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Providence Bruins

Trent Whitfield & Jeff Penner Return To P-Bruins

March 19, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, in their 18th year in the American Hockey League, announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have assigned forward Trent Whitfield and defenseman Jeff Penner to Providence. Both players were recalled on an emergency basis on March 18 and were healthy scratches during Boston's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. With the moves, the P-Bruins have 27 players on their roster, including 15 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goaltenders.

Whitfield, 32, has enjoyed three recalls to Boston this season, tallying one assist in 14 NHL games. The veteran made his Boston debut on October 21, 2009 against the Nashville Predators and Whitfield later registered his lone helper on January 21 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 49 games for Providence this year, the club's captain is tied for second on the team in scoring with 41 points and he also ranks second with 17 goals. Whitfield has 11 multiple-point games for the P-Bruins, including three two-goal games.

The 12th year pro and native of Alameda, Saskatchewan, was signed by Boston as a free agent on July 13, 2009 after seeing NHL time with the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, along with AHL action for the Portland Pirates and Peoria Rivermen. Whitfield was originally selected by the Bruins 100th overall in round four of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Penner, 22, has earned two NHL promotions this year with the first of his career coming on March 8. The blue-liner then made his NHL debut on March 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, his only NHL game to date. In his second full pro season, Penner ranks seventh on the P-Bruins in scoring and second among team defensemen with a career-high 30 points, including six goals and 24 assists, in 59 games this year.

As a rookie in 2008-09, Penner became the seventh player in P-Bruins history to appear in all 80 regular season games before then suiting up for another 16 postseason contests. The Steinbach, Manitoba, native finished his first season with 28 points (10g, 18a) and led Providence with a plus-22 rating to earn the team's Plus-Minus Award. Penner was also named the P-Bruins' American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year and received the club's Community Service Award. The undrafted blue-liner was signed by Boston as a free agent on March 29, 2008 after playing one season of college hockey with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, where he received an honorable mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Penner first joined the P-Bruins on an Amateur Tryout Agreement for two games late in the 2007-08 campaign.

Providence is in action with three road games this weekend, taking on the Lowell Devils on Friday at 7 p.m., the Worcester Sharks on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday at 3 p.m. The P-Bruins are next home at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday, March 26 at 7:05 p.m. against the Portland Pirates. It's Visor Night against the Pirates with visors free to the first 2,000 fans in attendance. To purchase 2009-10 season tickets, Flex Tix or individual game tickets, please call the Providence Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or log on to the team website at www.providencebruins.com.

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