AHL Providence Bruins

Boston Sends Four Players to Providence

Published on October 2, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, the 2007-08 regular season champions of the American Hockey League, announced that the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League have released four players from their training camp. Defensemen Matt Lashoff and Jeff Penner, as well as goaltender Tuukka Rask, have been assigned to the P-Bruins while center Martin St. Pierre has been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Providence. The P-Bruins now have 27 players in their camp, including 14 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders.

Lashoff, 22, enters his fourth professional season and third full year, all in the Bruins' organization. The defenseman split 2007-08 between Boston and Providence, earning five points (g, 4a) in 18 games with the big club while matching a career-high with 36 points (9g, 27a) for the P-Bruins. In his career, the two-time PlanetUSA AHL All-Star starter has 74 points (21g, 53a) in 131 contests at the AHL level to go along with seven points (g, 6a) in 30 games for Boston. Prior to being drafted by Boston 22nd overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Lashoff spent three years in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kitchener Rangers.

Penner, 21, is set to begin his first full pro season in 2008-09 after playing a pair of games in Providence last year as an amateur, joining the club on April 2, 2008 following the completion of his freshman season with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks. The defenseman went scoreless in his two games, making his professional debut April 11, 2008 against the Manchester Monarchs. Prior to signing with Providence, Penner appeared in all 35 of Alaska's games, registering five goals and seven assists for 12 points along with 49 penalty minutes. A native of Steinbach, Manitoba, the blue-liner was signed to an entry-level contract by Boston on March 29, 2008.

Rask, 21, re-joins Providence for his second season after a stand-out rookie campaign in which he went 27-13-2 over 45 AHL appearances in net with a 2.33 goals-against-average. The goalie also registered a 2-1-1 mark over four games with Boston, adding a 3.25 GAA, including a win in his NHL debut over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club that drafted him. Following the regular season and prior to collecting two shutouts and a 2.18 GAA in 10 postseason games, Rask was awarded Providence' Martone Group Rookie of the Year honor, voted on by his teammates. The PlanetUSA AHL All-Star starting net-minder allowed one goal or less in 18 of his 45 AHL appearances in 2007-08. Boston acquired Rask from Toronto on June 24, 2006 in exchange for fellow goalie Andrew Raycroft. The Savonlinna, Finland, native was drafted by the Leafs 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

St. Pierre, 25, is entering his fifth pro season and first with Boston after being acquired in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks for Pascal Pelletier on July 24, 2008. The three-time AHL All-Star forward has registered 331 points (91g, 240a) in 309 pro games, including four points (g, 3a) in 21 NHL contests with Chicago. St. Pierre spent most of last season with the AHL's Rockford Ice Hogs, notching 88 points (21g, 67a) in 69 games to lead the Hogs in scoring and finish second in the AHL in both points and assists. The Second Team AHL All-Star also added 14 playoff points (2g, 12a) in 12 contests. His regular season totals were just shy of the career-best 27 goals, 72 assists and 99 points he posted the previous season with the Norfolk Admirals. The Embrun, Ontario, native began his pro career with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl and Edmonton Roadrunners of the AHL in 2004-05 after finishing up a four-year junior career with the Guelph Storm. While in the OHL, the undrafted forward scored 320 points (108g, 212a) in 257 games.

Providence Bruins season tickets, Flex Tix packages and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2008-09 season. To purchase tickets or to learn 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 October 2, 2008


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