AHL Providence Bruins

Boston Acquires Defenseman Johnny Boychuk for Matt Hendricks

Published on June 24, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, the 2007-08 regular season points champions of the American Hockey League, announced this evening that the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League have traded center Matt Hendricks to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

Hendricks, 27, appeared in 67 games for the P-Bruins in 2007-08, registering personal AHL bests with 22 goals, 30 assists, 52 points and 121 penalty minutes. The forward added three assists in 10 postseason contests. Drafted by the Nashville Predators 131st overall in the fifth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Hendricks has played for six clubs since his four-year college career with the St. Cloud State Huskies. Prior to signing with Boston on July 9, 2007 as a free agent, the Blaine, Minnesota native saw AHL time with the Hershey Bears, Rochester Americans, Lowell Lock Monsters and Milwaukee Admirals, as well as an ECHL stint with the Florida Everblades.

Among Hendricks' accomplishments in Providence, the center appeared in his 200th professional game November 18, 2007 versus the Springfield Falcons, led the P-Bruins with 16 points and 11 assists last March en route to earning the club's Player of the Month Award, and he received the team's New England Dodge Dealers 3 Stars Award. Hendricks also scored the game-winning goal in a 6-3 victory February 3 over the Worcester Sharks for the 4,000 regular season goal in franchise history.

Boychuk, 24, has played for five teams over his four-year professional career, spending the bulk of 2007-08 with the expansion Lake Erie Monsters and earning his first career call-up to the NHL with Colorado. Last year, the defenseman tallied eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 60 AHL games while going scoreless with a plus-one rating in four NHL contests. His 26 points ranked second among Monsters defensemen and he led all blue-liners on the squad in power play scoring with 17 points. In his career, Boychuk has 101 points (27g, 74a) and 330 PIM in 294 AHL games.

Boychuk was originally drafted by the Avalanche in the second round, 61st overall, of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Since, the blue-liner has played for Colorado, Lake Erie, the Albany River Rats, Lowell and Hershey. From 1999-04, Boychuk enjoyed parts of five seasons with the Calgary Hitmen and Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League, notching 133 points (38g, 95a) in 266 junior games.

Providence Bruins season tickets and Flex Tix packages are on sale now for the 2008-09 season. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the P-Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or log on to the team website at www.providencebruins.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from June 24, 2008


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