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AHL Providence Bruins

Former P-Bruins in Stanley Cup Finals

May 25, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Three former Providence Bruins will make their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals tonight with the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the team hosts the Calgary Flames in Game 1. The players are among 14 former P-Bruins overall to play in this season's NHL playoffs.

Lightning goaltender John Grahame, left wing Andre Roy and defenseman Jassen Cullimore all spent part of their careers in Providence. In addition, Tampa Bay athletic trainer Tom Mulligan, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, began his career with the P-Bruins.

Grahame played for Providence for four seasons, from 1997-2001. He is the franchise career leader in regular season games played (146), wins (67) and saves (3,809). He is also the franchise career leader in playoff games played (49), wins (33), saves (1,435) and shutouts (3). Grahame was the team's 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, and followed that season up by leading the AHL with 37 wins in 1998-99, while leading the club to the Calder Cup championship. He also set an AHL record in 1998-99 with his 19-game winning/unbeaten streak. Grahame was traded by the Boston Bruins to Tampa Bay for a 2004 draft pick on January 13, 2003.

Roy played three seasons with the P-Bruins from 1995-98, posting 27-30-57 totals in 144 games. He ranks fourth in franchise history with 555 PIM. Cullimore notched 5-10-15 totals and 31 PIM in 16 games with Providence during the 1999-2000 season. He had been acquired on loan by Providence from Tampa Bay.

Mulligan began his athletic training career with the P-Bruins during the 1998-99 Calder Cup season. He remained with the team through the 2001-02 season, before moving on to Tampa Bay.

Of the 11 other former Providence Bruins to play in this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, seven played for Boston. Those players were original P-Bruin and NHL All-Star Glen Murray, All-Star defenseman Nick Boynton, Rob Zamuner, Ted Donato, Andy Hilbert, Hal Gill and NHL Rookie of the Year candidate Andrew Raycroft.

The other former P-Bruins are New York Islanders Shawn Bates and Eric Cairns, Philadelphia Flyer Mattias Timander and Nashville Predator Sergei Zholtok. Zholtok was a teammate of Murray on the 1992-93 Providence Bruins inaugural team, and is the franchise career scoring leader, with 83-103-186 totals in 196 games from 1992-95.

In addition to those who suited up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, 22 other former P-Bruins played in the NHL this season, while another, Peter Laviolette, became the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes on December 15. Laviolette was the first captain in P-Bruins history, and played 252 games with the team in 1992-93 and from 1994-97. He was the team's head coach from 1998-2000, leading the team to the 1999 Calder Cup championship, while being named the AHL's Outstanding Coach.

Aside from the former P-Bruins who played for Boston in the playoffs this season, 10 other players suited up for both the Boston and Providence Bruins this year. Those players were forwards Doug Doull, Carl Corazzini, Pat Leahy, Ivan Huml, Kris Vernarsky, Martin Samuelsson, Colton Orr, P.J. Stock and Sergei Zinovjev, and defenseman Zdenek Kutlak. Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn began the season with Providence before being recalled to Boston, and was traded to the Washington Captials as part of the deal for defenseman Sergei Gonchar on March 3. Former P-Bruin blueliner Jeff Jillson started the year with Boston and was with the team until being traded to the San Jose Sharks for center Brad Boyes on March 9. The trade came two days after Boyes made his NHL debut with the Sharks.

Finally, Boston Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan led the team to a 41-19-15-7 record, good for first place in the Northeast Division and the second seed in the Eastern Conference. It was his first year at the helm, after leading Providence to a 44-20-11-5 record (104 points) in 2002-03, winning the North Division title.

Information on Providence Bruins season ticket packages for the 2004-05 season is available online at www.providencebruins.com, and can also be obtained by calling the P-Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000.

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