The Providence Bruins announced that they are opting into the shortened 2021 AHL season beginning in February.
Last week, the American Hockey League announced that they are on schedule to begin the shortened 2021 season on Feb. 5. That is good news for the Boston Bruins and it will give their prospects a chance to play this season.
.@TheAHL Board of Governors has approved the structural framework for an AHL season that will begin on February 5, 2021. pic.twitter.com/l5Yk0z2rht
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) December 30, 2020
On Monday, the Providence Bruins announced that they are opting into the 2021 AHL season, but won’t be playing games at their home arena, the Dunkin Donuts Center.
With the DD Center being used for various coronavirus initiatives, the team announced that they will shift their games for this season to the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The club was also considering the Bruins practice facility in Boston, Warrior Ice Arena, and Schneider Arena, where Providence College plays their games as some other possible venues to host their games.
The AHL is planning on playing an abbreviated schedule from early February through early May. Three teams, the Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers), Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators), and Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis Blues) have opted out of the season. Four Candian teams, the Laval Rockets (Montreal Canadiens), Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators), Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets) will play in a four-team Canadian Division.
Providence will play in the Atlantic Division with the Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders). The schedule and playoff information will be released by the AHL at a later date.
Having the P-Bruins opting into this season is big news for the Boston Bruins. It gives their prospects that don’t make the team out of training camp a chance to continue their development. It’s especially big for their young goaltenders.
With Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak playing in the final year of their contracts, Dan Vladar, Jeremy Swayman, and Callum Booth have an opportunity to play and make their cases to be the goalie of the future in Boston.
With it official that Providence will play in the shortened AHL season, it gives the Bruins front office and management options for the young players who fail to make the opening night roster in New Jersey.