After winning the Stanley Cup, interest in the Boston Bruins is at an all-time high (well at least a 40-year high). Many believe the Bruins are poised to be part of the NHL elite for years to come thanks to the work of the management team led by GM Peter Chiarelli. The fruits of his labor will be on display over the next five days, as the Bruins host their annual rookie development camp at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington.
The purpose of the camp, which starts Thursday and runs through Monday, is to give younger players a feel for what the NHL is like and to help prepare them for the upcoming Bruins training camp will be like. Many of the 24 players in attendance this week will be at full Bruins camp in September.
Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney directs the camp, while newly-hired Providence coach Bruce Cassidy runs the on-ice portion of camp. Longtime strength coach John Whitesides runs the off-ice workouts, which are often torturous.
“It’s a great chance for these players to get out here, meet the staff, and get comfortable,” Sweeney said. “This is probably the most comfortable they can be, because after this, they have the stress of trying to make an NHL team, and we all know that is not an easy thing to do. All we ask of them this week is to come in and make a good impression. That’s it. They all know we have had players come here, work hard, and then earn a spot on the team later. It’s a great message for the kids.”
The past four years, at least one player has stood out and made an impression on Bruins brass at this camp: Milan Lucic, Blake Wheeler, David Krejci and Brad Marchand all made sure people took notice of them at this camp in the past.
This year’s crop includes draft picks Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev as well as returnees Jared Knight, Ryan Spooner, Tommy Cross, and David Warsofsky. Goalies Zane Gothberg, Mike Hutchinson, and Lars Volden will join the 21 skaters.
Here is the schedule:
Thursday: On-ice practice, 1:15 p.m.
Friday: On-ice workout, 10 a.m.; On-ice practice, 11:30 a.m.
Saturday: On-ice practice, 10:30 a.m.; On-ice workout, 11:45 a.m.
Sunday: On-ice practice, 10 a.m.; On-ice scrimmage, 11:15 a.m.
Monday: On-ice workout, 10 a.m.; On-ice scrimmage, 11 a.m.