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.

Courtnall Recalled from Sting Rays

Justin Courtnall (Photo Courtesy: circlingthewagon/AHL Blog SIte)

Justin Courtnall has been recalled from the South Carolina Sting Rays of the ECHL by the Providence Bruins.  He traveled with the team to St. John’s for last night and today’s game against the St. John’s IceCaps.  He did not suit up for last night’s game and is still looking to suit up for the first time with the Club.

This season in 5 games with the Sting Rays after being reassigned to them on October 5, has recorded no goals and tallied 20 penalty minutes.  He spent the past three years playing hockey for Boston University and captained the 2011-2012 season recording a collegiate-high 7 points on 4 goals and 3 assists.

Today’s game is at 4:00PM at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, New Brunswick.  Catch the game on AHL Live, it’s better than nothing!

From BU to the Boston Bruins

Justin Courtnall trades in college hockey for the Boston Bruins (Credit:Flickr/Bart Hanlon)

As I posted earlier this summer , there were a few players from Hockey East schools tat made their way to the Bruins development camp. Now it’s being reported by Scott McLaughlin of College Hockey News that one of them has traded in their senior year of college hockey for a chance to play for the Black and Gold.

You may remember Boston University alternate captainJustin Courtnallwho was invited to partake in the Bruins developement camp back in July. If his last name sounds familiar, it should be. Courtnall is the son of  Geoff Courtnall, who was signed by the Bruins and played for them from ’83 to ’88. His uncle is Russ Courtnall, yet another NHL player so it’s safe to say Justin grew up around hockey.

Anyway, Courtnall signed an entry level contract with the Bruins today meaning his time at BU is over. In three seasons with the Terriers, Courtnall recorded 7 goals and 6 assists in 92 games.

This contract might surprise some considering right now the NHL is in a not so pleasant labor dispute and everyday the idea of a lock out seems more evident.

Here’s a look at Courtnall in action scoring a shoot out goal in a Tampa Bay Lightning Development Camp:
http://youtu.be/HwA99E17NnU

What the future holds for the NHL right now is unknown but for now welcome to the Boston Bruins organization Justin!

Hockey East and the Bruins

By now it’s pretty well known that I got to UMass Amherst, a school with a hockey team in the Hockey East division. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Hockey East, the schools that are featured in it are UMass, Boston University, Northeastern, Boston College, UMass Lowell, Providence College, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, Merrimack College, and University of Connecticut. With the recent development camp and the draft the past few weeks, a few players making the cut to development camp have their roots in Hockey East.

That’s right sticking close to Boston four players represent Hockey East and the Bean Pot. Unfortunately, none come from UMass but these players are names that I have yelled at/will yell at when my home team plays against Boston University and Boston College.

From the BU Terriers end comes 2012 third-round draft pick and Charlestown native Matt Grzelcyk who will be a freshman this coming season and alternate captain, and camp invite forward Justin Courtnall. Grzelcyk spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Development team, picking up 21 points (2G/19A) in 60 games played. Obviously he still is a ways away from the Black and Gold. Meanwhile, Courtnall will be heading into his senior year at BU and had a junior season with 4-3=7 totals with 73 penalty minutes in 39 games  for the Terriers. Not to mention, Courtnall helped BU advance to the NCAA tourney last year.

And down Commonwealth Avenue from BU is Boston College former home to defenseman Tommy Cross and current mainstay of goaltender Parker Milner. Cross was drafted to the B’s back in 2007 as a second round pick. He has participated in all of the Bruins development camps. Meanwhile Milner is a camp invite who helped lead the Boston College Eagles to the NCAA national championship last season by posting a 1.66 GAA and .937 SV% with three shutouts in 34 games, in addition to compiling a .50 GAA and .982 SV% in the NCAA tournament. Not too shabby.

When Hockey East season starts off Milner will go up against potential teammates Grzelcyk and Courtnall. If that doesn’t make for an interesting story line, I don’t know what does! Also just because these boys could potentially be Bruins players someday, you can bet I will not lay off the slack when it comes to yelling at them when they play against my UMass minutemen!