5; Lost 3; Newcomers 3)

The Friar defensemen will be anchored by five veterans as senior co-captain Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) will lead the PC blueliners. In 2008-09, Fayne played in 33 games and recorded four goals and five assists for nine points. He was the co-recipient of the team's Ron Wilson Best Defensive Player Award, which he has won in each of his three seasons at PC. Fayne, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound draftee of the New Jersey Devils, has been a mainstay in the Friar lineup in each of his first three seasons.

Senior David Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) and junior Eric Baier (North Kingstown, R.I.) will add depth and leadership. David Cavanagh played in 28 games last season and posted three assists, including two in a win over UMass Lowell on January 10. Baier finished his sophomore season with eight points on one goal and seven assists. He also played in two games in which he recorded a career-high two assists.

Sophomores Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) and David Brown (Centennial, Colo.) gained valuable experience as freshmen last season and will look to continue to contribute. New played in 25 games and finished with two goals and four assists for six points. Brown appeared in 28 games and totaled five assists.

Myles Harvey (Orlando, Fla.), Tim Smith (Superior, Wis.) and Alex Velischek (Kinnelon, N.J.) make up the group of freshmen defensemen for the Friars. Velischek, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2009 NHL Draft, played for the Delbarton School (New Jersey), where he was the team captain. He helped Delbarton to its second consecutive state championship last season as he finished with 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists). Smith played for the Owatonna Express of the North American Hockey League. In 66 games last season, Smith recorded eight goals and 15 assist for 23 points. He was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team and the NAHL Central Division First Team. Harvey, who also played in the NAHL, will bring size to the Friar blueline as he stands at six-foot-five. He was a member of the Bismarck Bobcats and recorded two goals and nine assists for 11 points last season. Harvey helped lead the Bobcats to a team record 43 wins, their first ever regular season Central Division title and the Central Division Championship in the 2009 Robertson Cup Playoffs.

The Goaltenders (Returning 3; Lost 1; Newcomers 1)

Depth also will be prevalent at the goaltending position as the Friars return three veterans from last season and welcome one freshman. Sophomore Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ontario) will lead the Friars in goal. Beaudry joined the team halfway through the 2008-09 season and earned two consecutive Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors soon thereafter. He recorded 39 saves to help the Friars to a 4-2 win at No. 2 Boston University on January 13. He also recorded consecutive 40-plus save performances and became the first PC goalie to do so since 2002. In all, Beaudry played in 18 games.

Senior Ryan Simpson (Bow, N.H.) and sophomore Justin Gates (Cranston, R.I.) will add depth to the Friar goal. Simpson will look to make to the most of his senior year after battling several injuries. Gates played in 13 games (12 starts) as a freshman.

Russ Stein (Ridgefield, Conn.) is the lone freshman goalie on the squad. Stein played for the Boston Junior Bruins of the EJHL. He posted a 23-9-2 record, a 2.04 goals against average and a .932 save percentage last season.

With a strong returning group of veterans, led by seniors John Cavanagh and Mark Fayne and the addition of 11 freshmen, the Friars will have a deep and talented team that will look to return to the Hockey East playoffs.