Providence Bruins Announce 2025-26 Season Awards
Published on April 18, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release
Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins announced today, April 18, the recipients of the 2025-26 season awards prior to this evening's game against the Utica Comets.
Leading Scorer - Coca-Cola Northeast - Georgii Merkulov
Best Defenseman - Dunkin' - Frederic Brunet
Three Stars Award - IBEW Local 99 - Riley Tufte
Plus/Minus Award - Bally's Lincoln - Patrick Brown
Fan Favorite Award - Rhode Island Energy - Riley Tufte
Rookie of the Year - Southern Glazer's - Jake Schmaltz
Team MVP - Amica Mutual Insurance - Michael DiPietro
Colby Cave Award - P-Bruins Fan Club - Matthew Poitras
Hendricks Memorial Fan Appreciation Award - Joey Abate
DiPietro, 26, leads the American Hockey League with a 1.88 goals against average, a .931 save percentage, and 34 wins in 44 appearances this season. The 6-foot, 205-pound goaltender has three shutouts as well. DiPietro was named to the AHL All-Star First Team for the 2025-26 season. The Windsor, Ontario, native was originally selected by Vancouver in the third round (64th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired via trade along with rights to Jonathan Myrenberg for Jack Studnicka.
Brunet, 22, has skated in 64 games with Providence this season, leading all P-Bruins defenseman with 12 goals and 34 points. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound defenseman ranks tied for third on the team with four game-winning goals and seventh with a plus-18 rating. Brunet was selected to represent the Providence Bruins at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. The Gatineau, Quebec, native was originally selected by Boston in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Merkulov, 25, has played in 69 games with Providence this season, leading the team with 37 assists and 60 points. The 5-foot-11, 174-pound forward broke the franchise record for career assists and points and totals 93 goals, 146 assists, and 239 points in 270 career AHL games over five seasons with Providence. The Ryazan, Russia, native was originally signed by Boston as a free agent in April 2022.
Schmaltz, 24, has skated in 63 games with Providence this season, totaling nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward has scored two shorthanded goals and boasts a plus-9 rating. The McFarland, Wisconsin, native was originally selected by Boston in the seventh round (192nd overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
American Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2026
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- Condors to Host Game 1 Thursday; Series Set - Bakersfield Condors
- Stars Finish Regular Season with Win over IceHogs - Texas Stars
- The Canucks Shut out the Pacific Division Champions - Abbotsford Canucks
- Moose Roar Back With 35th Win in 6-1 Rout - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals Take on Manitoba in Calder Cup Playoffs - Milwaukee Admirals
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- Wolves to Face Stars in Postseason Showdown - Chicago Wolves
- Ads Shut Out by Wolves - Milwaukee Admirals
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- Amerks Shut out by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Rochester Americans
- Iowa Falls 6-1 to Manitoba in Final Game of 2025-26 Season - Iowa Wild
- P-Bruins Topped by Comets in Regular Season Finale - Providence Bruins
- Syracuse Crunch Shut out Belleville Senators, 4-0, in Regular Season Finale - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Top Amerks 8-0 in Thrilling Season Finale - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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- T-Birds Hold off Pack to Win Regular Season Finale - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Islanders Secure 4th in Atlantic Division in Victory over Hershey in Final Regular Season Game - Bridgeport Islanders
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- Perets Spectacular in Shutout Win - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Checkers Stymied in 2-0 Loss to Phantoms - Charlotte Checkers
- Providence Bruins Announce 2025-26 Season Awards - Providence Bruins
- Anaheim Ducks Sign Roger Mcqueen to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract - San Diego Gulls
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- Game Preview: Bears vs. Islanders, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
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