A match-up with the reigning NCAA Division 1 champion Providence Friars on Oct. 3 highlights the Simon Fraser University men's hockey pre-season schedule.
The Clan will face the Friars and storied hockey program Northeastern as part of their annual road trip to take on top level NCAA competition.
"This season we have the opportunity to play against a pair of very established programs, both of which have a storied history in the NCAA, and we are thrilled to go and test ourselves against them," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta, a former NCAA player who won a NCAA Div. III national championship with Plattsburgh.
SFU is no stranger to taking on some of the true heavyweights of the NCAA, having played North Dakota, and Miami of Ohio in recent years, but this will be the first time they have taken on the defending NCAA champions, and a member of the illustrious Beanpot tournament. "We know the task is daunting, but we will prepare accordingly and our guys will be ready to compete," added Coletta.
The Providence Friars won their first NCAA championship last season, winning all of their tournament games despite being listed as the underdog in each of them, defeating Miami, Denver, Nebraska-Omaha, before coming back in the third period and defeating Jack Eichel and Boston University in the final. With only five seniors on their championship roster, the Friars will return the majority of their team, which has six NHL draft picks, including 2012 Calgary Flames first-round pick Mark Jankowski in their lineup. The Friars are coached by Nate Leeman and play in the Hockey East Conference.
The Northeastern Huskies have played since 1929 and are one of the four teams that competes annually in the Beanpot tournament played at the TD Garden in Boston. The team comes in having made four of the last five Beanpot finals, dropping the 2015 edition of the tournament in overtime to Boston University. The Huskies begin 2015/16 with four NHL draft picks, including 2012 97th overall Kevin Roy, who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks. They are coached by Jim Madigan and also play in Hockey East.
The preseason trip has become a staple of the SFU hockey schedule, with other BCIHL teams starting to follow suit.
"Having the opportunity to play NCAA Div. I programs has been a great experience, and we have worked hard to represent the school very well, there is nothing like the environment of an NCAA hockey game, especially back east, so we're excited to say the least", said Coletta, who is looking to lead the Clan to their first victory over NCAA Div. I competition.
Before heading east, the Clan will also play three local exhibition games. The annual showdown with crosstown University of British Columbia will take place on Sept. 10 at the Point Grey home of the Thunderbirds. They will also play a pair of games with BCIHL rival Trinity Western, which will include hosting the Spartans on Sept. 11.
2015 Exhibition Schedule:
Thursday Sept. 10 - SFU @ UBC 7 p.m.
Friday Sept. 11 - SFU vs TWU 7 p.m.
Friday Sept. 18 - SFU @ TWU TBA
Saturday Oct. 3 - SFU @ Providence TBA
Sunday Oct. 4 - SFU @ Northeastern 4 p.m.
