Latest Providence Roster Moves

P-BRUINS TRIM ROSTER BY TWO
Ross and Gordon Return to ECHL's Reading

Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, in their 18th year in the American Hockey League, announced that they have assigned defenseman Jared Ross to the ECHL's Reading Royals and released forward Ben Gordon from his Professional Tryout Agreement. Gordon will also return to Reading. With the moves, the P-Bruins have 21 players on their roster, including 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.

Ross, 24, was recalled by Providence from Reading on October 10 and appeared in his first professional regular season game that evening on the road against the Portland Pirates. Overall, the undrafted defenseman suited up for six P-Bruins games, going scoreless with a minus-one rating. Ross is a four-year product of the St. Lawrence University Saints, where he recorded 48 points (22g, 26a) in 134 collegiate games. The Stony Island, Nova Scotia, native made his pro debut during the 2009 ECHL playoffs following the conclusion of his senior season, tallying one assist in two playoff games for the Elmira Jackals. Ross signed an AHL contract with Providence on August 11 and participated in the P-Bruins' training camp before being assigned to Reading.

Gordon, 24, signed a PTO with Providence on October 23 and made his AHL debut that night against the Worcester Sharks. The undrafted forward went scoreless in two games with two penalty minutes for the P-Bruins. Gordon began the season with Reading, scoring two goals in the team's first two games. He registered his first multiple-point game of the year with a pair of goals on October 17 versus Elmira. Gordon is in his second professional season after splitting last year between Reading and the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he totaled 57 points (21g, 36a) in 63 games overall. Prior to turning pro, the native of International Falls, Minnesota, played four seasons of college hockey for the University of Minnesota Gophers, starring alongside Boston Bruins forward Blake Wheeler. In his collegiate career, Gordon recorded 98 points (39g, 59a) in 148 games.

Providence returns to action this weekend with three games, the first two on the road on Friday, October 30 against the Manchester Monarchs at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 31 versus the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7 p.m. The P-Bruins wrap up the weekend at home on Sunday, November 1 by hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 4:05 p.m.

Providence Off To Offensive Start

Providence Bruins Score Two Victories
by T. Chace Jr.
October 10, 2009

Last year the Providence Bruins lost to the eventual Calder Cup Champion, the Hershey Bears in the Conference Finals. The Bears were bigger, stronger, faster and had a veteran presence, which combined made them champions. During this past off-season the Bruins made several changes to get bigger, stronger and add some age to go with their plethora of young talent. So far, in just two games it seems to be working just as management had hoped.

Starting the season 2-0, the Bruins have scored 11 goals on 82 shots. They have allowed 5 goals with new netminder, Dany Sabourin, taking over between the pipes for young Tuukka Rask who has made the big club in Boston. Sabourin, 29, has played 57 NHL games in his career and looks to backbone a very good Providence team. Veterans, Trent Whitfield, Andy Wozniewski, Guillaume Lefebvre, and enforcer Brett Clouthier join a young nucleus of Bruins to form a well rounded team.

The team can roll out three solid lines and the fourth line provides great energy when called upon. Left wing Jeff LoVecchio, injured all of last year, was named the first star in the opening game for Providence, a 6-2 victory over Springfield. LoVecchio and Brad Marchand scored two goals apiece; Whitfield and Wozniewski added the others in their debut with Providence. Shots in that game at one point were 37-12 favoring the Bruins. There were also two scuffles in the game in which Lefebvre and Adam McQuaid showed that the team will not be pushed around this season.

On Friday night, in a game against the Hartford Wolfpack, the B's won again by a 5-3 score. They led 4-1 before Hartford made a late third period rally. There were three more fights in this one, as McQuaid and Dane Byers squared off twice. Newcomer Drew Fata, another new defenseman for Providence also scrapped with Brodie Dupont. Sabourin made 34 saves in net for the Bruins in a game head coach Rob Murray referred to as sloppy for both teams. "We played a lot cleaner game last Sunday; tonight both teams were sloppy and just trading chances out there. We had alot of give-a ways which added to the opportunities for them, but Sabourin played very well."

Next up for Providence is their first road game against their arguably biggest rival, the Portland Pirates. Hartford returns to Providence on Sunday to try and split the weekend series. The Bruins look like a real contender this year, with all the pieces in place to make a strong run at the Calder Cup in 2009-10.

Roster Is Official

Providence Announces Roster For 2009-10 Season
by T. Chace Jr.
October 2, 2009

Here is the official Bruins roster for 2009-10

# Player Pos Shoots Height Weight DOB Birthplace
2 Andrew Bodnarchuk D L 5-11 190 Jul 11,1988 Drumheller, AB
6 Jeff Penner D L 5-10 183 Apr 13,1987 Steinbach, MB
7 Andy Wozniewski D L 6-3 195 May 25,1980 Buffalo Grove, IL
8 Mikko Lehtonen RW R 6-3 196 Apr 1,1987 Espoo, Finland
9 Zach Hamill C R 5-11 190 Sep 23,1988 Port Coquitlam, BC
10 Vladimir Sobotka C L 5-11 194 Jul 2, 1987 Trebic, Czech Republic
11 Drew Larman C R 6-3 195 May 15, 1985 Canton, MI
12 Jamie Arniel C R 5-11 183 Nov 16, 1989 Kingston, ON
14 Guillaume Lefebvre LW L 6-1 195 May 7, 1981 Amos, QC
16 Matt Marquardt LW L 6-3 229 Jul 19, 1987 North Bay, ON
17 Brad Marchand RW L 5-9 190 May 11, 1988 Halifax, NS
18 Jeff LoVecchio LW L 6-2 195 Aug 26, 1985 Chesterfield, MO
21 Alain Goulet D R 6-1 186 Sep 22, 1988 Kapuskasing, ON
23 Trent Whitfield C L 5-11 204 Jun 17, 1977 Alameda, SK
25 Jordan Knackstedt RW R 6-2 195 Sep 28, 1988 Saskatoon, SK
27 Adam McQuaid D R 6-3 197 Oct 12, 1986 Charlottetown, PEI
28 Rob Kwiet D L 6-1 218 Aug 2, 1988 Toronto, ON
29 Brett Clouthier LW L 6-5 225 Jun 9, 1981 Ottawa, ON
30 Matt Dalton G R 6-1 189 Jul 4, 1986 Clinton, ON
32 Dany Sabourin G R 6-4 200 Sep 20, 1980 Val d'Or, QC
35 Kevin Regan G R 6-1 190 Jul 25, 1984 South Boston, MA
44 Drew Fata D L 6-1 215 Jul 28, 1983 Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Providence Must Cut Down Roster Soon

P-Bruins Current Roster Has 27 Players
by T. Chace Jr.
October 1, 2009

With opening night just three days away against their rival Srpingfield Falcons, the Bruins still need to finalize their roster. The current roster contains 15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 4 goaltenders for a total of 27 skaters.

Goaltenders still on the roster include Kevin Regan, Adam Courchaine, Matt Dalton, and Dany Sabourin. The Bruins blue line is being manned by returning players Adam McQuaid, Jeff Penner and Andrew Bodnarchuk. They are joined by newcomers Drew Fata, Andy Wozniewski, Rob Kwiet, Alain Goulet and Scott Fletcher. With Vladimir Sobotka being returned yesterday, the Bruins have 15 forwards. Brad Marchand, Matt Marquardt, Jordan Knackstedt, Mikko Lehtonen, Zach Hamill, Jamie Arniel, Kirk MacDonald and Jeff LoVecchio all return this year. New faces include Lane McDeermid, Drew Larmen, Trent Whitfield and Guillaume Lefebvre. I am not sure if one of the other forwards include tough guy Brett Clouthier. An official roster has yet to be published.

The team has both skill and brawn this season and should prove to be very entertaining. The goaltending situation is somewhat in flux with the departure of Tuukka Rask to the parent Boston club backing up newly signed Tim Thomas. It was a pleasant surprise to see Johnny Boychuck stick with the big club as the seventh defenseman, all the best to our former Providence players as they embark on their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup in Boston.