2015 -- S 0833

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM ON

WINNING THE 2015 NCAA MEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, McCaffrey, Paiva Weed, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: April 15, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team, under the superb leadership

and direction provided by Head Coach Nate Leaman, compiled an outstanding 21-12-2 regular

season record and finished tied for second in the Hockey East standings. The Friars were aided all

season by the outstanding goaltending provided by Goalie Jon Gillies, who was a Hockey East

First Team All Star and the Stop It Goaltending Champion, and the hard-nosed play provided by

Noel Acciari, The Hockey East Gladiator Best Defensive Forward of the Year, Forward Shane

Luke, and Defenseman Tom Parisi, all of whom were named to the All-Regional Team. Noel

Acciari was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Regional; and

     WHEREAS, The Friars hockey team was rewarded for their excellent hockey season by

being chosen to play in the NCAA Hockey Tournament. They were seeded fourth in the East

Regional played at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence. After dispatching one-seeded Miami

of Ohio in the first game, the Friars beat Denver 4-1 in the Regional Finals to advance to the

Frozen Four in Boston; and

     WHEREAS, In the NCAA Frozen Four Semi-Finals, the Friars thoroughly outplayed the

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks on their way to winning 4-1 and advancing to their first NCAA

Hockey Championship game in thirty years. The Friars outshot Nebraska-Omaha 48-26 and

dominated the puck possession statistics as they controlled the game for all three periods; and

     WHEREAS, In the NCAA Championship game, the Providence College Friars defeated

the heavily favored Boston University Terriers in a thrilling game by the score of 4-3. In a see-

saw back and forth battle, with numerous lead changes, the Friars emerged victorious 4-3 to win

their first ever NCAA Hockey Championship thanks to the key goal scoring provided by Anthony

Florentino, Mark Jankowski, Tom Parisi and Brandon Tanev, along with the superb and clutch

goaltending provided by Providence Goalie Jon Gillies, the Frozen Four MVP, who stopped 49

Boston University shots, including a miraculous save late in the game that saved the win for

Providence College; and

     WHEREAS, The Providence College Men’s Hockey Team were able to win a national

championship this season because they were blessed to have a team of young men completely

focused and driven to achieve team goals, even if they came at the expense of individual goals.

The Friars benefitted all season from the key contributions provided by Captains Noel Acciari

and Ross Mauermann, along with the exemplary play provided by Nick Saracino, Shane Luke,

Trevor Mingoia, Mark Jankowski, Brandon Tanev, Tom Parisi, Brian Pinho, Jake Walman, Kevin

Rooney, Steven McParland, Anthony Florentino, John Gilmour, Josh Monk, Brooks Behling,

Kyle McKenzie, Mark Adams, Logan Day, Niko Rufo, Robbie Hennessey, Stefan Demopoulos,

Brendan Leahy, Nick Ellis, Conor MacPhee, Truman Reed, Drew Brown, Alex Cromwell, and

Jon Gillies. The Friars were also the beneficiaries all season of an exemplary coaching staff led

by Head Coach Nate Leaman, along with Associate Head Coach Steve Miller, Assistant Coach

Kris Mayotte, Kyle Murphy, Coordinator of Men’s Hockey Operations, and Goaltending Coach

Jim McNiff; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the Providence College Men’s Hockey Team on winning the 2015 NCAA

Men’s Hockey Championship; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Providence College Men’s Hockey Head Coach

Nate Leaman.

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