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AHL Providence Bruins

P-Bruins Send Two to ECHL's Reading

March 31, 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 reassigned forward Yannick Riendeau to the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Providence has also released forward Olivier Labelle from his Professional Tryout Agreement and he will return to Reading. With the moves, the P-Bruins have 22 players on their roster, including 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.

Riendeau, 21, heads to Reading for the second time this season after an ECHL stint from February 14-22. The rookie scored two goals and added an assist in his three games for the Royals. In two stretches for Providence, Riendeau appeared in 22 games overall, contributing one goal and four assists. His first and only career AHL goal came against the Hartford Wolf Pack on March 21.

Riendeau's professional career officially began on December 28, 2009 when he was assigned to Providence by Boston after missing the first 34 games of the AHL season due to injury. The right wing made his pro debut the following night at the Springfield Falcons, tallying his first pro point with an assist.

Riendeau enjoyed a standout junior season in 2008-09 with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, where he led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in scoring during both the regular season and the playoffs. In 64 regular season games, the native of Boucherville, Quebec scored 58 goals and tallied 68 assists for 126 points before adding 52 points, including 29 goals, in just 19 postseason contests. Riendeau's playoff totals set Voltigeurs franchise records, while his 16 postseason power play goals set a QMJHL record. His postseason performance earned him the league's Guy Lafleur Trophy as the Playoff Most Valuable Player. Riendeau was signed to an entry-level contract by Boston on April 2, 2009.

Labelle, 24, signed a PTO with Providence on March 26 after beginning the season with Reading, where he had 23 goals and 39 points in 52 games. The fourth-year pro appeared in two games for the P-Bruins during his recall, going scoreless. He made his AHL season debut on March 26 against the Portland Pirates.

In his pro career, Labelle has appeared in 274 games between the regular season and playoffs, totaling 174 points (85g, 89a) and 691 penalty minutes as a member of seven different squads. The undrafted native of St. Eustache, Quebec has enjoyed AHL time with Providence, the Syracuse Crunch, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Manitoba Moose, along with ECHL stints with Reading, the Utah Grizzlies and Victoria Salmon Kings.

Providence gets back into action with three games this weekend, beginning Friday at the Dunkin' Donuts Center against the Worcester Sharks at 7:05 p.m. for Keychain Night. Keychains are free to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. On Saturday, the P-Bruins travel to New Hampshire to face the Manchester Monarchs for a 7 p.m. tilt, and then take on Portland on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Maine. To purchase 2009-10 Flex Tix or individual game tickets, please 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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