Feb. 5, 2008

The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston announced on Monday, February 4, that Providence College men's hockey seniors Jon Rheault (Deering, N.H.) and Tyler Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.) as well as junior Matt Taormina (Washington Township, Mich.) were named as three of the 15 semifinalists for the 56th Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. PC led the way with three nominees, while Boston College, Boston University and New Hampshire each have two.

Rheault, who leads the Friars with 14 goals scored, also is tied for the team lead with 23 points. He has two game-winning goals, including the overtime winner against UMass Lowell on January 11. In addition, he has three multiple-goal games. He has recorded 97 career points (53 goals, 44 assists) and is three points shy of becoming the 48th Friar to reach the century mark.

Sims has posted an 11-8-2 record, a 2.34 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 21 games for the Friars. He also leads Hockey East with three shutouts, including two in league play. Sims set the Providence College record for most career shutouts (7) earlier this season. Most recently, he made 36 saves as the Friars posted a 3-2 win at No. 9 Boston College on February 1 and stopped 17 shots in a 1-1 overtime tie at Merrimack on February 2.

Taormina is one of two defensemen nominated for the prestigious award. He is tied for the team lead with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) and is the national leader among defensemen with eight goals. In addition, his 23 points ranks third in the nation among blue liners and his two short-handed tallies leads all defenders. Taormina, who recorded a career-high five points (two goals, three assists) in a win at Maine on November 9, most recently scored the game winner in a 3-2 victory at Boston College on February 1. He also leads the team in game-winning goals (3) and plus/minus rating (+7).

Rheault, Sims and Taormina are three of 12 players from Hockey East schools to be nominated. They join BC's Benn Ferriero and Nathan Gerbe, BU's Peter MacArthur and Bryan Ewing, UNH's Kevin Regan and James van Riemsdyk, Maine's Bret Tyler, UMass' James Marcou and UMass Lowell's Nevin Hamilton. The other semifinalists are Yale's Billy Blase, Harvard's Jon Pelle and Quinnipiac's Ben Nelson.

The Gridiron Club plans to announce the finalists and winner of the 56th Walter Brown Award in March, following league playoffs and before the start of NCAA Tournament play.

Four PC players have earned the Walter Brown Award in its 56-year history, with the last being Mike Omicioli, who shared the honor with Boston College's Mike Mottau in 1999. Prior to Mike Omicioli, Rob Gaudreau won the award in 1992. In addition, current Friar Head Coach Tim Army won the award in 1985 and Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, was the first Friar to win the award when he was honored in 1975.