Boston Bruins rookies were supposed to play in the Florida Panthers rookie hockey tournament in Coral Springs, Florida with the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 15-19, but that was cancelled last week as it appears labor discord is going to continue well into late September.
The Bruins had played preseason rookie games against the New York Islanders in each of the last two seasons, but had planned on switching things up with young prospects like Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight ready to showcase their skills.
Though the labor dispute has threatened preseason action and could delay the start of the NHL season, the AHL year looks like it's ready to press on.
There are whispers that hard feelings between both sides of the labor debate could prohibit any players with even a single game of NHL experience from playing in the AHL during a work stoppage, But the Providence Bruins released their schedule today anyway.
This way, even if the Bruins are out of action, fans can know there will be some measure of professional hockey in New England. (Multiple industry sources have indicated to CSNNE.com over the last few weeks that the NHL season will not get underwayuntil sometime between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.)
The P-Bruins are entering their 21st season in the American Hockey League, and will play the Springfield Falcons in a pair of preseason games starting Oct. 3 at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. The P-Bruins then travel to Springfields MassMutual Center to play the Falcons again on Oct. 6.
Even if young Bruins skaters like Tyler Seguin and Jordan Caron arent a part of the Providence Bruins during a lockoutas a young Patrice Bergeron was during the 2004-05 AHL season while the NHL never opened their doorsits expected that Spooner and Knight will be on an AHL roster stuffed with more prospects than last year.
The 2012-13 American Hockey League regular season will begin on Friday, October 12. The P-Bruins complete season schedule can be found on www.providencebruins.com.