Friars To Face Minnesota State at The Dunk

PROVIDENCE–While the basketball team was bounced from the NIT in the opening round, that doesn’t mean the winter sports season is over for the Friars. Not by a long shot. The Friars’ men’s hockey team has earned an at-large bid to the 16-team 2019 NCAA Tournament field. The Friars (22-11-6) will be the No. 4 seed in the East Regional facing off against the No. 1 seed, the Minnesota State Mavericks (32-7-2), on Saturday at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. First puck drops at 1 p.m., and the game will be aired on ESPNEWS.

The Friars are 15-19 all-time in NCAA Tournament games. This will mark the program's sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the second-longest active streak in the nation, and 15^th overall appearance.

It will be just the ninth meeting all-time between the schools and the first in NCAA Tournament play. Providence is 6-2-0 all-time against the Mavericks, including a two-game sweep in October 2013 during the unveiling of the newly renovated Schneider Arena.  The winner will advance to the East Regional Final against either Cornell or Northeastern on Sunday, March 31 at 4 p.m.

For more updates on the Providence College men's hockey program, follow the team on Twitter @FriarsHockey.

—Staff Reports