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Providence Bruins

Bruins Sign Four

July 13, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, entering their 18th season in the American Hockey League, announced that the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins have signed centers Trent Whitfield and Drew Larman and defensemen Rob Kwiet and Zach McKelvie to one-year contracts. Per club policy, terms of the deals will not be disclosed.

Whitfield, 32, rejoins the organization that originally drafted him 100th overall in round four of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. In 11 professional seasons, the veteran has appeared in 813 regular season games, totaling 541 points (220g, 321a) and 547 penalty minutes, in addition to 28 postseason contests, amassing seven points (5g, 2a) and 28 PIM. The native of Alameda, Saskatchewan, spent most of the 2008-09 season with the Peoria Rivermen, finishing with 50 points (20g, 30a) in 69 games to share the club's scoring lead. Whitfield added three points (2g, a) in seven playoff games for the Rivermen. The forward also suited up for three NHL games for the St. Louis Blues, tallying one assist. Whitfield has appeared in 177 regular season NHL games in his career with St. Louis, the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. He spent parts of seven season with the Portland Pirates from 1998-2005.

Larman, 24, is coming off of his fourth professional season, having spent parts of all four with the Rochester Americans. The center appeared in 61 games for the Amerks in 2008-09, scoring 10 goals and matching a career-high with 13 assists for 23 points. Larman led Rochester with a plus-four rating and was the co-winner of the team's McCulloch Trophy for outstanding community service for the second straight year. In his career, Larman has recorded 91 points (46g, 45a) and 151 PIM in 241 regular season games, 22 spent with the NHL's Florida Panthers. He scored two goals for the Panthers in 2006-07 and added an assist in 2007-08 for his only NHL points. The Canton, Michigan, native originally signed with Florida as a free agent on September 28, 2005. Prior, Larman helped the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights capture the 2005 Memorial Cup Championship in his third and final junior campaign.

Kwiet, 20, is coming off of a career-year with the 2009 Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires, registering personal-highs with 12 goals, 55 assists and 67 points in 66 regular season games before adding 15 points (5g, 10a) in 20 games during the club's lengthy playoff run. He finished sixth overall among OHL blue-liners in scoring during the regular season. Kwiet participated in the 2009 Bruins Development Camp as an invite earlier this month. The Toronto, Ontario, native was a teammate in Windsor with Boston 2009 fourth round draft pick Lane MacDermid. In four junior seasons between Windsor, the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and Toronto St. Michael's Majors, Kwiet totaled 145 points (29g, 116a) and 310 PIM in 250 regular season games. The defenseman also enjoyed pro experience with the International Hockey League's Muskegon Fury in 2007-08, going scoreless in seven regular season games and four playoff contests.

McKelvie, 24, turns pro following four college seasons with the Army Black Knights. In 2008-09, the rookie skated in 33 games, scored a career-best five goals, added 12 assists and matched a personal-high with 17 points. McKelvie won the prestigious Army Athletic Association Award, an honor awarded to the male and female cadet who displays the "most valuable service to intercollegiate athletics during a career as a cadet." He is the only player in school history to be a two-time Atlantic Hockey Association First Team All-Star and the New Brighton, Minnesota, native was named the AHA's Defenseman of the Year as a junior in 2007-08. In college, the four-year letterwinner appeared in 134 games for Army, amassing 56 points (14g, 42a) and 208 PIM in 134 contests. Like Kwiet, McKelvie attended the 2009 Bruins Development Camp as an invite earlier this month but he did not participate in the on-ice training sessions due to injury.

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