A Legacy on Ice: The History of Providence College Hockey

Introduction

The Providence Friars men's ice hockey team boasts a rich and storied history, marking its presence in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I as a proud representative of Providence College. As a distinguished member of Hockey East, the Friars have been under the guidance of Coach Nate Leaman since 2011, a period highlighted by the team's crowning achievement: the 2015 national championship.

Early Years and Revival

The genesis of Providence's ice hockey program dates back to 1927, celebrated with an inaugural 6-4 victory over Springfield. However, the program faced an early setback, enduring over two and a half decades before securing another win. The initial season concluded with a series of seven defeats, saw three changes in coaching staff, and was ultimately suspended due to limited ice availability, remaining dormant until its revival in 1952.

Upon its return, the Friars found a new home at the Rhode Island Auditorium, with Providence native Dick Rondeau assuming coaching duties. Rondeau's departure in 1956 paved the way for Tom Eccleston, who further solidified the Friars' standing. Eccleston's eight-season tenure was marked by only one losing season, positioning the team favorably for the formation of ECAC Hockey in 1961. Despite finishing 14th out of 28 teams, Providence was selected as one of the eight participants in the inaugural conference tournament.

Ascendancy in ECAC Hockey

The Friars experienced a rapid ascent in the standings, securing 5th place the following year and clinching their first conference title in 1964, a feat they immediately followed with another Conference Championship. This period of success established Providence as a force to be reckoned with in collegiate hockey.

The Lamoriello Era and Ron Wilson's Brilliance

Eccleston's retirement in 1964 led to former NHL player Zellio Toppazzini taking over the reins, but after a promising start, the Friars struggled and fell to the bottom of the conference. This downturn prompted the appointment of Lou Lamoriello, a former Friar all-star, as head coach. Lamoriello's arrival marked a turning point, with the team showing signs of recovery in his second season and subsequently earning a spot in the conference tournament.

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A pivotal moment in the program's history came with Lamoriello's recruitment of Ron Wilson. The defenseman made an immediate impact, earning ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year honors in 1974. His sophomore season was even more spectacular, amassing 87 points in just 27 games. Wilson's exceptional performance led the conference in scoring, placed him second nationally, and set an all-time NCAA record for assists (61) and points (87) by a defenseman, both overall and per game. As of 2019, Wilson still holds the records for assists and points per game for a defenseman.

NCAA Tournament Berth and Continued Success

Following Wilson's graduation in 1977, Lamoriello maintained the team's competitiveness, securing conference playoff appearances and their first postseason victory since Eccleston's era. A notable upset against the top-ranked Boston University in the semifinal earned the Friars a coveted spot in the 1978 NCAA tournament.

Despite Boston College's ECAC Championship win, Providence received the second eastern seed. However, due to BU's outstanding season, the NCAA selection committee granted them an at-large bid, forcing Providence to face the nation's leading team once more for a chance at the national semifinal. This time, Boston University proved too strong, ending Providence's hopes of another upset.

Despite this setback, the Friars continued to thrive, making the conference tournament in each of the subsequent six seasons. Lamoriello guided the team to its first 20-win season in 1979-80 and followed it up with a surprising tournament championship. However, the Friars' struggles in tournament games persisted, as they were swept out by Michigan State in the quarterfinals.

Lamoriello's Legacy and Stirling's Upset

After another 20-win season, Lamoriello was promoted to Athletic Director in 1982 but remained as coach for one more season while a replacement was found. His final season was record-breaking, with the Friars achieving 33 wins, the most in program history, and finishing atop the conference for the second time. Lamoriello's team reached the conference tournament final and made the NCAA tournament, finally securing a victory by sweeping Minnesota-Duluth in the quarterfinals.

Steve Stirling took over as coach the following year and continued the team's success with another 20+ win season. In 1984, a significant shift occurred when all six teams in the East Division and Lowell departed the conference to form Hockey East. Despite a middling regular season, junior goaltender Chris Terreri emerged as a star during the playoffs.

Terreri's stellar performance, allowing only two goals in the quarterfinal games against Northeastern, propelled the Friars to victory against Boston University in the semifinal and against Hockey East champion Boston College in the championship. Terreri continued his MVP-caliber play in the NCAA tournament against Michigan State, who entered as the top team with a near-record number of wins. Terreri's remarkable 83 saves in the two games against Michigan State allowed the Friars to advance to the semifinals in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

Frozen Four Appearance and McShane Era

In the semifinal, Providence faced Boston College once again, resulting in a hard-fought, lopsided game. Terreri faced a barrage of shots, while BC's Scott Gordon had a relatively easier time, leading to a tie after regulation. It took three overtime periods for the Friars to secure the win, with Terreri setting an NCAA record for saves in a Frozen Four game. This victory propelled Providence to its first championship appearance.

Terreri's exceptional play continued in the final game against Rensselaer, allowing only two goals on 42 shots. However, the Friars' offense couldn't provide enough support, resulting in a 1-2 defeat. Following this spectacular run, the team faced a setback when Stirling resigned to return to Division III Babson and was replaced by Mike McShane.

McShane's tenure was marked by consistency, with the team maintaining a ~.500 record in his nine seasons. Early in his tenure, Providence lost a key figure when Lou Lamoriello became the team president for the New Jersey Devils. McShane led the Friars to four consecutive 20+ win seasons in the early 1990s, but he was eventually replaced by Paul Pooley in 1994.

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The Leaman Era and the 2015 National Championship

In 2011, Nate Leaman, formerly of Union College, was appointed as head coach. The team responded positively, securing its first playoff round victory in over a decade. By his second year, the team had a winning record, and in his third season, Leaman led Providence to its first 20+ win year since 2001.

The pinnacle of the program's history arrived in 2015. Led by junior goaltender Jon Gillies, Providence achieved 26 wins, the most since 1983, and finished tied for second in Hockey East. Despite an upset in the quarterfinals by New Hampshire, the team secured an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament and faced fourth-overall seed Miami in the opening round.

Providence dominated the second period with four goals, building a 6-2 lead. However, Miami mounted a comeback with three extra-attacker goals late in the third period. Brandon Tanev ended the comeback bid with an empty-netter, advancing Providence to the Regional Final. After the initial jitters, Gillies found his form, limiting Denver and Omaha to a single goal each in the subsequent two contests, leading Providence back to the National Championship game.

Continued Success Under Leaman

Leaman continues to lead the Friars, guiding the program to multiple consecutive tournament berths and securing at least one victory in several of those years. His leadership has solidified Providence as a consistent contender in college hockey.

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