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.

Providence Bruins Rookie Camp

Rookie Camp in Kitchener
August 27, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

The Bruins yesterday announced their 24-man roster for their upcoming rookie camp in Kitchener, Ontario. The team departs on Saturday, Sept. 5 and returns Thursday, Sept. 10, with three games in between against the Maple Leafs, Senators, and Penguins.

Here's the travel roster by position (note 2009 first-round pick Jordan Caron is absent due to injury). For more details, click "full entry" below.

Goaltenders (3): Adam Courchaine, Matt Dalton, Mike Hutchinson.

Defensemen (7): Ryan Button, Scott Fletcher, Brad Good, Alain Goulet, Mark Isherwood, Rob Kwiet, Marc Zanetti.


Forwards (14): Jamie Arniel, Chris DeSousa, Zach Hamill, Jordan Knackstedt, Jason Lawrence, Lane MacDermid, Taylor MacDougall, Matt Marquardt, Jeff LoVecchio, Levi Nelson, Tyler Randell, Max Sauve, Peter Stevens, Jason Wilson.



Here's more from the press release from the Bruins:

BOSTON -- Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today the 24-man rookie roster that will participate in the team’s rookie camp in Kitchener, Ontario. The team will depart Boston for Kitchener on Saturday, September 5 and return on Thursday, September 10. The team will play three games total, one each against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The travel roster includes the eighth overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Zach Hamill, and three members of the Bruins ’09 NHL Draft Class, as Ryan Button (third round, 86th overall), Lane MacDermid (fourth round, 112th overall) and Tyler Randell (sixth round, 176th overall) will all skate in the camp. The Bruins first round pick in the
’09 draft, Jordan Caron, will not participate due to injury.

Other recent draft selections making the trip are: Max Sauve (2008, second round), Mike Hutchinson (2008, third round), Jamie Arniel (2008, fourth round), Alain Goulet (2007, sixth round), Jordan Knackstedt (2007, seventh round) and Levi Nelson (2006, sixth round).

Rounding out the travel roster are players acquired through trades or free agency Jeff LoVecchio, Matt Marquardt, Rob Kwiet, Scott Fletcher, Matt Dalton and Adam Courchaine and rookie camp invitees Chris DeSousa, Jason Lawrence, Taylor MacDougall, Jason Wilson, Mark Isherwood, Peter Stevens, Marc Zanetti and Brad Good.

INFO PROVIDED BY: CHRIS FORSBERG @ Boston.com & Providence Bruins.com

Providence Bruins Roster Moves

Spring/Summer Player Movement
August 5, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

Since the Providence Bruins playoff series ended with Hershey there have been signings and releases of players this past spring and in recent weeks. Statistics of each player are listed after transaction.

- Buyout of the final year of Peter Schaefer's contract. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=19344

- Byron Bitz, 24, signed to a new multi-year contract. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=72626

- Defenseman, Johnny Boychuk, 25, signed to a one year contract. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=55353

- Goaltender, Dany Sabourin, 28, signed to a one year deal. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=35765

- D-Man, Drew Fata, 25, signed to a one year deal. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=55336

- Center, Trent Whitfield, 32, to a one year deal. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=24718

- Center, Drew Larman, 24, to a one year deal. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=71844

- Defenseman, Rob Kwiet, 20, to a one year deal. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=89804

- Defenseman, Zach McKelvie, 24, to a one year deal.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=93742

These transactions are current, as of 8/5/09.
Updates to follow.

Bruins Now Affiliated With Reading Royals

ECHL's Reading Royals will be a Boston Affiliate in 2009-10
August 5, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

The Providence Bruins have announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have entered into an affiliation with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Under the arrangements, the Bruins will be able to designate players within their development system for assignment to Reading,during the 2009-10 season.

The Royals have played in Reading, Pennsylvania, since 2001 and are also the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins did not have an ECHL affiliate last season but several players enjoyed time with both Providence and Reading in 2008-09, including Brock Hooton, Ned Lukacevic, Kirk MacDonald, Levi Nelson, Kevin Schaeffer and Dinos Stamoulis. For more information on the Royals, visit royalshockey.com.

Source Info from providencebruins.com

AHL Announces Its Schedule Format

Providence Opponents Determined
July 8, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

The opponents have been determined, but the dates and times have to wait a bit. The American Hockey League has come out with their format schedule for all their teams, as well as some re-alignments and new teams. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers join the Providence Bruins in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference to make an eight team division.

Here is the complete breakdown of the Providence Bruins' opponents and how many times they will face each other, along with the conference and divisional alignments:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION

PROVIDENCE BRUINS (Boston)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) - 3 H, 3 A
Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) - 5 H, 5 A
Lowell Devils (New Jersey) - 5 H, 5 A
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles) - 5 H, 5 A
Portland Pirates (Buffalo) - 4 H, 4 A
Springfield Falcons (Edmonton) - 5 H, 5 A
Worcester Sharks (San Jose) - 5 H, 5 A

EAST DIVISION

Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia) - 1 H, 1 A
Albany River Rats (Carolina) - 1 H, 1 A
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa) - 1 H, 1 A
Hershey Bears (Washington) - 1 H, 1 A
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay)
Syracuse Crunch (Columbus) - 1 H, 1 A
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) - 1 H, 1 A


WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTH DIVISION

Abbotsford Heat (Calgary) - 2 H, 2 A
Grand Rapid Griffins (Detroit)
Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal)
Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado)
Manitoba Moose (Vancouver)
Rochester Americans (Florida)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto)

WEST DIVISION
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta)
Houston Aeros (Minnesota)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago)
San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix)
Texas Stars (Dallas)


The AHL will continue to feature an Eastern and Western conference. Three new teams join the AHL this upcoming season, including the Texas Stars, Abbotsford Heat, and the Adirondack Phantoms, giving the league a total of 29 clubs vying for the 2010 Calder Cup.