Added recently were old-time Reds' players Jimmy Bartlett, Ivan Irwin, Wayne Muloin and Dan Poliziani, plus ex-pro brothers Bill and Tim Army, four Bennett brothers - Bill, Curt , Harvey, Jr. and Jim - and the father-son combo of Don and Tom Mellor. The Armys, Bennetts and Mellors all are Rhode Island natives.

Because of its largest player turnout ever and resulting fan enthusiasm, the society is extending the deadline for reservations to July 19. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

Other great hockey stars of the past committed to attend are Ian Anderson, Stan Baluik, Serge Boudreault, Ross Brooks, Ray Clearwater, Bruce Cline, Buzz Deschamps, Bo Elik, Marty Gateman, Aldo Guidolin, Bob Leduc, Yves Locas, Eddie MacQueen, Don McKenney, Howie Menard, Don "Bones" Raleigh, George Ranieri, Bob Robertson, Ray Ross, Chuck Scherza and Jerry Toppazzini.

Widows of Paul Larivee, George McAvoy, Marcel Paille, Zellio Toppazzini and Billy Warwick also plan to attend.

Sale of tickets for the event has already reached 230. Cost for admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 6 to 12. Kids under 6 are admitted free. Deadline for reservations is June 30. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Further information can be had by calling the society's office at 401-247-2666.

After it became obvious to them that they wouldn't be signing Marian Hossa -- who appears to be headed to Detroit on a one-year, $7.45 million deal -- the Bruins turned to their second free-agent forward on their list, Ryder. The blog New England Hockey Journal says the Bruins feel Ryder's slump to 14 goals last year after back-to-back 30-goal seasons was due to a combination of factors -- including his landing in coach Guy Carbonneau's doghouse -- that have nothing to do with a loss of skill. TSN.ca notes the move reunites Ryder with Claude Julien, who coached him in Montreal, Hamilton of the American Hockey League and Hull of the Quebec Major Junior League.

The Sporting News' Chuck Gormley gives the acquisition a 'B' grade and adds "if Patrice Bergeron comes back healthy . . . [that, along with signings of Ryder and Blake Wheeler might get] the Bruins . . . to the top of the Northeast [Division]."

The blog The Bear Cave reports the Bruins also lost three players in free agency yesterday -- goalie Alex Auld to Ottawa, and forward Glen Metropolit and defenseman Sean Curry going together to Philadelphia.

One last note: The Bruins today re-signed forward Petteri Nokelainen to a multi-year contract. The Imatra, Finland native spent the majority of the 2007-08 season in Boston and posted the highest NHL totals of his career for game appearances (57), goals (7), assists (3), and points (10). He also played in all seven games in the postseason for Boston and contributed 2 assists.

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.

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.

Marquardt, who will turn 21 on July 19, scored 43 goals and 26 assists in 68 games during the 2007-08 season, which he split between Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Moncton Wildcats, both of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In his two-plus seasons with Moncton from 2005-2007, the 6'3'' 222-pound winger appeared in 170 regular-season contests, tallying 77 goals and 51 assists for 128 points. Marquardt was originally selected by the Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 194th overall, in the 2006 draft but had not signed with Columbus.

Sigalet saw action in 74 regular-season games for the Providence Bruins (American Hockey League) in 2007-08 and notched 3 goals, 20 assists and a +20 plus/minus rating. In three seasons with Providence, he appeared in 199 regular-season games, registering 81 points on 21 goals and 60 assists. Sigalet's only NHL appearance came on Jan. 9, 2007 with Boston in a game at Ottawa. He was drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round, 100th overall, in the 2005 draft.

Ward, a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, appeared in 65 regular season games for the Bruins last year and registered five goals, eight assists and a career high +9 plus/minus rating. The veteran blueliner led the team in blocked shots with 119 and finished third in hits with 143. Of his five goals, three were game-winners, including two in overtime. He played in six of the Bruins playoff games last season and had one assist.

The 35-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario was originally drafted fifth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg

Jets and was traded from Winnipeg to Detroit on June 11, 1993 along with a fourth round pick for Paul Ysebaert and future considerations. Ward made his NHL debut with Detroit on October 5, 1993 and would play seven seasons for the Red Wings. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Detroit during the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 campaigns.

On July 9, 2001 Ward was traded to Carolina for a second round pick and he won his third Stanley Cup in 2005-2006 with the Hurricanes. Ward had his best season statistically during Carolina's championship season, as he notched career bests in goals (6), assists (19) and points (25). He then signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent following the '05-'06 season before being traded to the Bruins on February 27, 2007 in exchange for Paul Mara.

The 13-year NHL veteran has seen action in 697 regular season games in his career, tallying 40-88-128 totals and 630 penalty minutes. In 84 postseason contests, he recorded 3-6-9 totals and 71 penalty minutes.

Sobotka, 20, returns to Providence for the first time since being recalled to the NHL on January 11. The rookie center split the season between Boston and Providence, appearing in 48 regular season games with the big club while amassing seven points (g, 6a), plus another six Stanley Cup Playoff contests, where he scored two goals. Boston’s season came to an end Monday night, falling in the seventh game of its first round series with the Montreal Canadiens.

Sobotka enjoyed a 14-game NHL call-up from November 23, 2007 into late-December, making his NHL debut on the road against the New York Islanders on November 24, 2007. The forward’s first NHL point came on December 12, 2007, recording an assist against the Atlanta Thrashers. During Sobotka’s second call-up, he enjoyed several other NHL firsts, including his first goal at the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 13, his only multiple-point game with two assists April 4 versus the Ottawa Senators, his playoff debut at Montreal on April 12 and the first of two playoff goals five nights later.

A native of Trebic, Czech Republic, Sobotka comes back to Providence, where he had 20 points (10g, 10a) and a plus-12 rating in 18 regular season games. His best offensive stretch came during an eight-game points-streak (4g, 7a) from October 27, 2007 to November 18, 2007. He is presently riding a three-game points-streak at the AHL level, amassing three goals and six points during that time. Prior to going pro, the Trebic, Czech Republic, native spent the past four seasons playing for the Slavia and Slavia Jr. teams in the Czech Republic. Sobotka was also a member of the Czech Republic’s team that competed in the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships. At the 2007 tournament, Sobotka was named the Czech Republic’s Second Star by a panel of coaches. He was drafted by Boston 106th overall in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association submitted ballots for the Norris Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters announced as finalists. The winner will be announced Thursday, June 12 during the 2008 NHL Awards Television Special, which will be broadcast live throughout Canada on CBC and the United States on VERSUS from the historic Elgin Theatre in Toronto.

Chara enjoyed a career year this season, establishing career highs in goals (17), assists (34) and points (51). He led the B's and ranked eighth in the league with 223 hits and finished a team-best +14 on the year.

This marks the second Norris nomination for Chara as he finished second to New Jersey's Scott Niedermayer in 2004.

Coach Guy Carbonneau said Streit was injured in the second period of Game 4 on Tuesday in Boston and is day to day. Michael Ryder will replace Streit.

Montreal leads the best-of-7 Eastern Conference quarterfinal series 3-1 and can wrap it up with a victory Thursday.

Streit splits his time playing defense and left wing and the right point on the power play. Patrice Brisebois will likely take over the point.

Defenseman Francis Bouillon (ankle) and captain Saku Koivu (fractured foot) are also missing for Montreal. Neither is expected to play in the series.

Gordon, 45, is in his eighth season coaching in Providence and his fifth full year as the P-Bruins' head coach. Since taking over for Mike Sullivan late in the 2002-03 season, Gordon has compiled a record of 219-139-20-14-13 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) in 405 regular-season games and has guided Providence to the Calder Cup playoffs each year, including a trip to the conference finals in 2005.

This season has been Gordon’s best behind the bench as Providence sits atop the AHL standings with a record of 53-16-3-4 for 113 points. With four remaining regular season contests, Providence can still eclipse its franchise marks of 56 wins and 120 points, both set during the club’s 1998-99 Calder Cup championship season. The P-Bruins are three points away from clinching the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s overall regular season points-champion, which would give them home-ice advantage throughout the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.

On the year, Providence ranks second in the AHL in offense, averaging 3.55 goals per game, and the club is first in both shots on goal taken (34.24) and fewest shots allowed (25.55) per contest. The P-Bruins are also a perfect 32-0-0-0 when leading after two periods, the second straight year they have posted an unblemished record in that situation.

Gordon, the PlanetUSA head coach at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok, began his coaching career with the International Hockey League’s Atlanta Knights, serving as both the head coach and as an assistant from 1994-96. He also spent two seasons as both the head coach and an assistant of the IHL’s Quebec Rafales from 1996-98. When Gordon was named the head coach of the Knights on January 5, 1996, he became at 32-years-old, the youngest head coach in the league’s 53-year history. Gordon’s next move came in 1998-99, when he was named the head coach of the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League. He led the club to consecutive first-place finishes in the Northeast Division while compiling an 82-42-16 overall regular season record. The 1999-2000 Express set franchise records for wins (44), points (94) and fewest goals against (181).

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, the native of Easton, Massachusetts, enjoyed a four-year playing career as a goaltender for the Boston College Eagles from 1982-86, posting a 64-35-3 record over that span. He backstopped the Eagles to a NCAA Final Four appearance in 1985 and was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star in 1986. Following the completion of his collegiate career, Gordon began his professional playing career in 1986-87 when he signed a contract with the National Hockey League’s Quebec Nordiques. Along with parts of six seasons in the AHL from 1986-92, Gordon appeared in 23 career NHL games, all with the Nordiques.

Providence last boasted a Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award winner when Peter Laviolette, now the head man on the bench for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, received the award in 1998-99 en route to guiding the club to its only Calder Cup championship.

The Providence Bruins have served as the primary American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins since their inception in 1992, making the affiliation between Boston and Providence one of the longest standing player-development agreements in either league*s history. The new eight-year extension will see the Providence-to-Boston pipeline continue through the 2015-16 season.

"The partnership between the Boston and Providence organizations has never been stronger and we are excited to extend our affiliation agreement," said Chiarelli. "The close proximity of the two cities makes the relationship mutually beneficial for both teams on the hockey operations and marketing sides of our businesses.

*H. Larue Renfroe and his leadership group have shown true foresight in both their guidance of the Providence Bruins and their implementation of improvements to the Dunkin' Donuts Center. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with this new agreement."

"We're excited to continue our long term partnership with the Boston Bruins," said Providence Bruins owner H. Larue Renfroe. "We take a lot of pride in helping develop the top Boston Bruins prospects and we look forward to continuing that role over the next eight
seasons."

Over their 16 seasons, the P-Bruins have made the playoffs 14 times (including this season) and won the Calder Cup Championship in 1999. Currently, Providence holds the best record in the AHL at 47-15-3-3 (100 points).

Sigalet returned to action with the P-Bruins in January after missing close to two months following an on-ice collapse due to complications of multiple sclerosis. He was diagnosed with MS in March 2004.

According to AHL bylaws, only the players listed on a team’s Clear Day roster are eligible to compete in the remainder of the 2007-08 regular season and 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, unless emergency conditions arise as a result of recall, injury or suspension. Teams may also add signed junior players or players on amateur tryout contracts after their respective junior or college seasons are complete.

The P-Bruins’ Clear Day roster consists of goalies Tuukka Rask and Jordan Sigalet, forwards Byron Bitz, Chris Collins, Matt Hendricks, Jeff Hoggan, Martins Karsums, Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Petteri Nokelainen, Pascal Pelletier, Wacey Rabbit, Vladimir Sobotka, Nate Thompson and T.J. Trevelyan, along with defensemen Sean Curry, Matt Hunwick, Matt Lashoff, Adam McQuaid, Jonathan Sigalet, Brett Skinner and Dwayne Zinger.

Pelletier, 24, receives the call-up exactly one week after being named a starter for the Canadian team in the upcoming 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok and two weeks after receiving the league’s CCM/AHL Player of the Month Award for the month of December 2007, during which he had 13 goals and 23 points. Overall, the fourth-year pro and third-year P-Bruin leads the AHL in goals with 24 and ranks fourth in the league with 48 points in 40 games. Pelletier’s plus-17 rating is good for a sixth-place tie in the AHL.

The native of Labrador City, Newfoundland, has put together two lengthy points-streaks this year, one of nine games early in the season and another of eight games that came to an end last weekend. Pelletier notched his 200th professional point with the first of two power play goals against the Albany River Rats on December 27, 2007. The winger has 16 multi-point games this season and has received a star in 15 of Providence’s 40 contests. He originally joined the P-Bruins on December 16, 2005 from the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators.