EAST PROVIDENCE — A half-dozen players will represent East Providence High School on the ice this winter as part of a co-operative led by the Moses Brown School along with Tolman.
The Townies and Tigers join the ranks of the Quakers as Moses Brown remains in the state’s top tier of Division I as part of a two-year realignment by the Interscholastic League.
The East Providence contingent is paced by a pair of seniors, forward Tyler Azevedo and defenseman John Voll.
It’s been quite a ride for each during their high school careers, Azevedo and Voll both starting out as freshmen on the last EPHS-sponsored squad in Division III during the 2015-16 season. The Townies then entered into a co-op with Lincoln High for two years, playing in the D-II ranks. And now, this winter and next, E.P. players will compete in D-I.
“It’s crazy,” said Azevedo, who scored twice in his first three games this winter. The Quakers opened with one-sided losses to Smithfield (8-1) and LaSalle (6-0) before playing Barrington to a tie (5-5).
“We’ve played in every Division I, II and III, never would have expected that,” Azevedo added. “We’ve gotten a taste of every division.”
Said Voll, “It’s a wonderful outlet to get this opportunity. It gives us a spot to play. The best of the best play in D-I. Some of these guys are going to play college hockey. There’s nothing better than this and we would have never gotten the chance if not for this.”
The Quakers posted a 10-4-1 record a year ago in their first year back in the RIIL after playing the several years previous in the area prep school ranks.
However, Moses Brown graduated a class of 10 seniors off last year’s squad, including two of the state’s top scorers, leading to the co-op with East Providence and Tolman. Moses Brown has 13 players on the ’18-19 team, including one goalie. Junior netminder Cole LaValley is the only other upperclassman from East Providence and the other goalie on the roster. Nathan Perry is a sophomore. Alex Crowley and Riley Feeney are both freshmen. Tolman is represented by two players.
“There’s going to a lot of grinding. We’re going to be a grinder team,” Voll added. “We have really one solid line and then a lot of grind, grind, grind. That’s how we have to play to keep up with the top teams."

The Quakers are back in action Saturday night, Dec. 22, in Burrillville when they face the host Broncos at the Levy Arena. Puck drops at 7 o’clock.
Moses Brown returns to Division I action following the holiday break when the Quakers travel to Woonsocket January 5 for a game against host Mount St. Charles at Adelard Arena.
Prior to, Moses Brown will play a pair of games in the annual Burrillville Hockey Winter Classic at the Levy Rink. The Quakers meet Cumberland Friday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m. then skate against defending event champ North Attleborough Saturday, Dec. 29, at 6 p.m.
LaSalle notes
Besides the EPHS players, the city was represented by senior forward Colin Chapman in the LaSalle-Moses Brown contest. Chapman, a forward, in fact did more than just play for the Rams, he potted a hat-trick for LaSalle in its shutout victory. Chapman entered last week’s games with five total points for the Rams, who opened their season with a pair of wins.
Another LaSalle player with local ties is junior defenseman Zenas Kennedy, who tallied five assists in the first two games of the season for the Rams.
More ice chips
One other East Providence resident, Matt Pimental, opted not to return to the LaSalle hockey program this winter. Instead, the forward reclassified as a junior and is attending the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass. The Wildcats vie in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council, NEPSAC, Large Division.
From the same clan, Jeffrey Pimental is the starting goalie this winter for the Providence Country Day-St. Raphael boys’ hockey co-op. Pimental is a sophomore at St. Ray’s. Senior forward Ben Kaihler, junior forward Dom Raposa and sophomore forward Chris DePina are other city residents on the Saints this season.