Providence Bruins Prepare to Open Preseason on Wednesday against Springfield

Flickr User: Teka England

After opening up training camp on Friday September 28, the Providence Bruins have been preparing for what should be an exciting season in the American Hockey League. The team will kick off their three-game preseason slate with a match-up against the Eastern Conference rival Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, this Wednesday at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

The P-Bruins will be right back at it on Thursday with more preseason action at the Sports Center in Marlborough, when they take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the minor league squad for the New York Islanders, before heading off to Springfield for their preseason finale on Saturday.

Possible line combinations for these preseason contests were on display at training camp on Saturday. The Hockey Writers’ Bob Mand was in attendance for the on-ice sessions and reported this as the Providence practice lineup. You can — and should — all give him a follow on Twitter, here.

Forwards

Chris Bourque – Ryan Spooner – Max Sauve

Bobby Robins – Trent Whitfield – Jared Knight

Jordan Caron – Carter Camper - Alden Hirschfeld

Defense

Tommy Cross - Art Bidlevskii

Garnet Exelby – Damon Kipp

Torey Krug – Colby Cohen

Ryan Button – Ryan Lowery

David Warsofsky – Zach Trotman

Kevan Miller – Matt Bartkowski

Now, obviously there will be more than three offensive lines and less than six defensive pairs on the ice on Wednesday, but this lineup gives you a rough estimate on what to expect from head coach Bruce Cassidy‘s team when the preseason begins.

The two players that everyone will have their eye on when the P-Bruins hit the ice later this week will be former second round draft picks Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. While both sport completely different playing styles on the ice; Spooner being the speedy, skillful playmaker while Knight plays a more rugged, net-driving game; the two Bruins’ prospects seem to share many interests off of it, as evidenced by their growing friendship that has formed ever since the two were drafted together back in June of 2010.

“Me and him (Jared Knight) met at our first development camp here. We had the same agent, so we kind of knew of each other and we’d played against each other (in the OHL). When we met here we kind of just hit it off. He’s a great guy and we have a lot in common. We seem to get along well. It looks like the plan is next year in Providence – if me or him don’t make Boston – we’re going to live together and that should be a fun experience.” — Ryan Spooner

After skating in a handful of games with Providence at the conclusion of the past two seasons, both players will be given their first full-time taste of professional hockey. If either is able to set himself apart from the rest of the skaters in Providence, they may have a shot at making the NHL roster when training camp begins… Whenever that may be.

I plan to have a full report up on Wednesday from Marlborough after the game’s conclusion. Stay tuned to Hockey Independent for more coverage of the P-Bruins for as long as the NHL lockout continues to ruin our Autumn.

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