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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Providence Gets Assistant Coach; Chaput Signs

Bruins Extend Forward's Contract; Name Vet Blueliner Providence Asst. Coach
July21,2011


Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward Stefan Chaput to a one-year contract extension and named Kevin Dean the assistant coach for the Providence Bruins. Per club policy, the financial terms of these deals will not be disclosed.

Chaput, 23, spent the 2010-11 season with three AHL teams, including the Providence Bruins, Syracuse Crunch, and Charlotte Checkers. In 15 games with the P-Bruins, the Montréal, QC native tallied 3-4=7 totals and also earned a 3-4=7 line with Syracuse. With Charlotte, Chaput saw time in 20 games where he notched 0-3=3 totals.

Prior to the 2010-11 season Chaput spent three seasons with the Albany River Rats (AHL), posting 14-35=49 totals in 91 games. The 6'0", 192 lb. forward was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (153rd overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Chaput was acquired by Boston from the Anaheim Ducks (NHL) on February 27 with David Laliberte in exchange for forward Brian McGrattan and defenseman Sean Zimmerman.

Dean, who spent four years on the blue line for the University of New Hampshire, was drafted 86th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Following his senior season in 1991, he joined the Utica Devils of the American Hockey League.

In the 1994-95 season, Dean made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils, with whom he enjoyed a Stanley Cup Championship. The native of Madison, WI was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 NHL Expansion Draft and spent the next two seasons with the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks.

The defenseman is a veteran of 331 NHL contests, compiling 7-48=55 totals and 138 penalty minutes.

Following a 12-year professional career, Dean took a position behind the bench, joining the Lowell Devils (AHL) as an assistant coach in 2006. During his four years in Lowell, he helped the club to 137 wins. Staying in the Devils organization, Dean became the head coach of the Trenton Devils (ECHL) in 2010-11, where he earned a 27-37-2-6 record.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

Friday, July 15, 2011

Boston Signs Two More Players For Providence

Bruins Add Rookie Forward and Defenseman
July 14, 2011

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward Craig Cunningham to an entry-level contract and defenseman Zach McKelvie to a one-year contract. Per club policy, the financial terms of these deals will not be disclosed.

Cunningham, a native of Trail, British Columbia, spilt the 2010-11 season between the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) and the Vancouver Giants (WHL). In 71 total games, the 20-year-old forward tallied 27 goals along with 60 assists for 87 points. In 21 playoff games with the Winterhawks this season, the forward posted 7-14=21 totals before falling to Kootenay in the WHL Championship. Cunningham spent his first four junior seasons with the Vancouver Giants, setting career highs in goals (37) and points (97) in his 2009-10 season.

The 5'9", 191 lb. forward was originally drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round (97th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKelvie, 26, is a 2008 graduate of the United States Military Academy. The Brighton, Minnesota native notched 14-42=56 totals in four years with the Black Knights (AHA). McKelvie originally signed with the Bruins in 2009, however contractual obligations with the US Army prevented him from moving forward with his hockey career at that time. The 6'2", 200 lb defenseman won the fastest skater competition at the Frozen Four in 2009.

*Information gathered from http://www.providencebruins.com/

Providence Announces Their Opponents for New Season

Providence to Face 12 Teams Next Season
July 14, 2011

The Providence Bruins, in conjunction with the American Hockey League today announced its schedule format for the 2011-12 season. Entering the 20th season in franchise history, the Providence Bruins will play their current Atlantic Division rivals as well as teams from the Northeast and East Division of the realigned Eastern Conference. Led by head coach Bruce Cassidy, the P-Bruins will play a 76 game schedule with games against 12 opponents.

The P-Bruins will compete in the AHL's revamped Atlantic Division, which is now comprised of the Manchester Monarchs, Portland Pirates, St. John's, and Worcester Sharks. Providence will face their Atlantic Division rivals in 36 of the 76 contests on their 2011-12 schedule.

The P-Bruins will play each team from the Northeast Conference, which includes the Adirondack Phantoms, Albany Devils, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Connecticut Whale and Springfield Falcons. In the East Division, the P-Bruins will play one home game and one away game against the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and two home games and two away games against the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals, Phantoms and St. John's are the three new opponents on Providence's schedule.

A complete breakdown of the P-Bruins' opponents and how many times they will face each other are as follows:

Atlantic Division
PROVIDENCE BRUINS (BOSTON)
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles) - 5 H, 5 A
Portland Pirates (Phoenix) - 5 H, 5 A
St. John's (Winnipeg) - 2 H, 2 A
Worcester (San Jose) - 6 H, 6 A

Northeast Division
Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia) - 1 H, 1 A
Albany Devils (New Jersey) - 2 H, 2 A
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) - 4 H, 4 A
Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers) - 4 H, 4 A
Springfield Falcons (Columbus) - 5 H, 5 A

East Division
Hershey Bears (Washington) - 1 H, 1 A
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa) - 2 H, 2 A
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) - 1 H, 1 A

The complete 2011-12 regular season schedule will be unveiled by the AHL later this summer. Providence will open their 20th season in the AHL on Friday, October 7 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

*Information gathered from http://www.providencebruins.com/

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Boston Bruins Sign Two New Players

Boston Inks Depth in Pair of Veteran Forwards
July 5, 2011

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward Jamie Tardif to a two-year contract and forward Josh Hennessy to a one-year contract.

Tardif, who served as the captain of the Grand Rapids Griffins for the past two-seasons, tallied career highs in goals (27), assists (27) and points (54) in 77 games played in 2010-11. In five seasons with the Griffins, Tardif has 78-76=154 totals in 316 games played.

Before entering the AHL, the 200-pound, 6'0" forward played five seasons for the Peterborough Petes (OHL) and one season with the Toledo Storm (ECHL).

The Welland, Ontario native was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Hennessy is returning to North America after spending the 2010-11 season in Switzerland playing for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A. The 25-year-old Brockton, MA native tallied 9-10-19 in 36 games for the club.

Originally drafted in the second round (43rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Hennessy has skated in 20 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, registering one goal and four penalty minutes. The 6'0", 198-pound center earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2003-04 with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. He led the Barons in goals (24) and assists (39) for 63 points in 80 games.

Hennessy was traded to the Senators before the 2006-07 NHL season. In addition to his 20 NHL games, Hennessy also skated with Ottawa's AHL team, the Binghamton Senators, where he totaled 99-114=213 in 289 games over four seasons.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

AHL Reveals Division Alignments For 2011-12 Season

Atlantic Division Trimmed to Five Teams
July 5, 2011

The Providence Bruins, entering their 20th season in the American Hockey League, announced today that they will be a part of a five-team Atlantic Division when the AHL opens the 2011-12 season. The league will operate with 30 teams in its 76th campaign as all 30 National Hockey League clubs will be represented by their own primary AHL affiliate.

Providence will remain in the Atlantic Division, which will drop to five teams from the seven it had during the 2010-11 season. Along with the P-Bruins, the Manchester Monarchs, Portland Pirates, St. John's and Worcester Sharks will make up the division.

Below is a complete list of the new 2011-12 conference and divisions, as well as the NHL affiliates of the teams involved.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division - Providence (Boston Bruins), Manchester (Los Angeles Kings), Portland (Phoenix Coyotes), St. John's (Winnipeg) and Worcester (San Jose)

Northeast Division - Adirondack (Philadelphia Flyers), Albany (New Jersey Devils), Bridgeport (New York Islanders), Connecticut (New York Rangers) and Springfield (Columbus Blue Jackets)

East Division - Binghamton (Ottawa Senators), Hershey (Washington Capitals), Norfolk (Tampa Bay), Syracuse (Anaheim Ducks) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Western Conference

North Division - Grand Rapids (Detroit Red Wings), Hamilton (Montréal Canadiens), Lake Erie (Colorado Avalanche), Rochester (Buffalo Sabres) and Toronto (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Midwest Division - Charlotte (Carolina Hurricanes), Chicago (Vancouver), Milwaukee (Nashville Predators), Peoria (St. Louis Blues) and Rockford (Chicago Blackhawks)

West Division - Abbotsford (Calgary Flames), Houston (Minnesota Wild), Oklahoma (Edmonton Oilers), San Antonio (Florida Panthers) and Texas (Dallas Stars)

The AHL Board of Governors also approved the format for the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs. Eight teams in each conference will qualify for the postseason, with the three division winners earning the top three seeds. The next five best teams in each conference will also qualify in order of regular-season points seeded fourth through eighth.

The conference quarterfinals will be a best-of-five series while the conference semifinals, conference finals and Calder Cup Finals will all be a best-of-seven series. Teams that advance from the first round will be reordered so that the highest-remaining seed plays the lowest-remaining seed.

*Information gathered from http://www.providencebruins.com/

Monday, July 4, 2011

Providence Bruins Pre-Season Games

Providence to Face Springfield in Two-Game Series
July 2, 2011

The Providence Bruins, entering their 20th season in the American Hockey League, announced today they will face the Springfield Falcons in two pre-season games.

The P-Bruins' pre-season schedule begins on Friday, September 30 at 7:05 p.m. as Providence serves as the host team to the Falcons at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, MA. For information or tickets to the game at the New England Sports Center, please contact the Sports Center at (508) 229-2700.

Providence will then travel to the MassMutual Center on Saturday, October 1 where they will wrap up the pre-season in a 7:00 p.m. contest against Springfield.

The Providence Bruins will open up the 2011-12 regular season at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday, October 7. The complete AHL schedule will be released in August.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

Boston Bruins Sign Whitfield and Khudobin

Bruins Sign Veteran Forward and Goalie to Two-Year Contracts
July 1, 2011

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed both forward Trent Whitfield and goaltender Anton Khudobin to two-year contracts. Per club policy, the financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Whitfield, who served as the Providence Bruins captain this year, missed the beginning of the 2010-11 season with an injury. Upon his return to the ice in January, the Alameda, Saskatchewan native recorded 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points in 45 games. His 18 goals ranked him third on the team and 36 points ranked fifth. Whitfield had a season-best month in March, netting 12 goals and 10 assists for a league-best 22 points in 13 games, a streak that earned him The American Hockey League's Player of the Month honors. He was named the club's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year.

In 2009-10, he notched 17-26=43 totals in 52 games for the P-Bruins and was recalled to Boston on four occasions, registering one assist in 16 regular season games. The 34-year-old veteran forward who was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, has played in 193 career NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Bruins.

Khudobin, a 24-year-old native of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, played in 16 games with the P-Bruins in the 2010-11 season, posting a .920 SV % and 2.40 GAA. The Bruins acquired Khudobin on March 1 in a trade with the Minnesota Wild for P-Bruins defenseman Jeff Penner and the restricted free agent (RFA) rights to forward Mikko Lehtonen. Prior to the March 1 trade, Khudobin saw time in four NHL games with Minnesota, having a record of 2-1-0, a 1.59 GAA and a save percentage of .940. His first career NHL shutout came on January 16 when he made 32 saves in a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com