Three URI men's hockey players to compete, travel to China for World University Games

11/21/08 - Jon Biliouris, a senior defenseman, Devin Sheehan, a junior forward and Kyle Krannich, a sophomore forward were selected by their coach to play for the 2009 United States University Select Team for the Winter World University Games. The team will travel to Harbin, China on Feb. 18 and will compete until Feb. 28. Augustine, who just picked up his 400th career victory last weekend against Wesleyan University after coming back from a 4-0 deficit, was selected as the head coach for the Games.

"It's a great honor," coach Augustine said. "It's very exciting to have people respect you enough to pick you as the coach of such a team."

Rhody's players and their coach have shown a great deal of strength, knowledge and will throughout the season, proven by the teams current No.10 ranking in the country. Augustine expressed confidence in the players he selected to accompany him to China. He feels Team USA, with the help of Biliouris, Sheehan and Krannich, has the ability to surprise people on a national level.

"They have played very well and other coaches brought their names up," he said. "We would like to go there and compete to get to the medal round. The teams over there are very good. We're just going to have to go over there and surprise people."

The three players showed as much confidence and excitement as their coach and they continue to train for the Games in February.

This will be senior Jon Biliouris' second year competing. "In 2007 I was selected to play for the same team that played in Torino, Italy," Biliouris said. "I am very interested to see what China will be like so it's great to be able to travel and play in different parts of the world," Sheehan agreed. "Hockey has been a part of my life since the day I was born," He said. "It's a great honor to be selected to the World University Games. It solidifies my dedication to the game. I think traveling to China with two teammates makes the trip even more exciting. It's nice having support, especially from those who are around you day in and day out."

Krannich expressed similar expectations to those of Augustine's in regards to the Games.

"To be honest, I don't know what to expect going into the World University Games," Krannich added. "I know that the speed is going to increase and we are going to be playing some great teams over there. All our team can do is stick to the system that we are going to play and work hard. With that, good things will come."

"Being selected for the United States University Select Hockey Team is an honor and a great opportunity to represent the United States and the University of Rhode Island," Biliouris said.

He added, "Since I have been at URI, the community has been very supportive of the hockey program, which has helped us win a national championship and made us feel just like any other varsity sport on campus."

Biliouris and the rest of his teammates stressed the need for even more support this weekend as the team welcomes Pennsylvania State University on Friday and Saturday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on both nights.

Proceeds from the game will support the charity Hockey Fights Cancer.