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Providence Bruins

Russian loss puts U.S. in Final Round Quarterfinals

May 3, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Qualifying Round of the International Ice Hockey Federation's 2004 World Championships continued on Monday in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. All 11 former Providence Bruins players who are in the tournament are playing in the Qualifying Round, which concludes on Tuesday. The World Championships, which began on April 24, concludes on with the Final Round from May 5 – May 9.

Team U.S.A. clinched a berth in the Final Round Quarterfinals by way of Russia's 4-0 loss to Finland on Monday. The loss eliminated Russia from the Final Round, cementing the fourth seed in Group F for the U.S. Former Providence Bruin Antti Laaksonen, a member of the team's 1999 Calder Cup championship team, played for the Finns.

Sweden and Slovakia played to a scoreless tie on Monday, earning each country one point in the Group F standings. The two countries finished in a three-way tie for the Group F lead with Finland. Slovakia was awarded the top seed with its 18-5 goals differential. Finland secured second place with its 17-8 goals differential, while Finland took third, at 12-5.

Original P-Bruin Jozef Stumpel has been playing for Slovakia, while Boston Bruin forwards Michael Nylander and P.J. Axelsson are with Sweden.

The Czech Republic, with Boston Bruins defenseman Jiri Slegr on the roster, finished the Qualifying Round by defeating Canada, 6-2. The Czechs are a perfect 6-0-0 in the tournament. Original P-Bruin Glen Murray scored for Canada, while Boston Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron was held off the scoreboard. Former P-Bruins defenseman Steve Staios also played for Canada.

Latvia clinched a spot in the Final Round Quarterfinals by skating to a 5-2 defeat of Germany. Sergei Zholtok, an original P-Bruin and the franchise career scoring leader, had a goal and an assist in the game. His former Bruin teammate, Grigori Panteleev, had an assist. Aigar Cipruss, who played for Providence in the 1995-96 season, had two assists.

The U.S. will play its final game of the Qualifying Round on Tuesday against Denmark. Team U.S.A. is coached by former Providence Bruins defenseman and head coach Peter Laviolette, while former P-Bruins Andy Hilbert, Hal Gill and Jeff Jillson are on the playing roster. The U.S. will begin Final Round Quarterfinal action on Wednesday against the Czech Republic.

The Qualifying Round has featured two groups of six countries. Group E has been made up of the Czech Republic, Latvia, Germany, Canada, Austria and Switzerland. Group F has been comprised of the U.S., Finland, Slovakia, Sweden, Russia and Denmark. Each country plays three games in the Qualifying Round to try to advance on to the Final Round. The top four teams in each group advance on to the Final Round.

So far, the Czech Republic, Canada and Latvia have advanced from Group E. Germany and Switzerland will square off for the final seed on Tuesday. Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the U.S. have advanced from Group F.

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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