Randell has four points with South Carolina; O'Neill has 20 with Toledo
January 12, 2012
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the Boston Bruins have reassigned forward Tyler Randell to Providence. In a separate transaction, the Providence Bruins have signed defenseman Wes O'Neill to a PTO.
Randell, Boston's sixth round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, has skated in 22 games with South Carolina, tallying two goals and two assists on top of 46 penalty minutes. This is the forward's second recall to Providence. He was recalled on December 5 and skated in one game for the Bruins before being reassigned to the Stingrays on January 2. After four seasons in the OHL with Belleville and Kitchener, Randell made his professional debut with Providence in the 2011-12 season. After 30 games, in which he went 2-0-2 and recorded 45 penalty minutes, he was reassigned by Boston to the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
O'Neill has skated in 37 games with the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) this season, registering 20 points and 56 penalty minutes. The sixth-year pro has spent time in various hockey cities including, Lake Erie (AHL), Johnstown (ECHL), Colorado (NHL), Kalamazoo (ECHL) and Bridgeport (AHL). The 6'4", 218-pound defenseman was originally drafted 115th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Since turning pro in 2007, he has skated in 298 professional games, including five games with the Colorado Avalanche. Prior to turning pro, he spent four years on the blue line for the University of Notre Dame.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Several Providence Players Invited to Boston
Bruins Begin Practices With Providence Additions
January 10, 2013
Thomas Chace Jr.
As expected, several Providence players have been invited to Boston this weekend to participate in Boston's first official practices. The Bruins are opening their season a week from Saturday on January 19th vs. the New York Rangers at home in the TD Garden.
Boston's roster has many players who played in Europe but several have had to rely on personal workouts and skating at local hockey camps and rinks. With the addition of some Providence players who have been playing since October it will make for an interesting start to the lock-out shortened NHL season.
The only Bruins player deemed elibible to play in Providence this season, Jordan Caron, was injured in an awkward collision on Friday night against Portland. His injury status has perhaps opened up a spot on the Boston third line.
Boston invited Providence leading scorer Chris Bourque, who has been hot of late. His 8 goals are second on the team along with a team leading 20 assists. Jamie Tardif, has returned from his own injury issues and leads Providence with 16 goals and has been a force in front of the net. Rookie speedster, Ryan Spooner will get a chance to skate with the big boys, as will rugged left winger, Lane MacDermid.
Defensemen, Matt Bartkowski and David Warsofsky will also join the group headed to Boston. The two defensemen have identical scoring numbers, 9 points apiece, with 2 goals and 7 assists for each player.
The Providence Bruins have a three games in three days weekend schedule coming up. A home game on Friday night against Bridgeport, on the road Saturday to Springfield, and a return home to face the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday. To address the player shortage, the Providence club made roster moves yesterday involving their ECHL affiliate in South Carolina.
The Boston Bruins have not announced a formal practice schedule or game schedule as of this writing. Stay tuned.
January 10, 2013
Thomas Chace Jr.
As expected, several Providence players have been invited to Boston this weekend to participate in Boston's first official practices. The Bruins are opening their season a week from Saturday on January 19th vs. the New York Rangers at home in the TD Garden.
Boston's roster has many players who played in Europe but several have had to rely on personal workouts and skating at local hockey camps and rinks. With the addition of some Providence players who have been playing since October it will make for an interesting start to the lock-out shortened NHL season.
The only Bruins player deemed elibible to play in Providence this season, Jordan Caron, was injured in an awkward collision on Friday night against Portland. His injury status has perhaps opened up a spot on the Boston third line.
Boston invited Providence leading scorer Chris Bourque, who has been hot of late. His 8 goals are second on the team along with a team leading 20 assists. Jamie Tardif, has returned from his own injury issues and leads Providence with 16 goals and has been a force in front of the net. Rookie speedster, Ryan Spooner will get a chance to skate with the big boys, as will rugged left winger, Lane MacDermid.
Defensemen, Matt Bartkowski and David Warsofsky will also join the group headed to Boston. The two defensemen have identical scoring numbers, 9 points apiece, with 2 goals and 7 assists for each player.
The Providence Bruins have a three games in three days weekend schedule coming up. A home game on Friday night against Bridgeport, on the road Saturday to Springfield, and a return home to face the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday. To address the player shortage, the Providence club made roster moves yesterday involving their ECHL affiliate in South Carolina.
The Boston Bruins have not announced a formal practice schedule or game schedule as of this writing. Stay tuned.
Roster Moves for Providence
Courtnall Recalled from South Carolina; McNeely and Baier signed to PTOs
January 9, 2013
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that forward Justin Courtnall has been recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays. In a separate transaction, forward Tyler McNeely and defenseman Eric Baier have been signed to professional tryout agreements.
Courtnall was recalled from loan to South Carolina on November 23 and skated in one game for the Bruins. Since returning to South Carolina, the forward has skated in 13 games, and has totaled four points (2g, 2a) and 36 penalty minutes in 18 games this season. 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.
A native of Burnaby, British Columbia, McNeely has played 38 games with South Carolina this season. 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. The forward leads the Stingrays with 34 points, including a team-high 25 assists. McNeely spent 2010-11 with Bridgeport (AHL) and registered 32 points on 76 games. Prior to turning pro, the 5'10", 175-pound forward spent four years at Northeastern University, where he tallied 105 points (44g, 61a) in 142 games and captained the squad as a junior and senior.
Baier, a native of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, has skated in 34 games for the Trenton Titans (ECHL) this season, putting up six points and 10 penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro in 2010-11, Baier spent four years on the blue line at Providence College where he tallied 32 points on nine goals and 23 assists in 127 games. As a senior in 2010-11, he led all defensemen with 12 points (5g, 7a). He made his professional debut on March 6, 2011 with the Reading Royals (ECHL). He has since played with the Portland Pirates, Rockford IceHogs, Albany Devils and Trenton. In his first full professional season in 2011-12, Baier tallied a career-high 17 points and finished second among Titans defensemen.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
January 9, 2013
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that forward Justin Courtnall has been recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays. In a separate transaction, forward Tyler McNeely and defenseman Eric Baier have been signed to professional tryout agreements.
Courtnall was recalled from loan to South Carolina on November 23 and skated in one game for the Bruins. Since returning to South Carolina, the forward has skated in 13 games, and has totaled four points (2g, 2a) and 36 penalty minutes in 18 games this season. 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.
A native of Burnaby, British Columbia, McNeely has played 38 games with South Carolina this season. 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. The forward leads the Stingrays with 34 points, including a team-high 25 assists. McNeely spent 2010-11 with Bridgeport (AHL) and registered 32 points on 76 games. Prior to turning pro, the 5'10", 175-pound forward spent four years at Northeastern University, where he tallied 105 points (44g, 61a) in 142 games and captained the squad as a junior and senior.
Baier, a native of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, has skated in 34 games for the Trenton Titans (ECHL) this season, putting up six points and 10 penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro in 2010-11, Baier spent four years on the blue line at Providence College where he tallied 32 points on nine goals and 23 assists in 127 games. As a senior in 2010-11, he led all defensemen with 12 points (5g, 7a). He made his professional debut on March 6, 2011 with the Reading Royals (ECHL). He has since played with the Portland Pirates, Rockford IceHogs, Albany Devils and Trenton. In his first full professional season in 2011-12, Baier tallied a career-high 17 points and finished second among Titans defensemen.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
Jared Knight Back in Providence
Forward Skated in Two Games with South Carolina
January 8, 2013
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the Boston Bruins have reassigned forward Jared Knight to Providence from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).
Knight, 20, was reassigned to South Carolina on January 2 after he missed 27 consecutive Providence Bruins games due to a lower body injury. In two games with the Stingrays, the forward recorded eight shots and a minus-2 rating. Before turning pro, the Battle Creek, MI native played four seasons with the London Knights of the OHL and won the Robertson Cup with the club 2011-12, defeating the Niagara Ice Dogs. He tallied eight points in 15 playoff games. Knight made his professional debut in April 2011, following putting up a career-best 70 points on 25 goals and 45 assists with the Knights. The 5'11", 202-pound forward was selected by the Boston Bruins 32nd overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
January 8, 2013
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the Boston Bruins have reassigned forward Jared Knight to Providence from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).
Knight, 20, was reassigned to South Carolina on January 2 after he missed 27 consecutive Providence Bruins games due to a lower body injury. In two games with the Stingrays, the forward recorded eight shots and a minus-2 rating. Before turning pro, the Battle Creek, MI native played four seasons with the London Knights of the OHL and won the Robertson Cup with the club 2011-12, defeating the Niagara Ice Dogs. He tallied eight points in 15 playoff games. Knight made his professional debut in April 2011, following putting up a career-best 70 points on 25 goals and 45 assists with the Knights. The 5'11", 202-pound forward was selected by the Boston Bruins 32nd overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Not Finishing Proving Costly to Providence
Team Was Expected to Score More
January 7, 2013
Thomas Chace Jr.
January 7, 2013
Thomas Chace Jr.
The 2013 version of the Providence Bruins was surely
going to score more than the previous two PBruins teams. Boston obtained last season’s leading AHL
scorer, Chris Bourque, in exchange for disappointing Zach Hamill. The Bruins
also had a healthy Jamie Tardif and Max Sauvé returning from injuries. The Boston Bruins third line left wing,
Jordan Caron was here along with returning goal scorers Carter Camper and Craig
Cunningham. Several puck moving
defensemen joining rookie speedster Ryan Spooner were all expected to contribute
and increase their goal totals this season.
Head Coach Bruce Cassidy was clearly displeased after
Sundays 4-1 loss to Springfield. “We
should have been fresh, there’s no excuse for our slow start. We’ve had trouble finishing all year, that’s
nothing new. The last few games we’ve
been in tight games and we’ve let them get away and we’re making poor
decisions, giving teams’ odd man rushes and that can’t continue.”
After 32 games, it is fair to surmise that this 2013 team
suffers from the same fate as those in recent years, they cannot finish. They cannot complete, or culminate their
offensive chances. The inability to get
the puck in the net for Providence almost seems like a foregone conclusion. Ironically, the team leads the entire AHL in
average shots per game. In fact, they lead Rockford by a full shot 34.25 to
33.17 per game. This profusion of shots
has resulted in a total of just 79 goals for Providence, good for second to
last in the Eastern Conference.
In spite of this lack of scoring, Providence is still
playing good hockey, due mainly to their goaltending tandem of Niklas Svedberg
and Michael Hutchinson. Svedberg, a
rookie from Sweden, has played the bulk of the games so far. His 13 victories,
2.45 GAA, and .921 save percentage are some of the best numbers in the
AHL. The soft-spoken tandem has kept
the Bruins in each game and given them a chance to win every time.
Providence has played .500 hockey in their last ten
games. They are 7th in the
Eastern Conference and are surrounded by many teams with similar records. They continue to draw well and have been as
high as 2nd in attendance and no lower than 4th since the
start of the season. The team is
averaging 2.47 goals per game and is allowing 2.75. Those numbers need to move in
order for Providence to be successful as they approach the February blues. It is a time of the year where several
players seem to hit the wall and struggle to get to the finish line. However, with Trent Whitfield and Jared Knight
both returning from long absences due to injury, Coach Cassidy believes that they
may infuse the team during that February stretch. Cassidy says “They’ll have energy and want to
play; they’ll be hungry while some other guys will be looking for the light at
the end of the tunnel.”
Another sore subject over the years with both the big
club in Boston and the Providence squads is their power-play performance. With the lack of scoring in general, the
team’s power-play is a little brighter in regard to production. The Bruins are 21st in the AHL, which is an
improvement over last year. However, one
of their strengths, the penalty kill, has deteriorated. Currently 26th in the league, they
are killing 80% of the opposition’s man advantage. Special teams can improve as the season moves
along, the team usually chooses to practice on its even strength play in the
first half of the season and move on to more specialty functions later in the
year.
With the lockout over in the NHL, it is expected that
several Providence players may open the season in a Boston jersey. Jordan Caron was injured on Friday and is
expected to be out for several weeks, so he will be unavailable to play in
Boston. Bourque is leading the team in
scoring and could possibly fill in that third line wing position. Tardif leads the team in goals and may get an
opportunity to perform with the big boys.
Defensemen, Matt Bartkowski, David Warsofsky, and Torey Krug have been
mentioned as possible call ups as well.
Providence can’t afford to lose any goal scorers whatsoever,
but maybe the scoring burden will shift and perhaps some other players can step
forward and finish what was started back in October. A time when most observers felt that
Providence had what was missing from their previous squads, added scoring. We’re almost halfway through the season;
let’s hope they learn to finish before the season concludes.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Providence Sends Down Two Players Today
Jared Knight and Tyler Randell Join the Stingrays
January 2, 2013
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the
American Hockey League, announced today that the Boston
Bruins have reassigned forwards Jared Knight and
Tyler Randell to the South Carolina Stingrays
(ECHL).
Randell, Boston's sixth round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, skated in one game for Providence since being reassigned on December 5. After four seasons in the OHL with Belleville and Kitchener, Randell made his professional debut with Providence in the 2011-12 season. After 30 games, in which he went 2-0-2 and recorded 45 penalty minutes, he was reassigned by Boston to the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
*Information gathered from www.providencenbruins.com
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Rugged Tyler Randell Back With Providence
Justin Courtnall Heads Back to South Carolina
December 5, 2012
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the club has swapped players with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). Justin Courtnall has been returned on loaned to South Carolina and Tyler Randell has been reassigned to Providence.
Courtnall was recalled from loan to South Carolina on November 23 and skated in one game for the Bruins. The left wing was originally loaned to South Carolina on October 5. In five games with the Stingrays this season, Courtnall has gone 0-0-0 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.
Randell, a sixth round Boston selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is 2-1-3 and has recorded a team-high 36 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Stingrays. After four seasons in the OHL with Belleville and Kitchener, Randell made his professional debut with Providence in the 2011-12 season. After 30 games, in which he went 2-0-2 and recorded 45 penalty minutes, he was reassigned by Boston to the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
December 5, 2012
The Providence Bruins, in their 21st season in the American Hockey League, announced today that the club has swapped players with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). Justin Courtnall has been returned on loaned to South Carolina and Tyler Randell has been reassigned to Providence.
Courtnall was recalled from loan to South Carolina on November 23 and skated in one game for the Bruins. The left wing was originally loaned to South Carolina on October 5. In five games with the Stingrays this season, Courtnall has gone 0-0-0 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.
Randell, a sixth round Boston selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, is 2-1-3 and has recorded a team-high 36 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Stingrays. After four seasons in the OHL with Belleville and Kitchener, Randell made his professional debut with Providence in the 2011-12 season. After 30 games, in which he went 2-0-2 and recorded 45 penalty minutes, he was reassigned by Boston to the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com
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