Tabor Academy's Erik Foley Commits to Providence College

Tabor Academy forward Erik Foley has committed to play college hockey at Providence College for head coach Nate Leaman. The Mansfield, Mass. native is a very talented prospect who will be an impact player for the Friars.

"Erik is a very skilled forward. He has been able to finish at every level. He has a pro release on his shot. The sky is the limit," said Tabor coach Gerry Dineen.

Foley played split-season midget hockey last season for the Neponset Valley River Rats, a highly successful program. This year he's playing with the Cape Cod Whalers U18 team. Foley, standing at five-feet-11, participated in this summer's USA Hockey Select 16 Festival in Rochester, NY. Foley had a terrific tournament, posting two goals and two assists in five games.

Foley will bring a ton of skill and potential to a Providence program that is on the way up. "He's very athletic and tough. He has excellent strength and balance. Erik is one of those players who is incredibly difficult to knock off the puck and he's really good on the wall, especially from the dots down in the offensive zone."

Like all young players, there are parts of his game that Foley is looking to improve. "Erik has improved his team play recently and is becoming a more complete player," said Dineen, the coach at the Marion, Mass. prep school since 1999.

Dineen spoke highly of the character of his go-to forward. "Best of all, he's a super kid. He's very humble and grounded. His teammates and classmates love him."

Foley, a '97 whose USHL rights are owned by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, is expected to arrive at Providence College in the fall of 2015 or 2016. Providence, under the direction of third year head coach Nate Leaman, has moved all the way up in the national polls to number three this week following a 4-0-1 start. The Friars swept WCHA preseason favorite Minnesota State to start the season and just took three of four points from NCHC favorite Miami.

Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, NCAA recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.