Svedberg Practices, Providence Transactions and Updates

Providence has called up South Carolina goaltender Adam Morrison just in case Niklas Svedberg is too sick to play tomorrow. Morrison played for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL last season when Boston signed the former Flyers 3rd-round pick to a 3-year entry level contract. (Photo Credit: Caelie_Frampton/Flickr)

The Providence Bruins practiced today after a 3-0 loss to the Manchester Monarchs last night with goaltender Niklas Svedberg, who missed last night’s game due to the flu, back on the ice and skating with the team.

After signing former Northeasern college and ECHL goaltender Adam Geragosian to an emergency PTO (professional tryout) contract last night in the absence of Svedberg and a backup for Michael Hutchinson, Providence released Geragosian today. South Carolina Stingrays goaltender Adam Morrison was called up from the ECHL today, “just in case” Svedberg might not be well enough to dress for tomorrow night’s game against Portland.

Morrison is a 22-year-old British Columbia-born goaltender that was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009 at 81st overall in the 3rd round. Boston signed him to an entry-level contract on March 15th of 2012. He spent 4 seasons in the WHL, playing for the Saskatoon Blades and Vancouver Giants. Although he had good numbers in the WHL, his 1st year in the ECHL is not as impressive.

In 10 games played for the Stingrays this year, Morrison is 1-6-0-2 with 39 goals against (4.07 GAA) and 0.877 save %. His only win game in his 1st game back on October 13th. He played 5 games in October, then his games played diminished to 2 in November, 2 in December, and just 1 in January. He has played 1 game in the AHL, with Providence, on April 14th of last year in a 4-2 loss. He made 35 saves. It doesn’t appear that he will need to dress for a game for Providence and if he does, it will be merely as a backup.

In more transactions, Tyler McNeely has been sent back to South Carolina of the ECHL. After playing 38 games with the Stingrays to start the season, Providence signed him to a PTO on January 10, 2013. He had 1 point in 4 games and registered a -5 with 14 penalty minutes.

Providence has also sent Eric Baier back to Trenton Titants of the ECHL. In 3 games with Providence, he had no points or penalty minutes. He hadn’t played in a game since January 13th.

The P-Bruins look to rebound from last night’s shutout when they host the Pirates tomorrow night. We will have a game preview for you later today!

UPDATE: Providence Defenseman Colby Cohen has also been assigned to South Carolina of the ECHL. And to clarify on statements above, McNeely and Baier were not “sent down” to their respective ECHL teams; they were released from their PTO contracts and therefore returned to the teams they were with beforehand.

6 P-Bruins Invited to Training Camp; Stingrays Recalled to Providence

Lane MacDermid is one of 4 Providence forwards invited to Boston training camp, and the only forward not on the top line to receive an invite. Boston loves his work ethic and general awesomeness. (Photo: Steph Vail/me)

The Providence Bruins recalled forward Jared Knight from the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. After missing 27 games due to injury, he played 2 games with the Stingrays over the weekend before returning to Providence. He recorded no points and 8 shots in 2 games in the ECHL.

The Bruins also recalled forward and Boston University alum Justin Courtnall from South Carolina. (Justin Courtnall is also the son of former Bruin Geoff Courtnall.) Forward and Northeastern alum Tyler McNeely was signed to a professional tryout contract with the Bruins along with defenseman and Providence College alum Eric Baier. These roster moves were made to fill in roster spots for the players that were invited to the Boston Bruins training camp, which will start Sunday or Monday.

The Providence Bruins players that have been invited to the Boston Bruins training camp are forwards Chris Bourque, Ryan Spooner, Jamie Tardif, and Lane MacDermid along with defensemen David Warsofsky and Matt Bartkowski. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton, currently playing in the OHL, will also be at training camp competing for a roster spot.

While this may leave the P-Bruins in a tight spot, such is the nature of being an AHL farm team. Training camp will last less than 1 week as the NHL season is set to begin January 19th, and only 1 forward and defensemen (perhaps 2, to keep a healthy scratch around) will make the actual team – so after camp is done, the players that don’t make the cut will be sent back down. I still firmly believe Chris Bourque is destined for that 3rd line spot with Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly.

As an OHL player, the NHL and OHL have made adjusted arrangements for the number of games a player can play in at the NHL level before using up a year on an entry-level contract. In a normal season, it is 10 games. This year, it will be 5 games. That means if Hamilton makes the team (which I think he will), the first year of his entry-level contract will be used up by the 6th game he plays for the Bruins.

Details on exactly when camp starts and who will be there have yet to be confirmed as we wait for the NHLPA to ratify the CBA. Only a few hours ago did the NHL owners unanimously vote to ratify the CBA; the NHLPA vote will come on Saturday.