Providence Reassigns Several Players

Mike Dalton Returns to Providence, Hutchinson Sent to Reading
Cody Wild to Reading, Ryan Donald Up To Providence
December 29, 2010

The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have reassigned goaltender Matt Dalton to Providence from the ECHL's Reading Royals, while also reassigning goalie Michael Hutchinson from Providence to Reading.

Dalton, 24, has appeared in one game for the P-Bruins this season, facing Springfield on opening night on Oct. 8. The second-year pro worked the first two periods of the game, stopping 12 of 16 shots in a 5-1 loss. He was later reassigned to Reading on Oct. 18 after posting a 6.00 goals-against-average and .750 save percentage for Providence. Dalton achieved much greater success with the Royals this year, however, going 11-7-0 with two shutouts, a 2.88 GAA and .912 save percentage in 18 games while leading his club to a first-place record in the ECHL's Atlantic Division. He leaves Reading having won three of his last four starts.

As a rookie in 2009-10, Dalton backstopped the Royals to the American Conference Finals and he was named Reading's Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Fan's Choice after finishing the regular season with a 22-20-4 record, one shutout, a 3.47 GAA and .906 save percentage in 46 outings. He added a 10-6 mark in the postseason, along with a 3.02 GAA and .914 save percentage. Dalton also went 0-4-1 with a 3.26 GAA and .904 save percentage in six games for Providence as a first-year pro following two seasons with the Bemidji State University Beavers. The Clinton, Ontario, native was signed by Boston to an entry-level contract on April 22, 2009.

Hutchinson, 20, has gone 7-7-0 with a 3.11 GAA and .898 save percentage in 18 games for Providence to begin his professional career. The P-Bruins' November Player of the Month enjoyed a seven-game unbeaten streak from Oct. 31 to Nov. 24, going 5-0-0, but he has since lost five of his last six starts.

Prior to turning pro, Hutchinson enjoyed four junior seasons in the OHL with Barrie and London. The native of Barrie, Ontario, went a remarkable 32-12-2 with three shutouts and a 2.86 GAA in his final junior year for the Knights in 2009-10. Overall, Hutchinson compiled a 67-50-13 record in 130 regular season games in juniors, plus a 12-11 playoff mark. The rookie was selected by Boston 77th overall in round three of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The Providence Bruins, in their 19th season in the American Hockey League, today announced that the club has recalled defenseman Ryan Donald from the Reading Royals of the ECHL. In a related move, the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have reassigned defenseman Cody Wild from Providence to Reading.

Donald, 24, is in his first full professional season, during which he has recorded two goals and four assists for six points in 28 games for Reading. The rookie blue-liner has also contributed a plus-10 rating, good for third on the Royals, and 52 penalty minutes, which is tied for the team-lead. Donald began the year in Providence but was assigned to Reading on Oct. 12 without having appeared in a game for the P-Bruins.

An undrafted native of St. Albert, Alberta, Donald signed an AHL contract with Providence on Sept. 17 after making his pro debut late in 2009-10 with Springfield following his senior season at Yale University. Donald appeared in three games for the Falcons, while tallying his first pro point with an assist. With the Bulldogs, Donald totaled 24 points, including five goals and 19 assists, along with 231 PIM over 123 contests.

Wild, 23, heads to Reading for the second time this season after being reassigned to the Royals on Dec. 18. He appeared in just one game for Reading, going scoreless with one shot on net in a 3-2 win at Wheeling on Dec. 19, before returning to Providence on Dec. 20. Wild leaves the P-Bruins after appearing in seven games this year, tallying one assist along with a minus-three rating.

The native of North Providence, Rhode Island, was acquired by Boston from Edmonton in a trade for forward Matt Marquardt on Mar. 2, making Providence Wild's third team of the 2009-10 season. Wild appeared in 18 contests for the P-Bruins, registering three assists, and also chipped in 14 helpers in 37 games for Springfield and one assist in four outings for the ECHL's Stockton. In his professional career, he has scored 43 points, including 37 assists, in 145 games.

The fourth-year pro began his career late in the 2007-08 campaign after finishing three seasons at Providence College. Wild was selected by the Oilers 140th overall in round five of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.