PC Men’s Hockey Picked Third in Hockey East Preseason Poll

The Providence College men’s hockey team was picked to finish third in the 2020-21 Hockey East Coaches’ Preseason Poll released on Friday (Nov. 13).

Nationally ranked at No. 17, Providence returns 21 players from last season’s roster that posted a 16-12-6 record and the program’s eighth-consecutive winning season. Among the returners are juniors Tyce Thompson (Milford, Conn.) and Michael Callahan (Franklin, Mass.). Thompson finished third in the NCAA scoring race in 2019-20 with 44 points on 19 goals and 25 assists. Callahan posted five goals and 23 assists from the blue line to finish third on the team in scoring. Senior Greg Printz (Fairfax, Va.) also returns after career-highs in goals (15), assists (12) and points (27) in 2019-20.

The Friars also welcome in seven newcomers to the roster in 2020-21, including a duo of NHL draft selections – Brett Berard (East Greenwich, R.I., NYR – 5th Round, No. 134) and Chase Yoder (Fairview, Texas, PIT – 6th Round, No. 170). Uula Ruikka (Oulu, Finland) and Nick Poisson (Vancouver, B.C.) round out the other freshmen newcomers. Providence also added three transfer student athletes – Anton Martinsson (Klippan, Sweden – Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks), Jaxson Stauber (Plymouth, Minn. – Minnesota State) and Matt Tugnutt (Peterborough, Ont. – Sacred Heart).

Providence opens the 2020-21 regular season at home against Boston College on Friday, Nov. 27 at Schneider Arena.