Providence Bruins vs. Charlotte Checkers
December 17, 2010
All photos on site by Thomas Chace Jr.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Providence To Play Outdoor Game
Bruins to Play Whale in East Hartford, CT
December 17, 2010
by T. Chace Jr.
At last nights game it was brought to my attention that the Providence Bruins will be playing an outdoor game on February 19th, 2011. I cannot believe that this has not been promoted by the Providence Bruins hockey club. With the huge success of the outdoor games in the NHL, AHL, and colleges in recent years and with the game only about 1 1/2 hours away it has me dumbfounded as to why nobody knows about it.
Here is the announcement and article regarding the game courtesy of http://www.ctwhale.com/.
Whalers Sports & Entertainment chairman Howard Baldwin, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced today that the Connecticut Whale’s home game February 19, 2011 vs. the Providence Bruins will be played outdoors at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. That game will be the marquee attraction at Whalers Hockey Fest 2011, which runs from February 11-20 at Rentschler Field.
"Whalers Hockey Fest will be the biggest, and greatest, hockey event in Connecticut’s history, and this AHL game featuring the re-branded Whale vs. the arch-rival Bruins will be the crowning touch," said Baldwin. "I feel that this game will be the best attended in AHL history, and I challenge the hockey fans of Connecticut to smash the all-time AHL attendance record, to set a league standard that will stand for a long time."
This will be the second outdoor game in the history of the AHL, and the current league single-game attendance record was set at the first, a contest between the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators February 20, 2010 at the New York State Fairgrounds, which drew 21,508.
"High-level hockey played outdoors has been a huge hit, both at the NHL and AHL levels," said Baldwin, "and for this game, we have a first-class facility and two great regional rivals going at each other on the ice. With that, and extremely reasonable ticket prices, I think we are going to see a big demand for tickets to this game, and every hockey fan in the area will want to enjoy this unique experience."
The Whale-Bruins tilt at Rentschler on February 19 will face off at 7:00 PM. Ticket packages for Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 are available now through the CT Whale web page at www.ctwhale.com or by calling (860) 728-3366.
Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 will run from February 11-20 at Rentschler Field. In addition to the AHL game, the historic outdoor event will feature: a Hartford Whalers alumni vs. Boston Bruins alumni classic, an NHL Legends game commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1986 NHL All-Star Game being played in Hartford, five premier college games, at least 25 elite high school and prep school games and a "Whaler Village", featuring exhibitors, games and the Whalers Mobile Hall of Fame.
December 17, 2010
by T. Chace Jr.
At last nights game it was brought to my attention that the Providence Bruins will be playing an outdoor game on February 19th, 2011. I cannot believe that this has not been promoted by the Providence Bruins hockey club. With the huge success of the outdoor games in the NHL, AHL, and colleges in recent years and with the game only about 1 1/2 hours away it has me dumbfounded as to why nobody knows about it.
Here is the announcement and article regarding the game courtesy of http://www.ctwhale.com/.
Whalers Sports & Entertainment chairman Howard Baldwin, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced today that the Connecticut Whale’s home game February 19, 2011 vs. the Providence Bruins will be played outdoors at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. That game will be the marquee attraction at Whalers Hockey Fest 2011, which runs from February 11-20 at Rentschler Field.
"Whalers Hockey Fest will be the biggest, and greatest, hockey event in Connecticut’s history, and this AHL game featuring the re-branded Whale vs. the arch-rival Bruins will be the crowning touch," said Baldwin. "I feel that this game will be the best attended in AHL history, and I challenge the hockey fans of Connecticut to smash the all-time AHL attendance record, to set a league standard that will stand for a long time."
This will be the second outdoor game in the history of the AHL, and the current league single-game attendance record was set at the first, a contest between the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators February 20, 2010 at the New York State Fairgrounds, which drew 21,508.
"High-level hockey played outdoors has been a huge hit, both at the NHL and AHL levels," said Baldwin, "and for this game, we have a first-class facility and two great regional rivals going at each other on the ice. With that, and extremely reasonable ticket prices, I think we are going to see a big demand for tickets to this game, and every hockey fan in the area will want to enjoy this unique experience."
The Whale-Bruins tilt at Rentschler on February 19 will face off at 7:00 PM. Ticket packages for Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 are available now through the CT Whale web page at www.ctwhale.com or by calling (860) 728-3366.
Whalers Hockey Fest 2011 will run from February 11-20 at Rentschler Field. In addition to the AHL game, the historic outdoor event will feature: a Hartford Whalers alumni vs. Boston Bruins alumni classic, an NHL Legends game commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1986 NHL All-Star Game being played in Hartford, five premier college games, at least 25 elite high school and prep school games and a "Whaler Village", featuring exhibitors, games and the Whalers Mobile Hall of Fame.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Providence Home Record Unexplainable
Veterans Need To Lead
by Thomas Chace Jr.
December 16, 2010
The Providence Bruins are playing as well on the road as any team in the AHL. Only league leading W-B/Scranton has performed any better this season. The Bruins have lost only twice all year in 11 games on enemy ice. The problem is that through 15 games at the Dunkin Donuts Center, home of the Providence club, they have been on the winning side only three times. Obviously, this is of great concern to Head Coach Rob Murray, who stated that “we can’t be satisfied by the way we’re playing at home, it’s embarrassing. I feel bad for our fan base, it’s not like we’re giving them a good game and losing. Teams are coming in here and walking away with two points. We are a big team and we don’t intimidate anybody. We don’t make the other teams’ defensemen pay by getting in on the forecheck and finishing our hits. Our home record is embarrassing.”
The fans are still coming to watch the Bruins however; they are third in the league in attendance despite their abysmal home record. On December 9th the Bruins traded three players from the Providence roster. They acquired forward Juraj Simek in exchange for feisty winger Levi Nelson. They also moved Jordan Knackstedt and Jeff LoVecchio to Florida for defenseman Sean Zimmerman and a 7th round pick in the NHL 2011 draft. There are plenty of veterans on the club and Murray says, “it shouldn’t be solely up to me to get the team motivated and ready to play. If I keep yelling at them I’m gonna lose them. There has to be accountability within the team itself.”
There is a long way to go but making it more difficult for the opposing teams to play in Providence is paramount right now. You want to continue to get the fan support and nothing helps more than winning. The team does not score enough goals despite being fourth in the league in shots on goal. With a lack of scoring it produces terrible power play numbers. But once again the record is unexplainable. At home they are last in the AHL with a pathetic 7.4% success rate. On the road, they are 8th in the league at 20.5%. Overall they stand at a 12.5% power play record. Providence actually kills penalties better at home than on the road. The goaltending has been another matter. Rookie Michael Hutchinson has played more games than veteran Nolan Schaefer and sports a respectable 2.90 GAA and has been the winning goaltender in 7 of their 11 victories. None of this makes any sense which is why Murray is beside himself with his team right now. The AHL schedule is not going to change. They play 80 games and 40 are at home, so at some point this home madness is going to end. Everyone likes to be home for the holidays; the sooner Providence realizes that, the better.
December 16, 2010
The Providence Bruins are playing as well on the road as any team in the AHL. Only league leading W-B/Scranton has performed any better this season. The Bruins have lost only twice all year in 11 games on enemy ice. The problem is that through 15 games at the Dunkin Donuts Center, home of the Providence club, they have been on the winning side only three times. Obviously, this is of great concern to Head Coach Rob Murray, who stated that “we can’t be satisfied by the way we’re playing at home, it’s embarrassing. I feel bad for our fan base, it’s not like we’re giving them a good game and losing. Teams are coming in here and walking away with two points. We are a big team and we don’t intimidate anybody. We don’t make the other teams’ defensemen pay by getting in on the forecheck and finishing our hits. Our home record is embarrassing.”
The fans are still coming to watch the Bruins however; they are third in the league in attendance despite their abysmal home record. On December 9th the Bruins traded three players from the Providence roster. They acquired forward Juraj Simek in exchange for feisty winger Levi Nelson. They also moved Jordan Knackstedt and Jeff LoVecchio to Florida for defenseman Sean Zimmerman and a 7th round pick in the NHL 2011 draft. There are plenty of veterans on the club and Murray says, “it shouldn’t be solely up to me to get the team motivated and ready to play. If I keep yelling at them I’m gonna lose them. There has to be accountability within the team itself.”
There is a long way to go but making it more difficult for the opposing teams to play in Providence is paramount right now. You want to continue to get the fan support and nothing helps more than winning. The team does not score enough goals despite being fourth in the league in shots on goal. With a lack of scoring it produces terrible power play numbers. But once again the record is unexplainable. At home they are last in the AHL with a pathetic 7.4% success rate. On the road, they are 8th in the league at 20.5%. Overall they stand at a 12.5% power play record. Providence actually kills penalties better at home than on the road. The goaltending has been another matter. Rookie Michael Hutchinson has played more games than veteran Nolan Schaefer and sports a respectable 2.90 GAA and has been the winning goaltender in 7 of their 11 victories. None of this makes any sense which is why Murray is beside himself with his team right now. The AHL schedule is not going to change. They play 80 games and 40 are at home, so at some point this home madness is going to end. Everyone likes to be home for the holidays; the sooner Providence realizes that, the better.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Boston Trades Three Providence Bruins
Boston Makes Two Trades Today
Three Long-Time P-Bruins Leaving Providence
The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have made two trades. The Bruins have acquired forward Juraj Simek from Tampa Bay in exchange for Levi Nelson. Boston has also acquired defenseman Sean Zimmerman and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from Florida in exchange for Jordan Knackstedt and Jeff LoVecchio. Both Simek and Zimmerman will report to Providence.
Simek, 23, has posted three goals and six assists for nine points in 21 games this year for the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. The winger is coming off of a career-year for the Admirals in 2009-10, during which he scored 21 goals and assisted on 15 others for 36 points, all personal-bests. In his four-year professional career, including three with Norfolk and one with Manitoba, the Presov, Slovakia, native has totaled 40 goals, 44 assists and 84 points, along with 110 penalty minutes in 225 regular season games. Simek has also scored seven points (2g, 5a) in 10 postseason outings. He was selected by Vancouver 167th overall in round six of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Zimmerman, 23, has gone scoreless in seven games this year as a member of the AHL's Rochester Americans. Prior to joining the Amerks, the defenseman has enjoyed time with San Antonio, Lowell and Albany of the AHL, the ECHL's Trenton, and Arizona of the CHL. Now in his sixth year, Zimmerman has 21 career points, including four goals and 17 assists, plus 218 PIM in 216 games. He had a career-best two goals, seven assists, nine points and 105 PIM in 72 contests for the Rampage in 2009-10. The Denver, Colorado, native was selected by New Jersey 170th overall in round six of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Nelson, 22, skated in 14 games for the P-Bruins this season, scoring seven points (4g, 3a). Selected by Boston 158th overall in round six of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, the third-year pro has spent the majority of his professional career in Providence, along with a brief stint in Reading of the ECHL. In his career, the Calgary, Alberta, native has scored 33 points (18g, 15a) in 135 contests between the regular season and playoffs.
Knacktedt, 22, appeared in 22 games for Providence this year with 12 points, including seven goals, which ranked tied for second on the club. The winger and native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had spent his entire professional career with the P-Bruins, scoring 83 points (37g, 46a) in 185 games between the regular season and postseason. Knackstedt was selected by Boston 189th overall in round seven of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
LoVecchio, 25, tallied three points in 22 games for the P-Bruins this year, all assists. The left wing played his entire pro career in Providence, scoring 33 points (18g, 15a) in 107 contests between the regular season and playoffs. The undrafted Chesterfield, Missouri, native was first signed by Boston to an entry-level contract on Mar. 18, 2008.
Three Long-Time P-Bruins Leaving Providence
The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have made two trades. The Bruins have acquired forward Juraj Simek from Tampa Bay in exchange for Levi Nelson. Boston has also acquired defenseman Sean Zimmerman and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from Florida in exchange for Jordan Knackstedt and Jeff LoVecchio. Both Simek and Zimmerman will report to Providence.
Simek, 23, has posted three goals and six assists for nine points in 21 games this year for the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. The winger is coming off of a career-year for the Admirals in 2009-10, during which he scored 21 goals and assisted on 15 others for 36 points, all personal-bests. In his four-year professional career, including three with Norfolk and one with Manitoba, the Presov, Slovakia, native has totaled 40 goals, 44 assists and 84 points, along with 110 penalty minutes in 225 regular season games. Simek has also scored seven points (2g, 5a) in 10 postseason outings. He was selected by Vancouver 167th overall in round six of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Zimmerman, 23, has gone scoreless in seven games this year as a member of the AHL's Rochester Americans. Prior to joining the Amerks, the defenseman has enjoyed time with San Antonio, Lowell and Albany of the AHL, the ECHL's Trenton, and Arizona of the CHL. Now in his sixth year, Zimmerman has 21 career points, including four goals and 17 assists, plus 218 PIM in 216 games. He had a career-best two goals, seven assists, nine points and 105 PIM in 72 contests for the Rampage in 2009-10. The Denver, Colorado, native was selected by New Jersey 170th overall in round six of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Nelson, 22, skated in 14 games for the P-Bruins this season, scoring seven points (4g, 3a). Selected by Boston 158th overall in round six of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, the third-year pro has spent the majority of his professional career in Providence, along with a brief stint in Reading of the ECHL. In his career, the Calgary, Alberta, native has scored 33 points (18g, 15a) in 135 contests between the regular season and playoffs.
Knacktedt, 22, appeared in 22 games for Providence this year with 12 points, including seven goals, which ranked tied for second on the club. The winger and native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had spent his entire professional career with the P-Bruins, scoring 83 points (37g, 46a) in 185 games between the regular season and postseason. Knackstedt was selected by Boston 189th overall in round seven of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
LoVecchio, 25, tallied three points in 22 games for the P-Bruins this year, all assists. The left wing played his entire pro career in Providence, scoring 33 points (18g, 15a) in 107 contests between the regular season and playoffs. The undrafted Chesterfield, Missouri, native was first signed by Boston to an entry-level contract on Mar. 18, 2008.
Stuart Hurt, Kampfer Gets The Call
Steve Kampfer Should Play First NHL Game
P-Bruins Rookie Called Up to NHL on Emergency Basis
The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have recalled rookie defenseman Steve Kampfer from Providence on an emergency basis. Kampfer will join Boston for its practice this morning at the Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, MA. This is Kampfer's first career recall to the NHL.
Kampfer, 22, is in his first full professional season and currently ranks second on the P-Bruins in scoring with 16 points, including three goals and a team-high 13 assists. The blue-liner sits tied for sixth in the AHL in scoring among defensemen, while he leads all league rookies in helpers. Kampfer has also earned a plus-10 rating in his 20 games, good for a fourth-place tie among first-year AHL skaters.
Selected 93rd overall by Anaheim in round four of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Kampfer was acquired by Boston for a conditional fourth round draft pick in a trade with the Ducks on Mar. 2, 2010. Prior to turning pro with Providence late in the 2009-10 campaign, the defenseman was a standout player for four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he totaled seven goals and 53 assists for 60 points in 147 games. As a senior, Kampfer helped the Wolverines win the CCHA Tournament and reach the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, the Ann Arbor, Michigan, native was named to the NCAA All-Regional Team (Midwest) and the CCHA All-Tournament Team.
Since signing an entry-level contract with Boston on Mar. 31, 2010, Kampfer has scored four goals, tallied 15 assists and recorded 19 points in 26 games as a pro.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Jordan Caron Sent To Providence
Providence Welcomes Caron to Fold
2009 First Round Pick has Appeared in 20 Games for Bruins
The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have assigned rookie forward Jordan Caron to Providence.
Caron, 20, has appeared in 20 of Boston's 25 games this season, recording three goals and four assists for his first seven career points, along with a plus-four rating. The rookie made his professional debut on Oct. 10 at Phoenix and later scored his first pro goal for his first point at New Jersey on Oct. 16. He has been a healthy scratch for Boston's last two contests.
Prior to turning pro, Caron spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Rimouski Oceanic and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, totaling 116 goals and 120 assists for 236 points in 237 games between the regular season and playoffs. He played parts of his first four years with Rimouski before a trade to Rouyn-Noranda last Jan. 7.
The Sayabec, Quebec, native was selected by Boston 25th overall in round one of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
*information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
2009 First Round Pick has Appeared in 20 Games for Bruins
The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have assigned rookie forward Jordan Caron to Providence.
Caron, 20, has appeared in 20 of Boston's 25 games this season, recording three goals and four assists for his first seven career points, along with a plus-four rating. The rookie made his professional debut on Oct. 10 at Phoenix and later scored his first pro goal for his first point at New Jersey on Oct. 16. He has been a healthy scratch for Boston's last two contests.
Prior to turning pro, Caron spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Rimouski Oceanic and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, totaling 116 goals and 120 assists for 236 points in 237 games between the regular season and playoffs. He played parts of his first four years with Rimouski before a trade to Rouyn-Noranda last Jan. 7.
The Sayabec, Quebec, native was selected by Boston 25th overall in round one of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
*information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
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