Projo Bruins Blog

June 2008 Archives

The American Hockey League today announced its schedule format and divisional alignments for the 2008-09 season. The Providence Bruins will play six teams from the Western Conference next season along with their current Atlantic Division rivals from the Eastern Conference. All told, the 2008-09 competition for the P-Bruins features 17 different opponents, 11 of which made the postseason in 2007-08.

While the schedule will not be announced until late in the summer, the P-Bruins’ schedule format is as follows. In Atlantic Division competition, Providence will face all six teams, including the Hartford Wolf Pack, Lowell Devils, Manchester Monarchs, Portland Pirates, Springfield Falcons and the Worcester Sharks. In the East Division, the P-Bruins will battle the Albany River Rats, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hershey Bears, Norfolk Admirals and Philadelphia Phantoms. In the Western Conference, the P-Bruins take on the Chicago Wolves, Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose, Rochester Americans, San Antonio Rampage and Toronto Marlies.

A complete breakdown of the P-Bruins’ opponents and how many times they will face each other, along with the conference and divisional alignments are as follows:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION
PROVIDENCE BRUINS (Boston)
Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) – 4 H, 4 A
Lowell Devils (New Jersey) – 5 H, 5 A
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles) – 4 H, 4 A
Portland Pirates (Buffalo) – 5 H, 5 A
Springfield Falcons (Edmonton) – 5 H, 5 A
Worcester Sharks (San Jose) – 5 H, 5 A

EAST DIVISION
Albany River Rats (Carolina) – 1 H, 1 A
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) – 1 H, 1 A
Hershey Bears (Washington) – 1 H, 1 A
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay) – 1 H, 1 A
Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia) – 1 H, 1 A
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTH DIVISION
Grand Rapid Griffins (Detroit)
Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal)
Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado)
Manitoba Moose (Vancouver) – 2 H, 2 A
Rochester Americans (Florida) – 1 H, 1 A
Syracuse Crunch (Columbus)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto) – 1 H, 1 A

WEST DIVISION
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta) – 1 H, 1 A
Houston Aeros (Minnesota) – 1 H, 1 A
Iowa (Anaheim)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis)
Quad City Flames (Calgary)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago)
San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix) – 1 H, 1 A

The AHL will continue to feature two conferences, now encompassing three seven-team divisions and one eight-club division, giving the league a total of 29 clubs vying for the 2009 Calder Cup.

By MARK DIVVER
Journal Assistant Sports Editor

Former University of Minnesota right wing Blake Wheeler has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Boston Bruins, according to the U.S. Hockey Report (USHR.com).

Wheeler, 21, a 6’4’’, 220-pounder, was the fifth pick in the 2004 NHL draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. After completing his junior season at Minnesota, Wheeler rejected Phoenix’s contract offer and opted to take advantage of a clause in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that allowed him to become a free agent.

Wheeler’s deal with Boston, which cannot be signed until July 1, reportedly is for two years at $875,000 per season, not including bonuses. Wheeler could have gotten up to $225,000 more from Phoenix, but wanted the option of choosing where he plays. "Twenty-five teams called,” Wheeler’s agent, Matt Keator, told USHR.com. “Blake narrowed the list down to playoff contenders in traditional hockey markets. In the end, his heart was in Boston.”

Wheeler scored a team-leading 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points last season for Minnesota. Fans of the Golden Gophers are still talking about the spectacular overtime goal he scored to beat North Dakota in the 2007 WCHA championship game.