Tommy Cross Back With Providence

Defenseman Led South Carolina in Scoring
November 28, 2012

The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the Boston Bruins have reassigned Tommy Cross to Providence from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).

Cross skated in 22 games for the Stingrays since being assigned on October 11. The 6'3", 210-pound defenseman led the team in scoring with 17 points on six goals and 11 assists.

Cross, a four-year product of Boston College, joined Providence at the end of the 2011-12 season for two games. Boston's second round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft won two NCAA Championships while at Boston College.


*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

Justin Courtnall Called Up From ECHL

Courtnall Will Join Team on Road Trip
November 23, 2012

The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the club has recalled forward Justin Courtnall from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). Courtnall will travel with the team to St. John's for the games on Saturday and Sunday.

The left wing was reassigned to South Carolina on October 5, 2012. In five games with the Stingrays, Courtnall has gone scoreless and tallied 20 penalty minutes. A native of Victoria, BC, Courtnall spent the last three years at Boston University. As an assistant captain in 2011-12, Courtnall recorded a collegiate-high seven points on four goals and three assists.

The 6'3", 210-pound forward is the son of former Bruins forward Geoff Courtnall, and the nephew of Russ Courtnall, veterans of 17 and 16 year NHL careers respectively.

Originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the seventh day of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the 23-year-old finished his collegiate career with 13 points and 104 penalty minutes.


*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

Alden Hirschfeld Called Up From ECHL

Hirschfeld Recalled by Providence
Forward Skated in 15 Games for South Carolina
November 14, 2012


The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that forward Alden Hirschfeld has been recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays, Providence's ECHL affiliate.

The Sylvania, Ohio native was released from the P-Bruins Training Camp on October 5 and reassigned to South Carolina. In 15 games with the Stingrays, Hirschfeld has tallied seven points on four goals and three assists.

Hirschfeld, 24, is a four-year product of Miami University (Ohio) where he recorded 70 points on 35 goals and 35 assists. As a team tri-captain in 2011-12, the 6'1", 206-pound forward was one of only three players who skated in all 41 games for the RedHawks. He scored a collegiate-best 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points during his junior season.


*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com

 

It’s About Time

November 5, 2012
Thomas Chace Jr.

 

Yes, it is about time that the Providence Bruins won their first home game of the season.  On a Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, while the New England Patriots had their bye week, the P-Bruins came through with a 3-0 victory over a tired St. John’s team.  Nonetheless, this was a much needed victory in front of another big crowd in Providence.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said that “It was good to finally smile” after the teams fourth home game.  In previous home contests the Bruins came out flying but hit posts or missed chances to open up an early lead to get the home crowd going.  Sunday, it happened like it was scripted.

The P-Bruins big line started and tough guy Bobby Robins scored just 22 seconds into the game.  Robins on his line with Christian Hanson and Lane MacDermid had zero points for the season.  The first period was a fast skating, energy charged period for Providence as they outshot the IceCaps 14-5.

Despite the addition of AHL leading scorer, Chris Bourque, and some highly prized rookies like Ryan Spooner, the Bruins have struggled out of the gate.  The last two seasons, goals were few and far between and this year was supposed to be different.  I believe it will be, and perhaps getting goals from the physical line will loosen the boys up a little.

The second period was similar to the first with the Bruins getting a goal from Carter Camper with helpers from Bourque and Spooner.  The 2-0 lead was gained on the power-play, another big problem last year.  The power-play last year was ranked 30^th in the 30 team league and now is ranked 7^th in this early part of the regular season.  Half of the teams 18 goals have come on the power-play.  Clearly, the team needs to improve their five on five play.

The final goal was scored by MacDermid with assists to line mates, Robins and Hanson.  These three had no points coming in but left with 5 points and a big win.  It was a great day for the big guys.   Coach Cassidy explained, “It’s always a bonus when guys who don’t historically score, do score, and it gives us a big lift.  The guys love Bobby Robins on this team, to see him score it counts a little bit more.”  The game was not too physical, so Robins was not going to find any willing combatants to attempt the Gordie Howe hat trick.

Robins explained that “We wanted to get off to a good start and set the tone and get in early on the fore check.  We were doing the right things on the fore check and the puck found its way into the net.  It felt good to have the whole line contribute today.”

MacDermid was happy and explained “We got off to a good start with the goal and tried to set the tone physically. The whole team played well tonight and we pushed the puck and fore checked well.

Whenever we chip in offensively,  it’s a bonus, and the guys could build off that.”

Rookie goaltender Niklas Svedberg improved his record to 3-1 and got his first professional shutout while lowering his GAA to 2.01.  Expected starter Michael Hutchinson has been supplanted for now but will get his opportunities when Providence starts playing three games in three nights over the weekends.

It felt good to get a home win and maybe now the Providence club can stop holding their sticks so tight and start meeting their expectations.  I believe it is just a matter of time and perhaps the big guys yesterday showed that it’s not as hard as they have been making it for themselves.  Solid goaltending, balanced scoring, some physical play, and good coaching should lead Providence to more goals and wins.  It’s about time.