BRUINS GET READY FOR SECOND HALF
Team Looks to Defend Regular Season and Playoff Titles

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins (Empire) are back on the ice this week after a nice Christmas break preparing for their second half opener with the Salem Ice Dogs on Sunday night. They then play the top team in the league, the Pittsburgh Jr. Pens on Saturday at the Bandits showcase.

The Bruins, three time defending regular season champs and two time defending playoff champs, sit in first place in the Atlantic Division, second place in the Conference and fourth place in the league as they get geared up for a run at making it four straight league crowns.

This is familiar territory for the Bruins, to a degree. The B's have never led wire to wire and have always stumbled early in the season so the vets on this team know what to do in order to get back atop of the standings. This year will be more difficult as there are three teams to climb over and another team nipping at the B's heels.

There have been a lot of positives to look to from the beginning of the season from an individual and team perspective. The Bruins are winning with defense as evidence by their miniscule goals against average of 1.76 which is good for second best in the league (just .05 GAA behind Pittsburgh). The Bruins goalie tandem of Petie von Rosenvinge and Tyler Holske have back boned the defense and they are both among league leaders in most categories.

von Rosenvinge is leading the league in GAA (1.63), fifth in save percentage (.927), second in shutouts (3) and fifth in wins (11). Most impressive are von Rosenvinge's wins at Hooksett against the Monarchs (1-0 shutout), at Boston College against the Monarchs (4-3), a 40 save performance on the road at the Breakers (2-1 win) and a 4-3 win against the Huskies. Holske, after a slow start, has played well the last 6 weeks and improved his GAA to 2.13 and picked up nice wins against Valley, the Falcons and a shutout at the Ice Dogs. von Rosenvinge was recently named to the Empire League's All Star game for the National Conference.

The Bruins defense, by far the youngest in the league, has gotten better by the leaps and bounds over the first three months. They struggled early in the year, which was to be expected, but have slowly gotten better individually and as a unit. Steve Ginand and Ross McMullan were named to the Empire League's All Star game for the National Conference, and, along with Wes Russell, have provided some much needed size and maturity to the blue line as the elder statesmen on the team. Zach Todd, Derek Stahl, Kyle Webb and Kevin McKernan round out the group that has flourished late in games and been able to shut down teams in the third.

"It is not easy to play against bigger, stronger players game in and game out, but our young defensemen are learning how to do it and getting better day by day and our older guys have been rocks for us defensively as the new guys get brought up to speed on how they are needed to play," coach Chris Masters commented.

Up front the team, without a top five scorer in the league for the first time, have gotten contributions from all four lines and all 13 forwards on the team. It has been a balanced attack that has been led by different players at different times. Frankie Vatrano with 29 points in league play lead the team but is followed closely by Cody Learned (26 points), Logan Romano (26 points) and Zach Sandonato (24). Learned, Romano and Sandonato were recently named to play in the Empire League All Star game on January 19th in Hooksett, NH.

"It changes from game to game," Masters said regarding the team's offensive production. "One day it is (Daniel) Szerlip, (Sean) McLaughlin and Rockey (Sweeney) and the next it is (Tyler) Bouchard, (Zach) Luczyk or (Brian) Morgan and (Colin) Britnell. We lost some punch to our line-up when we lost Matt Manzella for a couple of weeks (injury) and when Paul Russell left the team but the team somehow has figured out a way to get things done."

"They are a resilient group that gets better day by day and that is evidenced by their run in the league since mid October. To be where we are in the standings at this point is a bigger accomplishment than where we have been in prior years at the same time. We have not lost a league game since October 18 and that was at the tail end of a stretch where we gave up goals late in games and were playing sloppy in our own end (resulting in some tough losses and ties). I give the players, our leaders and captains in particular, a lot of credit for making a commitment to change that. We are 5-0 in one goal games since then and that is a direct result of a commitment to playing better in our own end and the players' attention to detail and doing all the little things you need to do to win games. It is a real positive sign for us heading into the second half."

That commitment to playing better defensively has led to a lot of additional time spent in the offensive zone and more production. The team cut down on failed break out attempts and got back to spending long stretches in the other team's end and generating more offense.

The Bruins will also have eight players participating in the Empire League Future's game during the EJHL/Empire All Star game festivities. Morgan, Vatrano, Manzella, Votolato, McKernan, Todd, Stahl and Webb will all be representing the National Conference.

The Bruins have a tough hill to climb to make it back to the top of the standings, a deep run in the playoffs and a trip back to nationals. The journey begins this Monday night.

SHEA TO BE A MINUTEMAN
B's Defensemen Commits to U-Mass

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins are proud to announce that '91 defensemen Colin Shea has accepted a scholarship to U-Mass Amherst and will be playing for coach Toot Cahoon. Shea will enter U-Mass Amherst in 2009 or 2010.

Shea, a long time Junior Bruin, first started with the program on the 1991 Junior Bruins AAA tournament team. In 2006-2007 season he played the first of two years with the Junior Bruins (Empire) team and he is now in his first campaign with the Junior Bruins (EJHL).

Shea, whose brother Edwin is a freshmen defensemen at Boston College, has a long history with the Bruins program. He first started with the 1991 AAA tournament team in 2002 where he played with future Junior Bruins teammates John Henrion and Cody Learned. After five seasons with the AAA team and the 05-06 campaign practicing with the Junior Bruins (Empire) he came on full time for the 2006-2007 season.

Shea, in 59 games that season, had a 12 point season and was a +42. That plus/minus was good for third best amongst defensemen. The team had a great season winning the Empire Jr. Hockey League Regular Season title with a 35-3-1 record. The team then went on to win the Empire Jr. Hockey League Playoff Championship when they beat the NH Jr. Monarchs 4-2, in Troy, NY.

In his second full season with the B's a year ago, Shea had a breakout season. In 70 games played he put up great offensive numbers to go along with the teams top +/- for defenseman. He scored 10 goals to go along with 36 assists for a 46 point season. His +47 was not only best for defensemen but third best overall on the team. In addition to that individual success came continued team success. The team won both the regular season nd playoff titles again. In the league title game the B's beat the Monarchs again, 3-2.

In his two seasons with the Junior Bruins (Empire) Shea went a combined 118-18-5, made two trips to USA Hockey Nationals, won the Beantown Fall Classic, two regular season titles and two playoff championships.

"When Colin first joined our team full time I was not sure what type of player he would turn into," coach Chris Masters commented. "He was a good player but I couldn't gauge how good he would become. His development and improvement never stopped and it seemed every month, at our coaches meetings, I would say the same thing-'Shea continues to get better'. He really turned a corner during the second half of his second season with us and turned into an impact level defensemen."

Over the course of the summer of 2008 he continued to make heads turn at various summer showcase events that helped elevate his status and schools started the recruiting process and making offers.

This season, his first with the Junior Bruins (EJHL), he has helped the team to a 16-3-3 record as the team sits in first place in the Northern Division.

"Colin's story is one of perseverance, hard work and a great attitude. He worked for everything he has gotten and if you were to look at where he was just two years ago and where he is now and what kind of player he has become, it is remarkable. He spent a lot of time working on his skating, shooting pucks in the basement and putting in long hours to become the player he wanted to be. To now see him reach one of his life long goals of a college scholarship is great to see," coach Peter Masters remarked.

Congratulation to Colin and his family.

LITTLE BRUINS TOP JUNIOR BRUINS
2008 Civil War goes to Little B's

MARLBORO, MA-The Little Bruins broke a three year winless drought against their full season brethren on Saturday beating the Junior Bruins (Empire) by a 4-2 score. Wayne Simpson's empty netter put the final nail in the coffin late in the second half.

John Carbonneau got the scoring started for the Little Bruins when he scored a short handed goal in the first half. Frankie Vatrano scored on a nice snap shot to tie the game up. The lead was stretched to 2-0 when Andrew Cerretani scored in the second half. With the Little B's up 3-1 (Billy Arnold scored to get the lead back to two) the B's pulled the goalie and scored with thirty seconds to go when Daniel Szerlip knocked in a rebound.

The comeback fell short when Simpson scored the empty netter and gave the Bruins the win. This now runs the Little B's record to 24-3-3 and they finish their season next weekend at the Valley tournament.

The Little B's have been hit by the injury bug of late. Goalie Geno Lane is out for the rest of the fall with Mono, as is defensemen Al Butler...defensemen Thomas Larkin is also out for the rest of the fall recovering from a minor concussion he suffered in the semi finals of the Beantown Fall Classic...defensemen Thomas Kadder has been out virtually all of the fall recovering from a groin injury...

2008 Civil War
Little Bruins-4 vs. Junior Bruins-2

B's COACH MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF
Tatar Recieving Awards

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins added Dan Tatar to the staff midway through the 2007-2008 season and knew they were getting a good hockey guy but had no idea they were getting a rising star in the business and charitible foundation worlds.

Tatar, a graduate of Union College where he played goal for the Skating Dutchmen, was named Citizen of the Year in Glens Falls, New York. He is the youngest receipient of this award in its near 100 year history. The Rotary Club also awarded him as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Events put on by the organization he founded have had over 100 media appearances over the past two years that included an appearance on Good Morning America and a feature in the New York Times.

He was named to the Top 20 Under 40 recently and here is a link to the article:

ANNUAL 20 UNDER 40 AWARDS

Tatar, in addition to coaching with the B's, has a marketing and promotionalal company called ADK.

ADK WEBSITE

To contact Dan: DAN TATAR

MAKE IT THREE!!!!
Little B's Do It...AGAIN!

EXETER, NH-Simply amazing! The Little Bruins worked their way through, arguably, the toughest field of teams in a midget tournament of the year en route to the Beantown Fall Classic championship.

The Bruins, after beating the Pittsburgh Hornets 4-2 in the semi finals, got goals from Joey Yeadon and Gunnar Hughes in a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Barons in the finals.

This now brings the B's record to 22-3-3 and, with those three tournament titles on the mantle, this team is making a very strong argument that it is the best Little B's team in organization history.

The semi final game had the B's and Hornets play for the second time of the year. Their first meeting was a 3-0 B's win in a round robin game during the Labor Day tournament back in September. The B's got out to a 1-0 lead when Connor Sheary ripped a slap shot from the blue that beat the Hornets tender over his left shoulder. The lead was extended to 2-0 when Mark Hourihan scored on a penalty shot. A power play goal brought the game to 2-1. Minutes later it was Gunnar Hughes who redirected a Wayne Simpson feed to make it a two goal lead again.

The Hornets then scored on a slap shot from the right point to tighten the lead again. This was a controversial goal that everyone in the building thought hit the cross bar except the only person that mattered-the ref. The puck made such a loud, bar clanking sound and ricocheted out of the net area with such speed that logic tells you it is an impossibility that it actually went it. That and the fact that the nets in the rink are completely padded on the interior bars of the net was further ammo the B's coaches used to argue their point. All to no avail and the ref gave the B's a bench minor to boot for arguing the call.

The Little B's killed off the penalty and got back to work but were whistled again minutes later for another suspect call. The PK unit again came up big, as did goalie Geno Lane, and kept Pittsburgh off the board. In the waning minute, with Hughes, Simpson, Billy Arnold, Roo Adams and Jeff Reppucci on the ice while the Hornets had the goalie pulled were able to score an empty netter (Arnold) and put the game out of reach and send the B's onto the finals.

In the finals, another one period (30 minute) game, the B's special teams were the difference. Two power play goals and a perfect 4-4 on the penalty kill gave the B's the win. Hughes, on a Simpson assist, gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead. The Barons tied the game but were down again when Yeadon, on a set from Craig Carbonneau and Reppucci, scored the eventual game winner.

Goalie John Carbonneau made 17 saves in the game and was sharp down the stretch when the B's were whistled for a penalty with just over two minutes to go.

The B's will go for an unprecedented fourth tournament title in a couple of weeks when they wrap up their season at the Valley Jr. Warriors tournament.

The list of teams in the Bruins' wake in their three title runs is a "Who's Who" of the top teams in the land-Buffalo Regals (2), Pittsburgh Hornets (2), Neponset Valley River Rats, GBL Bruins, Team Maryland (2), Eastern MA Senators, South Shore Dynamo's, Ontario Hockey Academy, Philly Jr. Flyers (2) and the Cleveland Barons.

The Little B's next game will be at the 2008 version of Civil War as they take on their full season brethren-the Junior Bruins (Empire) team on Saturday at NESC at 1:40 PM. Directly following the game the Junior Bruins (EJHL) play the NE Jr. Falcons.

2008 Beantown Fall Classic Champs

ONTO THE SEMI's
Little B's Top Philly, 5-4; Beat Team Maryland 7-3 in Quarters

EXETER, NH-On Friday night the Little B's hooked up with the Philly Jr. Flyers, for the second time this fall, and came away with a hard fought 5-4 win. In their first meeting the B's skated to a 6-5 win at the Woodchuck Tournament.

The game went back and forth and the Bruins had to overcome one goal deficits a couple of times in the game. The B's got it tied up in the second half and it looked like the game was headed for a tie till Brandon McNally came down the left wing and ripped a slap bomb from 50 feet out that beat the Flyers goalie to the short side. Scoring earlier in the game were Roo Adams, Billy Arnold, Wayne Simpson and Jeff Reppucci.

That put the B's up 5-4 and that score stood and send the team onto the quarterfinals on Saturday.

In the Quarters the black and gold met another familiar opponent in Team Maryland. At the BJB Shootout the B's beat Maryland 4-1. The two teams played the first half to a 3-3 tie. In the first the B's got goals from Arnold, Alex Gacek and Simpson. In the second half the Little B's put on an offensive clinic scoring four picture perfect goals. The first was a beautiful one timer from Mark Hourihan to McNally to make it 4-3. Arnold then finished a Simpson and Hughes tic tac toe play to make it 5-3. Up next was a nice set up by Hourihan to Connor Sheary. The final goal of the game was a power play marker by Gunnar Hughes with assists to McNally and Thomas Larkin.

The win put the B's into the semi finals where they will meet the Pittsburgh Hornets who spanked the Youngstown Phantoms in their quarterfinal by an 8-3 score.

LITTLE B's CONTINUE TO ROLL
Open Beantown Fall Classic with Two Wins

EXETER, NH-The Beantown Fall Classic opened up on Thursday and the Little Bruins got off to a great start with two convincing wins.

In their opener the B's took down the Buffalo Regals 6-2. Scoring for the Bruins were Wayne Simpson (2), Andrew Doane, Mac Cook and Max Barron. Goalie John Carbonneau was sharp in net making 18 saves.

In the nightcap the B's offense continued to find the back of the net scoring seven times en route to a 7-1 thumping of the Jersey Hitmen. Gunnar Hughes, Alex Gacek and Dom Jancaterino both scored twice while Brandon McNally added a singleton. Geno Lane picked up the win in the pipes.

A win on Friday afternoon against the Philly Jr. Flyers puts the B's into the quarterfinals and keeps them in the hunt for their third straight tournament title.

CHAMPS!!!
B's Take Down GBL, 5-3

MARLBORO, MA-The Little Bruins found themselves in a familiar spot on Monday afternoon. That is in the finals of the Labor Day Face-off. The B's capped off a great start to their season beating two of the pre-tournament favorites in the semi's and finals on Monday. After taking care of the Neponset Valley River Rats in the semi finals it was the GBL Jr. Bruins who were bested by the Little Bruins.

The Bruins power play had it going and scored two power play markers to get their scoring started. Wayne Simpson and Jeff Ryan with assists to Joe Pendenza, Billy Arnold and Andrew Cerretani respectively.

The Bruins got a big goal from Gunnar Hughes late in the second period when he jammed home a rebound off an initial Ryan shot.

The game winner came off the stick of Conor Sheary who cut across the slot from the right wing side and, using a GBL'er as a screen, ripped a shot top shelf to make it a 4-3 game late in the third. The game was put out of reach when Andrew Doane tipped a shot from the left point with minutes to go.

The Little B's defense and goalie Geno Lane, who made 14 saves in the win, held the fort the rest of the way.

"Obviously this is a great start to the season and we are proud of the players for their effort and execution this weekend," coach Chris Masters commented. "The players deserve a lot of credit for how they played starting Saturday night. We knew we could not afford to lose another game and they peeled off four straight wins after a good tie on Saturday night."

"To play four strong teams (Hornets, Breakers, Rats and GBL) and win every one of them when you have to win them shows a lot of mental toughness and heart."

The Little Bruins now turn their sites to the Woodchuck Showcase in Burlington, VT.

ONTO THE FINALS
Yeadon Scores Game Winner in 4-3 Win over Rats

MARLBORO, MA-Forward Joey Yeadon converted a play started by Alex Gacek and Jeff Ryan with five minutes to go in the game to give the Bruins a 4-3 win which moved them into the finals. John Carbonneau made 29 saves, 15 of them in the second period, to help pace the B's to the win.

The Rats got onto the board first scoring just minutes into the game. The Bruins tied the game when Gunnar Hughes banged home a Wayne Simpson ten minutes later. It would stay that way till there was only 32 seconds left in the first. Joe Pendenza got his stick on the puck and found the back of the net off a scrum in front of the Rats' goalie.

Neponset got the game tied in the second and it would head to the third period with that 2-2 score. In the third the Bruins took the lead again on a Jeff Reppucci power play goal (assists to Simpson and Billy Arnold). Neponset would not go away and quickly tied the game just thirty seconds later.

It was three minutes later that Yeadon scored to give the Bruins the lead again. A lead they would not relinquish. The Bruins defense, Reppucci, Thomas Larkin, Al Butler and Roo Adams in particular were very good down the stretch and kept the potent Rats offense at bay.

The Bruins now move on to the finals where they play the GBL Jr. Bruins.

B's TOP PESKY BREAKERS
B's Gaining Momentum

MARLBORO, MA-With their second must win game of the weekend on Sunday night the B's had to fend off a pesky Bay State Breakers team to advance to the medal round of the MA Select League Tier 1 Labor Day Classic.

A combination of stingy defense and timely scoring is proving to be a winner for the Little Bruins through the early going of the season. The B's defense yielded only 13 shots on net although goalie Geno Lane had to come up with a handful of quality saves in picking up the win.

Billy Arnold got the Bruins a 1-0 lead when he "wired one" top shelf on the power play with a wicked snap shot. Jeff Reppucci assisted on the play. joey Yeadon scored to make it 2-0 on a great feed from Justin Mansfield. Thomas Larkin scored on a power play (assists to Reppucci and Joe Pendenza) and Simpson (assists to Arnold and Gunnar Hughes) scored an empty netter to put the game away.

The B's will take their 3-1-1 record into the semi finals where they drew the Neponset Valley River Rats on Monday morning.

CARBONNEAU SHUTS OUT HORNETS
B's Take Down Pittsburgh, 3-0

MARLBORO, MA-Sunday morning the Bruins got a shut out performance from John Carbonneau and goals from Alex Gacek, Billy Arnold and John Carbonneau as they out shot the Pittsburgh Hornets 40-20.

Gacek scored on a wrister off a great rush up the left wing side with Joey Yeadon getting an assist on the play. Arnold made it a 2-0 game when he scored taking the puck to the net off the left wing wall. Wayne Simpson assisted on the Arnold goal. The B's defense of Jeff Reppucci, Thomas Larkin, Evan Gogonis, Roo Adams, Al Butler, Phil Sciretta and Ross Scherma, who have gotten better with each game, held the Hornets to just 20 shots in the game.

Carbonneau scored an empty netter just as time expired to close out the scoring and the game. With a win against the Bay State Breakers on Sunday night the Bruins will move onto the semi finals on Monday morning.

ALL TIED UP
B's and Regals Locked at One

WESTBORO, MA-The Bruins, after dropping a game earlier in the day had their backs against the wall on Saturday night facing off with the Buffalo Regals. A loss and they were all but done from being eligible for the playoff round and a tie would mean their playoffs would start on Sunday morning (meaning another non win and they were done).

The Bruins got their lone goal of the game when Wayne Simpson went coast to coast up the left wing side, got a shot to the net and it somehow found its way into the net with Billy Arnold crashing the net.

The Regals tied the game when they scored on a 5-3 power play in the second period. That period was a complete disaster as there was about two minutes of 5-5 play. Most of the second was spent either on the PP or PK.

Geno Lane made 16 saves in the win and the B's now headed into Sunday with a 1-1-1 record and now had the added pressure of needing to win both games on Sunday.

FIRST STUMBLE OF THE YEAR
Drop Game to Whale

FRANKLIN, MA-The B's got tripped on Saturday afternoon losing to the Cape Cod Whalers by a 5-2 score (two empty netters for the Whale). The Bruins never seemed to hit their stride in the game and something seemed "off". The Whalers got out to a 2-0 lead but cut the lead in half when Jeff Ryan scored off a cycle. After the Whale got the lead back the B's again got it close when Billy Arnold scored off a broken play to make it a 3-2 game late in the third.

The B's pulled goalie John Carbonneau in an effort to tie the game but the Whalers scored an empty netter with 45 second to go pull the lead back to two. The B's again pulled the goalie to try and tie things up but Cape Cod scored again to make it a 5-2 final

LITTLE BRUINS OFF AND RUNNING
B's Top Colonials 4-1 in Opener

WESTBORO, MA-The Little Bruins opened their 2008 season with a 4-1 win over the NJ Colonials at the MA Select League Labor Day Shootout. The B's got balanced scoring from all three lines, solid play from the blue line and a good effort in net from Geno Lane.

The Bruins got on the board first when '94 forward Andrew Doane scored the first goal of the season when he finished off a play started by Thomas Larkin and Wayne Simpson. The B's made it 2-0 on a slap bomb from Joey Yeadon. The goal was a text book 3-2 as Alex Gacek skated the puck up ice and took the puck towards the left wing. As he got over the blue line, Logan Romano drove to the net taking one of the Colonials defensemen with him and that left the high slot open for Yeadon who skated to the open ice, took the drop pass from Gacek and ripped one into the net.

After NJ got the game to 2-1 it was Craig Carbonneau who picked the pocket of a Colonials defensemen at the B's blue line, raced in on a breakaway and scored making it a two goal lead once again. The final goal of the night came from Gacek who banged home a Jeff Reppucci rebound.

The team has a tough Saturday to contend with as they take on both the Cape Cod Whalers and the Buffalo Regals.

REF'S TAKE DOWN TITLE
Golf Outing a Success; Pendenza Family Wins Grand Prize Raffle

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins 5th Annual Golf Outing was held on Monday (Aug 25) and, in addition to the rain holding off and emcee Andy Powers bringing down the house, the referee's team of Gene Binda, Gene Binda Jr, Jay Durfee and Gerry O'Neill put up a 61 to take top prize honors. The grand prize raffle winner was the Pendenza family, who won a $1000 off their Junior Bruins tuition.

With a forecast calling for a 30% chance of s shower passing through there was a nervous start to the day but Mother Nature co-operated and not a drop of rain fall all day at the Hopkinton Country Club. Golf was played at a lightning pace of just over four hours and then all participants and volunteers headed into the Ball Room for a cocktail hour, dinner and award ceremony emceed by coach Powers. There were over 150 raffle and auction items and the day culminated with the grad prize raffle drawing.

"We want to thank everyone who had a hand in making the day a success," Chris Masters commented. "The support and generosity of the dozens of people who donated raffle and auction items, volunteers, sponsors and everyone who participated deserve thanks. We could not have pulled it off without them."

Complete Results

1st Place-61
Gene Binda, Gene Binda Jr., Jay Durfee, Gerry O'Neill

2nd Place-62
Bruce von Rosenvinge, Chris Welles, Zach Unguarsky, Jordan Unguarsky

3rd Place-63
Kevin Caulfield, Tim Kelleher, Brendan Buckley, Chris Hickey, Robert Hickey

Closest to the Pin-Hole #16
Tim Kelleher (4'4'')

Longest Drive-Hole #4
Justin Alonzo

Grand Prize Raffle Winner
Pendenza family

USA HOCKEY SELCET 15 FESTIVAL
Strong Showing for B's in St. Cloud

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The USA Hockey Select 15 Festival finished up this past Friday and there was not only a large number of players with Junior Bruins ties but they also put forth good performances. There were 20 players and one coach that have played/will play for the black and gold on either the Junior Bruins-Empire, Little Bruins or the 1993 Junior Bruins AAA tournament team. The camp took place on the campus of St. Cloud State at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Several of the players listed below were among their team and Festival's leading scorers as well as garnering a lot of attention from the coaches and scouts in the arena. Coach Chris Masters helped guide the Gold TEam to the first place finish at the Festival. Their 4-1 record was tops among all teams and included a 13 person shootout in the final game that clinched top team status. In that shootout it was Massachusetts native Ryan Hubbard who stopped 11 of 13 shooters. In was Defensemen Brandon Tendeland (West Fargo, North Dakota) who got the sudden death shootout game winner.

The list of those who participated with Bruins ties are: Brendan Burke (AAA), Richie Prunesti (AAA), Matt Mahalak (AAA), Griffin Votolato (AAA), Jimmy Vesey (AAA), Kurt Krotz (AAA), Alex Gacek (Little Bruins and AAA-pictured right), Dylan Pike (AAA), JP Burnside (AAA), Ronald Fishman (AAA), Devin Albert (AAA), Vince Trochek (AAA), Anthony Terenzio (AAA), Stephen Brown (AAA), Derek Stahl (Junior Bruins-Empire and AAA), Ross Scherma (Little Bruins and AAA), Stephen Miller (Junior Bruins-Empire and AAA), Anthony Greco (AAA), Joey Yeadon (Little Bruins and AAA-pictured above left), Gord Donnelly (AAA) and Chris Masters (coach).

BRUINS CROWNED CHAMPS
Take Down Hitmen at Monarchs Tournament

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins beat the Jersey Hitmen on Sunday afternoon to win the NH Jr. Monarchs tournament. The B's went undefeated winning all four games they played. The championship game was a 6-2 win.

Defensemen Patch Alber and Colin Shea, forwards Wayne Simpson, Collin Bretton, Mike Borge, Jeff Ryan and goalie TJ Massie all had strong weekends.

ARNOLD TO BE AN EAGLE
Long Time Bruin Commits to Boston College

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Little Bruins and '92 AAA tournament team player Billy Arnold let coach Jerry York and the rest of the staff at Boston College know that he will be bringing his talents to the Heights.

Arnold played on the inaugural '92 AAA tournament team for the Bruins back in 2002 and has been with the team ever since. Two years ago he spent time with the Junior Bruins (Empire) and Little Bruins, and last year was a key contributor on the Little B's.

In his first season with the Bruins (2002) he helped lead the '92's to a 11-4-1 record after advancing to the semi finals at the Repentigny and Mission Cup tournaments and then winning the SKater's Edge tournament in Marlboro. He led all players in scoring that season with 25 points in those 16 games. Over the next six years Arnold would continue to be a top player on the '92 Bruins and helped the team to a 52-18-5 record.

In the 2006-2007 season he would join the program on a more permanent basis as a member of the Little Bruins, the organizations split season midget team, as an 8th grader. Last season he quickly became one of the teams top players and was second on the team in scoring despite being one of the younger players on the team.

A consummate team player who does all the little things, he has a big league shot and release, a scorer's touch and is near impossible to move off the puck. Perhaps his greatest asset is his creativity and smarts with the puck. He knows where teammates are at all times and finds the open player, even when they appear to be covered.

"Any time a player in our program realizes one of their dreams it is a thrill for us, especially when it is someone who has been with us for as long as Bill has," Chris Masters commented. "It is nice to see a player as dedicated and who has worked as hard as Bill, rewarded for those efforts. We think he will be a big time player for BC and it is no surprise to us that he is going to end up there."

Congrats to Bill and his family.

'98 BRUINS TAKE DOWN LAS VEGAS
OT Semi final Win Propels Team to Title

LAS VEGAS, NV-The '98 Bruins, after a quadruple over time game in the semi's earlier in the day, beat Can West in the finals, 10-5, to win the North American AAA Champions Cup. In the semi finals, against the Vancouver Selects, Dennis Cesana scored to end the quadruple over time game. In the finals the Bruins got out to a big lead and never looked back.

The Bruins had a great week in Vegas at, and away from, the rink. The '99 Bruins went 3-1 in round robin play but lost in the semi finals. Same for the '97 Bruins who also went 3-1 but lost in the semi's. The '96 Bruins went 2-2 in round robin play and were the #2 seed at their level and played in a consolation game on Friday. The '95 Bruins had a tough week going 1-3.

"The feedback from players and families has been great," coach Chris Masters commented. "We have already received calls and email from families letting us know this was the most fun they have ever had at a tournament. The competition was stronger than we expected and there were some really good teams who we have never seen before and there are endless things to do away from the rink. We got to meet a ton of new families since about 70% of the players with us were new to our program. We are already looking forward to going back."

B's HEADED BACK TO THE DESERT
Five Teams Head to Las Vegas

FRAMINGHAM, MA-It was a year ago the Junior Bruins sent their first team to Las Vegas and the '95's made a run to the title game before losing to the LA Selects. They are heading back for another run at the North AMerican AAA Champions Cup, this time along with four other Bruins' teams. The 95-96-97-98-99 Junior Bruins are all set to begin play at the Las Vegas Ice Center and Sobe Fiesta Arena on Monday, July 7. The playoffs conclude on Friday, July 11.

1995 Junior Bruins
Ryan Cloonan (Springfield Jr. Pics), John Baiocco (NJ Avalanche), Josh Melnick (NJ Rockets), Hamilton Whyte (Las Vegas Outlaws), Derek Barach (CD Selects), Devon Mackey (California Rip Tide), Clay Berger (Florida Everblades), Vinni Littieri (Minnesota), Andrew Purdom (Elgin Middlesex Chiefs), Connor Light (Minuteman Flames), Joe Colatarci (Florida Everblades), Thad Asa (Florida), Joey Raats (Phoenix), Jon Palotta (Central MA Outlaws), Mitchell Allen (CD Selects), Bryan McGrath (Minuteman Flames) and Nolan Callahan (Florida Everblades)

1996 Junior Bruins
Brendan Harris (LAs Vegas Outlaws), Sonny Milano (LI Royals), Ryan Tait (California Wave), Robbie Marsanico (NJ Avalanche), Ethan Somoza (California Wave), Trent Dolabson (California Wave), Brett Backman (Greenwich Blues), Christian Ollson (Haninge Sweden), Ace Cowans (Haninge Sweden), Zach Davis (Philly Jr. Flyers), Max Blitz (California Wave), Adam Papayoanou (California Wave), Ben Bala (NJ) and Gavin Nieto (California Wave)

1997 Junior Bruins
Evan Somoza (LA Hockey Club), Brendan Hill (Winnipeg), Alec Mehr (Middlesex Islanders), Ty Comrie (LA Hockey Club), Matt Dillon (Minuteman Flames), Jeremy Bracco (LI Gulls), Aaron ARagon (LA Hockey Club), Jordan Greenhall (Seattle), Vito Bavaro (Florida Everblades), Matt Lombardozzi (Minuteman Flames), Jason Bolduc (South Shore Kings), Joey Thielen (LA Hockey Club), Jordan Boulton (Edmonton), Keoni Texeira (LA Hockey Club) and Robert Jacobson (LA Hockey Club)

1998 Junior Bruins
Jack Badini (M/F Blues), Patrick Harper (Westchester Express), Paul Menexas (LI Gulls), Jack Flanagan (Westchester Express), Graham McPhee (Montgomery Blues), Ben Lown (Yorba Linda Blackhawks), Brad Estrada (Yorba Linda Blackhawks), Michael Kerbrat (Yorba Linda Blackhawks), Rudi Ying (Chicago Mission), Rhett Rhampinelli (Florida Everblades), Max Alsaraff (Minuteman Flames), Gavin Grace (Yorba Linda Blackhawks), Dennis Cesana (Providence Capitals), Brendan Less (NJ Colonials), Adam Karashik (Westchester Express), Tim Callahan (Florida Everblades) and Brandon Schellin (Yorba Linda Blackhawks)

1999 Junior Bruins
Austin Pratt (Waterloo Blackhawks), Chris Garbe (NY), Jack Studley (Minuteman Flames), PEter nugent (Minuteman Flames), Richard Lyons (Minuteman Flames), Mike Conlin (LI Gulls), Jake Tortura (Monroe County Eagles), Cam Barbagallo (Top Gun), Alex Kostrzewski (Greenwich Blues), Michael Eustace (Greenwich Blues), Dave Farrance (Monroe County Eagles), Jake Bojarzin (Florida Everblades), Cory Tibbets (Minuteman Flames) and Anthony Aureliano (LI Gulls)

CHAMPS!!!
B's Knock off Vancouver

MARLBORO, MA-The '98 Junior Bruins shut out the Vancouver Selects, 6-0, in the championship game of the Icebreaker tournament to cap off a perfect weekend. The B's went 6-0 outscoring opponents 61-6. They saved their best for last playing a near perfect game against Vancouver.

The Bruins beat the Boston Dragons and the Beantown Bullies on Friday. The B's got off to a slow start against the Dragons training late into the first period before pouring it on in the second and third.

It was deja vu on Saturday morning as they got off to a slow start again against the host Icemen. After trading off goals early in the game the B's pulled away in the third to win, 6-3. They finished the round robin with a 1-0 shutout of the NH Knights to earn them the #1 seed heading into the playoffs.

Sunday morning there was no slow start as they dismantled the Dragons 10-2 in the semi's. That put them in the finals with Vancouver.

The Bruins got a spectacular game from goalie Bryan McGrath who made some big saves early in the game when the game was still tight. A quick start was what the B's wanted and they got just that as Clayton Keller, who was the B's best player all weekend, fed Jake Chychrun on a 2-1 from the left wing side. Chychrun one-timed the pass into the net for a 1-0 lead. The lead went to 2-0 when Brendan Hamblet forced a turnover in the offensive zone on the right wing boards and then took it to the net and threw a back hander that beat the Selects goalie.

The lead got stretched to 4-0 in the second as Graham McPhee and Max Alsaraff scored for the B's. The lead was padded with another beautiful Keller pass. This time it was Dennis Cesana who finished the play off on the power play. The final goal of the game was Jack Badini who ripped a low snapper at the net on a 2-1. McGrath made several more great saves late in the game to preserve the shutout. The '98 B's also showed some toughness throughout the tournamnet and finals in particular as serveral players were injured but all played through the pain and were still able to help their team win.

"The kids did a great job this weekend and that finals game was the best we played all year," coach Chris Masters commented. "This team has had two of the more memorable games of the spring for us. The first was the comeback semi final win over the Vipers at OTTF and now this finals win. To be able to shut down a team as powerful and talented as the Selects was fun to watch. The players should be proud of themselves."

The '98's will make one more appearance this season as they head to Las Vegas next week. There will be a lot of new faces on the Vegas team as well as some '98 B's vets. A team preview will be posted later this week.

Champ pic to be posted later this week.

1998 ICEBREAKER PREVIEW
B's Look to Finish the job

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The 1998 Junior Bruins, Icebreaker champs in 2006, will be back at NESC in Marlboro this weekend. They will take on the Boston Dragons, Boston Icemen, Vancouver Selects and the Beantown Bullies in round robin play. A year ago they lost in the finals so they will be looking to get back to the title game and finish where they came up short a year ago.

Up front the B's will roll out Graham McPhee (Montgomery Blues), Jake Chychrun (Florida Panthers), Brendan Hamblet (Minuteman Flames), Jack Badini (Greenwich Blues), Clayton Keller (St. Louis Jr. Blues), Rudi Ying (Chicago Mission), Patrick Harper (Westchester Express), Shane Kastl (NJ Colonials).

At the blue line are Sky Fontaine (Providence Capitals), Max Alsaraff (Minuteman Flames), Dennis Cesana (Providence Capitals), Stefan Krupski (NJ Colonials) and Brendan Less (NJ Colonials) while Timmy Callahan (Florida Panthers) and Bryan McGrath (Minuteman Flames) are in the pipes.

JACKPOT!!!
2000's are Icebreaker Champs

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Third times a charm for the 2000 Junior Bruins. What they could not accomplish in their first two outings in Toronto and Montreal they did in Marlboro at the Icebreaker. The B's ripped through the competition going 6-0, out scoring opponents 53-6.

The Bruins were led offensively by Joseph Veleno and Patrick Del Vecchio who scored goals by the boatload and came up big each scoring twice in a 4-2 round robin win over the CT. Yankees. Goalies Peyton Durand and Connor Hopkins were also great in that tight game and throughout the weekend. Also having strong weekends were forward TJ Walsh and defensemen Dennis Busby.

The B's took down the CT. Bulldogs in the opener and then had a the aforementioned 4-2 win over the Yankees. On Saturday they cranked up the offense again scoring 8-0 and 11-1 wins over the Boston Icemen and NH Knights, respectively.

In the semi's it was the Knights again taking it on the chin and then it was the Yankees again in the final. This time the offense could not be stopped as they pumped home ten and posted a shutout for a 10-0 title clinching win.

"This was a great way to end the season for this team," coach Peter Masters commented. "This was a fun group to be with, the kids did a great job and we started to see the team gel. In years past we have seen teams take a year or two to start to form a bond and others form that bond during their first tournament together. The '00's were somewhere in between and we learned a lot about the players, team and this age group and we are already looking forward to next year."

2000 ICEBREAKER PREVIEW
Bruins Ready For Final Tournament of the Year

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The 2000 Junior Bruins are heading to Marlboro, MA this weekend for their final tournament of the year. The B's will have the CT Bulldogs, Boston Icemen, CT Yankees and the NH Knights to contend with in the round robin.

The Bruins will have some new faces this weekend joining a slew of players who have been with the Bruins in their first two outings. The newcomers are forwards Pat Del Vecchio (West Mall Lightning), Sam Colangelo (Middlesex Islanders), Joseph Veleno (Montreal), Jordan Sacks (Vaughn Red) and Peyton Durand (Minuteman Flames).

Returning for their final tournament of the summer are Jake Wise (Middlesex Islanders), Connor Lovett (South Shore Kings), Gunnar Fontaine (Providence Capitals), Zac Sirota (Duffield Devils), TJ Walsh (Minuteman Flames), Patrick Bogart (Middlesex Islanders), Robert Radochia (Middlesex Islanders), Timmy Rego (South Shore Kings), Dennis Busby (Duffield Devils) and Connor Hopkins (BC Jr. Eagles).

THREE-PEAT!!!
1997 Bruins Take Down Icebreaker in Wild Final

MARLBORO, MA-The '97 Bruins got back to form winning their third straight Icebreaker crown on Sunday beating the Gouvenours, 6-5, in a wild finals game. The win capped off a strong weekend for the 97's that included two big wins over the Montreal Vipers. The first in a come from behind win in the tournament opened and another one goal game in the semi finals.

The '97 Bruins and Vipers are familiar foes having played each other three times in the last two weeks. All three games, all Bruins wins, have been one goal games and the B's now have a 5-0 lifetime record verse the Vipers.

Friday night the B's got the 4-3 win over the Vipers and then took care of the NH Knights on Saturday morning by a 10-0 scored. Up next was a pesky CT. Yankees team, 4-1. The final game before the playoffs got started was a 9-1 B's win over the Beantown Bullies. That set up a semi final date with the Vipers who were the #4 seed. The top seeded Bruins got a late goal from Alex King to make it a 302 final and send the Bruins onto the finals to play another Montreal based team-the Gouvenours.

The Bruins got out to a 5-1 lead with only minutes to go in the second period and looked to have things wrapped up. The B's got a little sloppy, made a few mistakes and suddenly found themselves tied at 5-5 in the third. The pace of the game was also slowed as a half dozen Gouvenours looked to go down in the second half of the game with career ending injuries. Luckily, they are quick healers as each played didn't miss their next shift.

The B's got back their composure, and as this team has done 10 times before, got the lead back and won their 11th tournament title in 13 tries. On the winning goal Matt Dillon outworked a Gouvenour defender in the right wing corner of the offensive zone and got the puck to Brendan Warren who found Luke Kirwin open in the slot and he one timed the pass home to give the B's a 6-5 lead. That is a lead that would hold up for the next thirty seconds as the B's piled onto the ice to celebrate.

The '97 Bruins have one more tournament before calling it a season. They head to Las Vegas for the North American AAA Champions Cup.

1997 ICEBREAKER PREVIEW
Bruins Head to NESC

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The 1997 Junior Bruins head to Marlboro this weekend to make a run at a three-peat at the Icebreaker tournament. Two seasons ago, in the B's first appearance at this tournament they took down the Montreal Ice Storm in the finals. A year ago it was the Atlantic All Stars falling to the B's. Will the Bruins get a shot at a third straight crown?

The B's have Luke Kirwin (Syracuse Stars), Matt Dillon (Minuteman Flames), Jeremy Bracco (LI Gulls), Brendan Warren (Compuware), Cam Fisher (Minuteman Flames), Lincoln Griffin (South Shore Kings), Ty Comrie (LA Selects) and Alex Mehr (Middlesex Islanders) up front.

At the blue line are Noah Hanifin (South Shore Kings), John Marino (Minuteman Flames), Casey Fitzgerald (Middlesex Islanders), Alex King (Compuware) and Charlie McAvoy (LI Gulls) while Kevin Resop (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Elijah Harris (Minuteman Flames) are in the pipes.

HOW 'SWEDE' IT IS
B's Add Two for '08-'09 Season

FRAMINGHAM, MA-It has been a long time since the Bruins looked across the Pond for players but in the upcoming season they have added two Swedish players. Defensemen Leo Qvarnstrom and forward Dennis Ors, both who played in the Swedish Elite league last season, are heading to the States to play for the Junior Bruins (EJHL).

For those Swedish speaking B's fans, here is a link to an article in a Swedish paper with the full story: TALARNAS TIDNINGAR

 

JUNIOR BRUINS LOSE A FRIEND
Mark Whyte Loses Battle to Cancer

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Mark Whyte, father of '95 Junior Bruins AAA tournament team player Hamilton Whyte, passed away on Saturday afternoon after battling brain cancer for the last two years. Mark, like he did with all things in his life, fought this battle to the end with courage that a 5 Star General would want in all of his troops.

Mark was not only the father of a player in our program. He was a friend and someone whose love of the game, generosity and hard work affected the lives of hundreds of kids and families throughout North America. He, along with the help of fellow Las Vegan Kirk Brooks, put Las Vegas hockey on the map. There is now a vibrant program, the Las Vegas Outlaws, that would not be what it is without Mark's direction and hard work. A fairer statement may be that there would be NO program at all without Mark.

There are a lot of great people I have met in my years coaching and being involved in the hockey world but very few like Mark. Rarely have I ever seen someone who was so involved and cared so much about not just his kid but all the kids in Las Vegas and the southwest where hockey opportunities are sometimes few and far between.

Mark had a take charge attitude in everything he did. Whether it was his days participating in triathlons, working in the financial services industry or helping kids in hockey. I can remember numerous mornings when my phone would ring at 8 AM and it would be Mark awake and already at work at 5 AM in Las Vegas.

His courage was something to behold, as was his strength. Every time I saw or spoke to Mark since he was diagnosed I asked how he was doing and his answer was the ALWAYS the same, every time-"Doing great!". Always said with a smile. He never complained, ever. Not once. He continued to live and enjoy life.

It was about 15 months ago that Mark underwent brain surgery and I spoke to him a week or so after and he said everything went great and that he thought he would be able to make it to Toronto for the Prospects tournament with our '95 team. I told him to relax, miss this tournament and just use the time to recover and not travel cross country. He dismissed that idea and said he would be fine and was excited to go. That was who Mark was...never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him and he loved being around the rinks and with his son.

It's funny...on the same day that a few parents in Montreal were about to jump off a bridge and incite a riot because a team of 7 and 8 year olds lost a game we lost a parent and friend whose attitude was always spot on and positive. He never lost sight of the big picture and what was really important. While Mark liked to win as much as anyone, he also knew to keep things in perspective and that there were important life lessons to be learned in losing as much as in winning. A lot of us, myself included, can learn a lot from Mark's example. I wish there were more in the world like Mark.

I am going to miss my friend,
Chris Masters

Mark and I playing golf at Southern Highlands in Las Vegas in 2006

 

CHAMPS!!!
94's Take Down Honeybaked in OT; Doane Leads with 5 Goal Performance in Title Game

TORONTO, ONTARIO-The 1994 Bruins were crowned champs at the Prospects tournament on Sunday afternoon after a wild, back and forth game with Honeybaked. In the end it was an Andrew Doane goal, his fifth of the game, that sent the B's piling onto the ice in celebration of their 6-5 OT win.

The B's, after already playing two tough teams in the round robin, had to win four games to capture the title on Sunday. In the first round they beat Waterloo 2-1, in the quarters it was a 7-0 blowout of Hasek's Heroes before beating the West Coast Selects in the semi's. The win brought their record to 7-1 on the weekend.

Prospects Champions

MOVING ON!
94's Head to the Playoffs; Vatrano and Morgan Lead Way to Exciting Win

TORONTO, ONTARIO-The B's have seen some tough round robin schedules in 2008 at the Prospects tournament but they have still found ways to score big wins and fight through tough fields to make the playoff rounds on Sundays. The 1994 Bruins can now be added to that list as they take a 3-1 record into Sunday.

The B's, after dropping a tough game to the Toronto Black Knights on Friday morning bounced back to trounce the Ottawa Phantom Selects in the afternoon. That set up a must win game on Saturday morning when the B's and East Coast Selects squared off.

The B's would be down 3-1 late in the second before storming back to score three straight to take a 4-3 lead into the final minute of the game. The wild game had a frenzied finish as the Selects tied the game with 30 seconds to play and took back momentum. On the ensuing face-off, Brian Morgan pushed the face-off through the opposing centers skates and drove the puck down the left wing side of the ice as linemate Frankie Vatrano went hard to the net. Morgan put a perfect pass onto Vatrano's stick who then finished the play off to give the Bruins the lead just seven seconds after surrendering it.

That win all but assured the B's of a spot in the playoffs as their final game was against a weak CT Yankee's team. The B's took care of business Saturday afternoon beating the Yanks 10-1.

The Bruins then played the waiting game to find out who they draw in their opening round game on Sunday morning.

94 PROSPECTS SCHEDULE RELEASED
B's Headed to Toronto for Final Time in '08

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The weekend of May 23-25 the Bruins will visit Toronto for the final time of the 2008 AAA tournament team season. This time it is the '94 Junior Bruins who will be at the Prospects tournament.

The schedule has been released and the Bruins will have four tough teams to play in the round robin. Express USA Hockey, Ottawa Phantom Selects, East Coast Selects and CT Yankees await the Junior Bruins.

The B's will have two new goalies in the pipes as Jake Berry (Bridgewater Bandits) and Ryan Morse (NJ Colonials). At the point are Kyle Webb (Middlesex Islanders), Truman Reed (Detroit Little Caesar's), Mitch Beyer (Syracuse Stars), Charlie Donners (Terriers), Matt Grzelcyk (BC Jr. Eagles) and Kevin McKernan (Minuteman Flames).

Up front he Bruins will roll out Drew Best (Tulsa), Brian Morgan (Middlesex Islanders), Mack Cook (Bridgewater Bandits), Frankie Vatrano (Junior Bruins), Kevin Duane (M/F Blues), Ryan Fitzgerald (Middlesex Islanders), Mike Iovana (Middlesex Islanders) and Danny O'Regan (South Shore Kings).

BRUINS TAKE DOWN PROSPECTS
Matches Closed Out on 33rd Hole; B's Win 4 and 3

KITCHENER, ONTARIO-The 2008 J. Peter Dorsey Golf Matches were won, for the second year in a row, by the Junior Bruins. Also for the second year in a row it was won on Prospects home course, Deer Ridge, in Kitchener, Ontario.

The J. Peter Dorsey Golf Matches were started in 2004 and the inaugural match being played at famed Oak Hill in Rochester, NY (host of several US Opens, US Amateurs, PGA Championship as well as hosting the Ryder Cup). Each year the Junior Bruins and Prospects tournament square off for golfing bragging rights for the year, to keep the accompanying championship plaque in their offices and to post a story about the win on your web site driving the loser crazy.

This year, the format was match play over 36 holes with the first 18 being played at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario on Wednesday. Hamilton G&CC, one of the oldest clubs in all of North America has been host to several Canadian Opens and is a beautiful HS Colt layout. The final 18 was played on Thursday, at the aforementioned Deer Ridge. Deer Ridge is a goflers dream. It's a Peter McBroom layout with a limited membership so the course always seems empty and is in great shape.

On the 17th hole at Hamilton, with the match all square, the Bruins made a 20 footer for par which looked like it would be good for a halve as Prospects had a nasty 15 foot slider for birdie on deck. Prospects drained the putt and took a one hole lead into the 18th. After both made bogey 5's at the 18th Prospects would take a 1 up lead into the final round on Thursday.

Prospects took a 2 up lead after the first hole on Thursday and things did not look good for the B's. Prospects, for the second day in a row, got very "lippy" saying he was "feeling it" and thought he would throw up a 78 or so as they walked off the 1st green. That would be the last time Prospects would have anything to be happy about.

The Junior Bruins then put on a clinic winning seven of the next thirteen holes (losing one and pushing five others) to close the match out on the 15th hole. The final dagger came at the Par 3, thirteenth hole.

Having won his first hole since the first and cutting the deficit to two down, Prospects pumped one to a about 10 feet from the pin. The Bruins struck back carving an 8 iron to 5 feet. After Prospects missed the ten foot birdie putt, the B's rammed their home to make birdie and get the lead back to 3 up.

They pushed the 14th hole and, with the Bruins sitting on a four foot putt for par on the 15th, Prospects needed to chip in for par and have the B's miss their four footer to extend the match. After chipping the ball ten feet past the pin, the hole, and the match was conceded and the B's were winners for the second straight year.

Prospects went directly to the range following the match to start working on his game in preparation for the 2009 matches. Another loss in, not only his own country on his native soil, but also at his home course may bring punishment from the Canadian government.

BACK TO BACK!!!
'99's Repeat at OTTF; McLaughlin Hat Trick Powers Bruins to Title

TORONTO, ONTARIO-The '99 Bruins completed a perfect weekend with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Stars at the OTTF Spring Classic to celebrate Mother's Day. Marc McLaughlin had a hat trick in the championship game and was named tournament MVP. Cam Burke, with a goal and three assists, was named the MVP of the championship game.

Cal Davis got the Bruins on the board first when he finished off a Burke and Matty Fawcett pass five minutes into the game. The Stars tied it up 90 seconds later but McLaughlin got the B's the lead back when he scored a power play marker three minutes later. Matt Allen and Burke assisted on the goal. The Bruins would take that lead into the second period and that is where the defense and goaltending shined. Keith Petruzzelli and Gabe Vinal, who split goaltending duties all weekend were both very sharp in the finals and their five d-men had their best game of the weekend in the finals. Matt Poulin, Dave Farrance, Michael Eustace, Billy Konstantinidis and Alex Kostrzewski all did a great job keeping the Stars to the perimeter. Which was not easy given the high level of skating the Stars' forwards had.

Another McLaughlin power play goal gave the Bruins some much needed breathing room when he scored four minutes into the final frame. Burke made a gorgeous pass from the right wing wall that found McLaughlin open in front who tipped it home. The pesky Stars kept coming and again made it a one goal game with five minutes to go in the game. Burke got the lead back when he finished off an Allen and McLaughlin play. The final nail in the coffin came when McLaughlin, shorthanded and with the goalie pulled, blocked a shot from the pint and then skated the length of the ice to score his third of the game with only :45 to go.

As the clock ticked down the players piled onto the ice to celebrate their back to back titles at the tournament.

"The players did a great job all weekend and it was nice to see them get rewarded for their effort," coach Pat Nugent commented following the game. "We got contributions from everyone on the team and that is what we needed to get things done this weekend.

"Ryan Lovett led the team in scoring with Allen, McLaughlin and Burke close behind but we got big goals at crucial times from all the forwards in our lineup and that really paid off when other teams tried keying on one or two of our players and trying to shut them down. That is why it is so important to have depth at these tournaments."

99'S LOOK TO GO BACK TO BACK
OTTF Team Preview

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The '99 Junior Bruins will begin defense of their 2007 OTTF Spring Classic title on Friday morning when they take on the St. Lawrence River Kings in Toronto. A year ago the Bruins got an overtime goal from Ryan Lovett in the finals against the Toronto Bulldogs to win their inaugural tournament. The team went on to appear in the finals of every tournament going 15-1-1 and winning the Icebreaker as well.

The Bruins will have a lot of bullets to shoot with this weekend as a talented group of forwards is heading over the boards for the black and gold. Ben Rice (South Shore Kings), Lovett (South Shore Kings), Matt Kirwin (Syracuse Stars), Matt Allen (Providence Capitals), Cam Burke (Minuteman Flames), Marc McLaughlin (Minuteman Flames), Matt Fawcett (Providence Capitals) and Cal Davis (Peterborough AAA) will be up front for the B's.

The Bruins only have one defensemen from a year ago as Matt Poulin (Top Gun) returns for his second season with the '99's. Joining him are David Farrance (Monroe County), Alex Kostrzewski (M/F Blues), Michael Eustace (Greenwich Blues) and Billy Konstantinidis (Toronto Ice Dogs).

In the pipes are Keith Petruzzelli (Springfield Jr. Pics) and Gabe Vinal (Syracuse Stars).

ALEXA MAUREEN MASTERS

MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL-Friday morning daughter Masters was given a a name-Alexa Maureen Masters. With a full bill of health and everyone doing well Amy and Alexa were released from the hospital and headed home.

IT'S A GIRL!!!
Beautiful, Bouncing Baby Girl Joins the Family

MOUNT AUBURN HOSPITAL-On Wednesday afternoon, at 3:10 PM, the newest Masters came tumbling into the world at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. Like her older brother before her, she came in at the exact same size-8 pounds. She, and Mom, are both doing great.

Unlike her brother, she was in a rush to say hello and meet everyone, and had family members racing to the hospital to get there before she arrived. Not many did. Within 15 minutes of things "getting going", she arrived and met her grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles as they all arrived.

As of Wednesday night she was still nameless but has been referred to as She, Who Will Get Anything She Wants. We expect an "official" name to come on Thursday at some point.

While She, Who Will Get Anything She Wants' sex was a surprise to the end, her old man knew it was a girl from 3 months out, was not surprised and, after taking one look at her, she has him wrapped around her finger. And for good reason, she is a gorgeous little angel.

Her older brother, Jackson, must have know something special was going on as he was going "mental" in the car on the way from day care to the hospital. A car ride for him is normally like taking a dozen sleeping pills, the second he is in his car seat and the car is moving, he is "lights out". Not this time. Must be a sixth sense because he could not stop smiling, screaming and laughing all the way to the hospital. He was excited to meet his little sister and kept wanting to touch and kiss her and kept pointing at her and saying "Baby".

Congrats to Peter and Amy!

Name update to follow.

Celebrating Mother's Day

 

One Hour Old

Meeting Big Brother Jackson

'97 PROSPECTS RECAP

COMING UP SHORT
97 Bruins Lose in Semi's

TORONTO, ONTARIO-The ten tournament streak is over. The '97 Bruins, who had won every tournament they had entered heading into Prospects, lost in the semi finals after a quarterfinal win over Hub City.

The day started with the offense heating up and scoring nine goals en route to an 8-1 win. The B's then took on the Minnesota Blades in the semi finals. Earlier in the tournament the Bruins beat the Blades by a 5-1 score. On Sunday goals were tougher to come by and, just like the '96's an hour earlier, they could not tie the game with the goalie pulled. Jeremy Bracco scored the lone Bruins goal and Kevin Resop was very sharp in net making a dozen great saves.

The Bruins will look to start a new streak when they head to Toronto for the Warrior Montreal Meltdown in June.

ON TO THE PLAYOFFS
97 Bruins Look to Rebound After Saturday Loss

TORONTO, ONTARIO-Saturday morning the Bruins beat the Wave Cougars by a 7-3 score to move their Prospects record to 3-0. In the afternoon the Bruins dropped an overtime decision head into the playoff round as the #2 seed where they will play Hub City Hockey in the quarterfinals.

Against the Cougars the Bruins got goals from seven different players en route to the win. Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Bracco, Luke Kirwin, Colin White, Ty Comrie, Matt Dillon and Cal Burke did the scoring while Trevor Micucci picked up the win in net.

In the afternoon the Bruins looked out of sorts and were outplayed by Regional Express, losing in OT, by a 3-2 score. Kirwin gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the second period and Ty Comrie scored halfway through the third to give the Bruins a 2-1. It was a lead they could not hold.

They open playoff action Saturday morning at 9:15 AM.

B's KNOCK OFF BLADES TO STAY PERFECT ON FRIDAY
Warren, Bracco Lead Way with Two Goals Each; Resop Sharp in Net

TORONTO, ONTARIO-The '97's first trip to the Prospects tournament opened on a strong note with two wins on Friday and one of those wins coming against one of the tournament favorites. The morning game was a 6-1 win over Pro Hockey and the afternoon had the B's upend the Minnesota Blades, 5-1.

Luke Kirwin and Jeremy Bracco each had two goal games in the opener while Cal Burke and Ty Comrie each pumped home one. Goalies Trevor Micucci and Kevin Resop each split duties in net.

The afternoon tilt was a much anticipated game with one of the top '97 AAA tournament teams in North America. The Bruins jumped out to a 4-0 lead on goals by Brendan Warren, Comrie and two by Bracco. After the Blades got it to 4-1, Warren potted his second of the game in the third to put the game out of reach. Resop made some big saves early in the game when it was still tight and played a big role in the win.

The B's have the Wave Jr. Cougars and Regional Express on Saturday.

'97 PROSPECTS SCHEDULE AND TEAM PREVIEW
AAA Tournament Season Kicks Off in TO

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The '97's, looking to win their 11th straight title and improve on their 56-1-2 record, have a murderer's row of teams to play in the round robin. The B's take on Pro Hockey, the Minnesota Blades, the Wave Hockey Jr. Cougars and Regional Express. The Bruins will send out forwards Ty Comrie (LA Hockey Club), Matt Dillon (Minuteman Flames), Jeremy Bracco (LI Gulls), Brendan Warren (Compuware), Colin White (South Shore Kings), Luke Kirwin (Syracuse Stars), Justin Allen (Rochester Red Wings), Cal Burke (Minuteman Flames) and Jack Adams (Middlesex Islanders). Defensemen this weekend in Toronto are Matt Lombardozzi (Minuteman Flames), John Marino (Minuteman Flames), Alex King (Compuware), Charlie McAvoy (LI Gulls) and Jason Bolduc (South Shore Kings). In the pipes are Kevin Resop (Lightning) and Trevor Micucci (West Seneca Wings).

The Bruins schedule can be found at the full schedule link to the right. The full tournament schedule can be found at PROSPECTS HOCKEY.

1996 JUNIOR BRUINS PROSPECTS RECAP

DOWNED IN SEMI'S
Bruins Lose Tight One

TORONTO, ONTARIO-Sunday morning the Bruins opened up play with their quarterfinal game against Team East/West and came away with a 4-3 win to advance to the semi finals. In the semi's their luck ran out as they came up just short ending their playoff run.

Against East/West the Bruins were led by Conor Garland who had two goals and an assist. Also scoring for the B's were Alex Masciotra and Sonny Milano. Josh Egan picked up the win in net.

The semi's had the Bruins lined up with the Minnesota Blades. The B's offense had a tough time finding the back of the net and could not tie the game with the goalie pulled in the last minute. The Blades scored an empty netter to seal the game and end the Bruins tournament. Brandon Fusaro scored the team's lone goal in the 3-1 loss.

The Bruins will regroup and get together again at the Warrior Montreal Meltdown.

MOVING ON
Team East/West Await 96 Bruins

TORONTO, ONTARIO-Saturday morning the Bruins and Team BCA played a hard fought game with BCA getting the best of the Bruins, 3-2. The '96 Bruins rebounded with a 6-4 win over the Chicago Mission in their second game of the day.

In the BCA game the Bruins got goals from Ross Colton and Mitchell Marner. The B's played a good game, worked hard and had a chance to win late in the game but BCA capitalized on the few mistakes the team made.

The B's offense got going against Mission scoring six goals in the win. Kevin Kerr, Conor Garland, Colton, Brandon Fusaro and Sonny Milano provided the offense and the win moved the B's record to 3-1 and a #3 seed in the playoffs. The B's will play the #6 seed Team East/West Sunday morning at 8:15 AM.

1996 JUNIOR BRUINS PROSPECTS UPDATE
Team Wins 600th Game for B's

TORONTO, ONTARIO-Friday morning the '96 Bruins opened the Prospects tournament and recorded an 8-4 win over Paramount Express. That win was the 600th of the B's AAA tournament team program.

The B's got a hat trick from Conor Garland, a two goal effort from Sonny Milano and singletons from Ross Colton, Mitchell Marner and Ryan Tait en route to the 8-4 win. There was first game "rust" and it showed as the B's were sloppy at times in their own end and the Express capitalized on it. Goalie Josh Egan went the distance picking up the win.

In the afternoon game the Bruins looked sharper and it showed in a 7-0 shutout of the Team Skilzz. Tait had a big game with two goals while Garland added to his game one totals with two more. Brandon Fusaro and Dante Solituro each got their first of the day and Marner scored again on a nice goal. Josh Creelman turned aside every shot posting the shutout. Also having a strong performance was the quintet of B's rearguards-Brandon Fortunato, Connor Cummins, Alex Pulici, Ryan Blais and Kevin Kerr.

Saturday morning the B's open up with a big tilt with Team BCA and follow it up with a game against the Chicago Mission.

'96 and '97 PROSPECTS SCHEDULE RELEASED
AAA Tournament Season Kicks Off in TO

MARLBORO, MA-The '96 B's will play Paramount, Skillzz Hockey, Team BCA and the Chicago Mission in round robin play. The Bruins have a tough road to the crossover as Skillz is coming off a tournament win in the last two weeks, Team BCA has most of the top Toronto players on it and Paramount and Mission always field strong teams. The Bruins will have forwards Sonny Milano (LI Royals), Ryan Tait (California Wave), Alex Masciotra (Laval Patriotes), Brandon Fusaro (LI Gulls), Conor Garland (Boston Mission), Ross Colton (Team Comcast), Steve Owre (California) and Mitchell Marner (Vaughn Kings). At the point will be Brandon Fortunato (LI Gulls), Alex Pulici (Rochester Alliance), Ryan Blais (Providence Capitals), Kevin Kerr (Team Comcast) and Connor Cummins (Whitby Wildcats). In net are Josh Creelman (NJ Rockets) and Josh Egan (CD Selects). The '96 Bruins are coming off a 12-3-1 record from a season ago where they Icebreaker champs and made the playoff round at the Prospects and Warrior Meltdown. They have a lifetime record of 37-10-2.

SHEA WINS CARLTON AWARD
Outstanding Student Athlete Award Goes to Bruins' Rearguard

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Junior Bruins and Boston College bound defensemen Edwin Shea was honored at the Boston Garden on Saturday during the second intermission in an on ice ceremony receiving the 2008 John Carlton Award. Cam Neely presented the award which is given to the Male Outstanding Student Athlete in Massachusetts.

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BOSTON.COM

GANNON FEATURED IN BOSTON GLOBE
Former B's Forward Prepares for NCAA's

FRAMINGHAM, MA-As the road to Frozen Four gets under way, one former Junior Bruin was featured in the Boston Globe.

BOSTON GLOBE-PAT GANNON

BITTER END
Bruins Season Comes to a Close

MARLBORO, MA-The Bruins, having advanced to the semi finals of the USA Jr. B Nationals Championship, drew the LI Royals on Friday morning. The game was a disaster before it even started and the Bruins could do no right and lost to the Royals ending their season.

The Bruins were down 2-1 after the first and that was the good news. The second and third were worse. "We were bad, they were good and that was about it," coach Chris Masters commented. "It is always tough to end the season with a loss, especially when we felt we could win a national championship but while the sting of the loss hurts I told the players not to judge their season by this one game. We had a very successful season winning the regular season title for an unprecedented third time, went back to back winning the playoffs for a second time, tied a team high for wins in a season with 59, won the Beantown Fall Classic, will move on 7-8 players to our EJ team, two others to college and saw dramatic improvement of the players."

"The wins are great and it makes for a fun season but the real success of the team is the development of the players and their hard work, sacrifice and commitment to becoming a better player as well as learning to be a good teammate is what makes it a satisfying year. The player's deserve all the credit for their personal accomplishments, development and the team success we had. They were a fun group to be associated with."

BRUINS TIE PENS
Run Into Hot Goalie Out Shoot Pittsburgh 52-22

MARLBORO, MA-Thursday afternoon, with the #1 seed already locked up for the semi finals on Friday morning, the Bruins and Pittsburgh Jr. Pens played to a 2-2 tie.

The Bruins scored the first two goals of the game on Zach Sandonato and Joe Pendenza goals. The Pens got the game even in the third period and the game would end that way despite the Bruins spending nearly the whole game in the Pens' end and putting 50 plus shots on the Pittsburgh goalie.

BRUINS SECURE SPOT IN SEMI FINALS
Witt Leads Bruins to 4-1 Win over Cyclones

MARLBORO, MA-The Bruins, coming off their opening game win at nationals, had the Northern MA Cyclones to contend with on Wednesday. The winner would lock up a spot in the USA Hockey national semi final game on Friday. Despite playing their worst game in a month the Bruins were able to pick up the win and locked up the #1 seed in their division. Regardless of what happens on Thursday the B's will host the #2 seed from the other division. That team will be the loser of the LI Royals and NH Jr. Monarchs game on Thursday.

The Bruins got three goals in the first period, one from Joe Pendenza and two from Justin Mansfield. They extended their lead to 4-0 when Max Barron went to the backhand to beat goalie Logan English.

The two teams retreated to their dressing rooms with the score at 4-0. The Cyclones finally solved Clay Witt when Pat Hanson scored just 1:30 into the third. It would stay that way till the final buzzer giving the Bruins the win. Witt made 32 saves to pick up the win. Mansfield and Barron each had three point games to lead the team offensively.

The win tied a team record. Two season ago the high water mark was set when the team won 59 games. With one more win the Bruins can hit 60 and set a new mark. "It was not our best effort or our sharpest performance but winning, no matter how it happens, is really all that matters at this time of the year," coach Chris Masters said. "This team has done a great job of finding ways to win when we are not playing our best and they also bounce back after such games so there is nothing to be too concerned with. They know if they play this way again they will not be so lucky so they will come back with a good effort."

The Bruins finish round robin play on Thursday when they take on the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins at 12:40 PM.

BRUINS TAKE FIRST STEP
Top Syracuse in Opening Game at Nationals, 4-2

MARLBORO, MA-The Bruins continued to use strong defense, solid special teams play and a great game from goalie Clay Witt to win again late in the season. The Bruins opened play at USA Hockey Jr. B Nationals with a 4-2 win over familiar foe, the Syracuse Stars.

The Bruins opened the scoring in the first when Mike Kerdock knocked home the rebound while on the power play. The play was set up by a nice give and go down low by Zach Sandonato and Logan Romano. The period would end that way with the Stars out shooting the B's by a 10-9 margin.

The lead was gone in the he blink of an eye at the start of the second when Joey Wilson scored in the opening shift of the frame. The line of Justin Mansfield, Joe Pendenza and Max Barron have been a dominant force since they were put together when team captain Nick foy was sidelined for the year with multiple concussions. Time and time again this troika has answered the bell for the Bruins and scored when the team needed a goal or a big shift most. Tuesday was no different.

After a great forty five second shift, mostly spent cycling the puck and wearing down the Stars defense, Mansfield found Barron behind the net and Barron then threaded the needle to the front of the net finding Pendenza who ripped it past goalie Bryan Jones to make it 2-1. Ten minutes later the feisty Stars tied it again when James Cathers scored.

Enter the Pendenza line. Forty two seconds later, again at the end of a long shift, Barron scored to make it a 3-2 B's lead. A lead they would never relinquish. The play started in the left wing corner when Mansfield passed it to the left point where Colin Shea got it to the net and Barron knocked home the rebound.

The teams would start the final period with the score 3-2 in favor of the B's. The Bruins defense has been their key during their late season, regular season title clinching play as well as their playoff run to a second straight Empire championship. It was the same story again in the third. The Bruins limited the Stars to only shots on net and put the game away when Shea got an empty net goal.

"We have preached defense, doing the little things and winning one-on-one battles over the last 5-6 weeks and the team has bought into it and it is paying off," coach Pat Nugent commented following the game. "This is as unselfish a team as we have had and if they can continue to play good defense we should have a chance in every game we play."

The Bruins play the Northern MA Cyclones on Wednesday at 11:20 AM at NESC.

WITT HAVING RECORD BREAKING YEAR
Sets Team and League Win Records

FRAMINGHAM, MA-As the Bruins make their final preparations for the upcoming National tournament at NESC in Marlboro, MA that starts on Tuesday (March 25) the team knows they will have a record breaking goalie in the pipes who is playing his best hockey of the year in the last month.

Clay Witt, a Brandon, FL native, in his second season with the Bruins has had a year to remember. In addition to being a league all star, 1st Team All Conference goalie and runner up for Goalie of the Year award he has broken team and league records for wins in a season.

The Empire record for wins in a season, prior to this one, was 23. That was set a year ago by Junior Bruins goalie Connor Knapp. Witt, who was among league leaders in every statistical category for goalies all year, won his record breaking 24th game on Saturday, February 23 against the CD Selects. He won the very next day, in overtime, to end the regular season with his 25th win.

Over the course of the regular season, with the league's youngest team in front of him, he finished with a 2.14 GAA (4th in the league), .909 save percentage (Top 10 in the league), 4 shut outs (tied for third in the league) and 1595 minutes played (4th in league).

While all of those are impressive numbers, his playoff totals exceed those. Witt backstopped the Bruins to a perfect 7-0 run in the playoffs that culminated with a 3-2, 16 save win over the NH Jr. Monarchs. Witt was a perfect 3-3 against the Monarchs this season. Witt's player numbers -1.60 GAA (second best to teammate Petie' von Rosenvinge's 0.00 GAA), .935 save percentage (third best in playoffs) and shut outs (led all goalies in playoffs).

"While Clay's numbers are great, especially his 6-0 playoff record," coach Chris Masters commented. "he has been better than those numbers. There are stretches where teams have taken the play to us and he has come up with some game saving saves. At this time of the year it is rare to score more than 3-4 goals a game so it is team defense and goal tending that will win games and Clay has performed exactly as expected. He is a big time goalie and he has played that way over the last month or so. We need to get one more week of him at that level for us to have a chance at nationals. I am sure he will be ready."

Witt's record breaking year is not limited to league wins. He brings a 42-7-3 record into the final week of the season and those 42 wins have already shattered the previous high by a B's goalie. The former high water mark was 34 set by Peter Cox in the 2005-2006 season. That same year the Bruins set a team record of 59 wins. The Bruins are three wins away from surpassing that mark and hitting the 60 win plateau for the first time in Bruins' history.

The Bruins play the Syracuse Stars (Tuesday), Northern MA Cyclones (Wednesday) and the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins-CHA (Thursday) this week in round robin play. Three wins and they break the team win record in a season and assure themselves a spot in the semi finals. All action at NESC in Marlboro, MA.

BACK TO BACK!!!
B's Take Down Monarchs for Empire League Crown, 3-2; Win Second Straight Title

MARLBORO, MA-The Junior Bruins, using a suffocating defense and timely scoring gritted their way to the 2008 Empire League Playoff Championship. This is the the second straight playoff title for the Bruins as they beat the Monarchs in the title game a year ago as well.

The Bruins and Monarchs met twice in the regular season with the B's winning 7-2 at Hooksett and then 4-3, in overtime, at Boston College. The two teams, who were among the top teams in the league from the start of the year, have contrasting styles but both have been effective for the duration of the long season.

The Bruins got off to a slow start adjusting to the Monarchs controlled forecheck and only getting one shot on net in the first seven minutes of the game. As both teams felt each other out during the first 7-8 minutes of the first half New Hampshire starting to pick up the pace and generate some pressure on the B's and got one past goalie Clay Witt at the 12:42 mark of the period when Ryan Randall scored.

The B's got the game even when Zach Sandonato (right), one of the Bruins most tenacious forecheckers, picked off a Monarchs breakout pass to the right of goalie Nick Therrien and went in all alone on him. Sandonato took two strides and snapped one five hole that Therrien got a piece of, but the shot had enough steam on it to get over the goal line. The B's took the lead 2:14 later when Max Barron scored his 50th goal of the year. With the B's on the power play Joe Pendenza (#14 below) controlled the puck in the right wing corner and took the puck to the net and found Barron wide open on the back door with a perfect pass. Barron finished it from there ripping the puck into the net giving the B's the lead.

It would stay that way till the intermission and the B's and Monarchs headed to their dressing rooms with NH out shooting the B's 11-9. A handful of those were quality scoring chances and Clay Witt came up with some big saves. Witt has been playing his best hockey of the year at just the right time. Witt finished the playoffs with a 7-0 record, 1.60 GAA and a .935 save percentage.

The B's came out and played one of their best defensive stretches of the year in the second half. The B's defense (Monteiro, Ginand, Shea, Federico, Todd, Butler and Brown), led by the defensive play of Federico and Shea, were stifling allowing only 5 shots during the first 22 minutes of the second half (the finals were two, 25 minute halves). The B's team defense led all playoff teams with a 1.50 GAA in their eight playoff games which was tops in the league. "Defense is what wins at this time of the year and the players have bought into that," coach Pat Nugent said following the win.

The Bruins quickly made it a 3-1 game when league MVP Justin Mansfield banged home the rebound of a Shea shot just four minutes into the half. From there the B's defense took over and made the two goal lead stand till the final 15 seconds of the game when Randall scored his second of the game on the power play along with the goalie being pulled.

The Bruins controlled the puck in the final 15 seconds and as the buzzer expired the B's piled onto the ice in celebration of their second straight Empire Jr. Hockey League playoff title. The win now puts the Bruins record over the Monarchs at 13-0 lifetime.

"The whole coaching staff is extremely proud of the players and how they played not only in the finals but during the duration of the playoffs," coach Chris Masters commented. "It is not easy to win at this time of the year, especially against a team as good as the Monarchs. They are clearly one of the best teams, in not only the league, but the country and we had to play a near flawless game to beat them. They play tough, work hard and have 4-5 players who can kill you if you give them the chance to. Most teams are lucky to have 1-2 players like that and they have 4-5."

The Bruins, in their third year in the league, have reached the finals in every year and now have a lifetime playoff record of 23-1-1 during playoff play.

The Bruins now turn their focus to the Silver Cup and trying to win a national championship. Winning the Empire League playoff title makes them the #1 seed and they will play the Syracuse Stars (Empire), Northern MA Cyclones (Met League) and the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins (CHA) in round robin play. The B's will bring a 57-8-3 record to nationals, which begins next Tuesday at NESC in Marlboro, MA.

**Special thanks to Tom Federico and Dave Arnold for taking the above pics during the championship game**

To view additional pictures: CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND PICTORIAL

 

2008 Empire Jr. Hockey League Playoff Champs

JUNIOR BRUINS PICTORIAL
Pictures from the EFF Weekend

MARLBORO, MA-Thanks to Tom Federico and Dave Arnold for the following pictures.

 

WILD SIGNS WITH OILERS
Former Bruins Defensemen Signs "Cap" Deal

MARLBORO, MA-Cody Wild, a 1987 defensemen from North Providence, RI has signed a pro contract with the Edmonton Oilers and will make his pro debut in Springfield on Wednesday night.

Wild, a long time member of the '87 Junior Bruins AAA tournament team, also spent time with the Little Bruins, Junior Bruins Midget AAA (now the JB-Empire) and the Junior Bruins-EJHL before accepting a scholarship at Providence College.

His agent, Jerry Buckley, of Buckley Sports Management confirmed he signed the NHL Rookie "Cap Deal". In his last season with the Junior Bruins he helped lead the B's to the 2005 EJHL Playoff championship. During that season he was third on the team in scoring (leader among defensemen) with a 16-36-52 line and led all players with a +44.

Congrats to Cody!

MILESTONE WEEKEND FOR BARRON
Barron Hits Century Mark in Win Over Pens; 50th Goal in Monarchs Game

MARLBORO, MA-Junior Bruins forward Max Barron, who leads all Bruins in scoring, reached two milestones over the Empire Final Four weekend. En route to helping lead the B's to a 4-0 record and the playoff title he eclipsed the 100 point platueau on the season as well as scoring his 50th goal of the year.

When Barron scored his second goal of the game (against the Pittsburgh Jr. Pens) he reached the 100 point plateau. He is the first Bruin to do so since the 2005-2006 season when Stevie Moses, Mike Cichy, David Boehm and Justin Alonzo all cleared a hundred. Others who have cleared 100 points for this team are Matt Fitzgibbons and Cody Carlson.

The following day, in the most important game of the year, he scored the Bruins second goal of the game in the championship game against the NH Jr. Monarchs. The goal, his 50th, gave the Bruins their first lead of the game and it was a lead they would not relinquish. In the 2005-2006 season Stevie Moses set a goal scoring record whe lit the lamp 71 times (in 81 games played). Others who have passed the 50 goal plateua have been John Henrion (51 goals during the 2006-2007 season), Mike Cichy (67 goals in the 2005-2006 season), Cody Warila (55 goals in the 2005-2006 season), Matt Fitzgibbons (68 goals in the 2003-2004 season), Cody Carlson (58 in the 2003-2004 season)

In 67 games played to date he has scored 50 goals to go along with his 53 assists for a 103 point total.

"I am not sure how a player quietly goes about a 50 goal/100 point season," coach Chris Masters commented, "but he has. Max has a knack for finding the open man, creating offense and he has a natural scoring touch. He has been a huge part of our team's success and we will lean on him at nationals to continue his strong level of play."

 

BRUINS CLEAN UP EMPIRE LEAGUE AWARDS
Seven Bruins Receive League Honors

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Following their third straight Empire League Regular Season title the Bruins' players took home a league high number of awards.

Justin Mansfield was named league MVP, Joe Pendenza was named Best Forward and Tommy Monteiro was named Best Defensemen. Goalie Clay Witt was a finalist for the Best Goalie Award and Bruins' coach Chris Masters was named Coach of the Year.

Pendenza, Mansfield, Monteiro and Witt were named to the 1st Team All Conference while forward Max Barron and defensemen Colin Shea were named to the 2nd Team All Conference.

The MVP award was the second in three years for a BRuins player as Stevie Moses won the award in 2006. He was also named as the league's Best Forward that same year. Also in '06 Mike White was named as Best Defensemen so Monteiro is the second Bruins defensemen to garner that award. This is Masters' second Coach of the Year award (2006).

With the Bruins success in the Empire they annually lead the league in players named to the All Conference team and this year's total of six is no different. Former All Conference players from the B's include Moses, Mike Cichy, Davie Boehm, Mike White, Derek Arnold, John Henrion, Steve Morra, Evan Gogonis and Connor Knapp.

To view Empire Jr. League Awards for each of the following years:

2008 EMPIRE JR. HOCKEY LEAGUE AWARDS

2007 EMPIRE JR. HOCKEY LEAGUE AWARDS

2006 EMPIRE JR. HOCKEY LEAGUE AWARDS

EMPIRE FINAL FOUR RECAP
B's Advance to Championship Game for 3rd Straight Year

MARLBORO, MA-The Bruins are going to their third consecutive Empire Jr. Hockey League championship game after going 3-0 in round robin play and have an Empire playoff lifetime record of 22-1-1 heading into the finals.

ONE MORE TIME
B's One Win from Empire Title

MARLBORO, MA-Sunday morning the Junior Bruins and NH Jr. Monarchs had to play their final round robin game before the championship game later in the afternoon.

Since the finals were already decided-Bruins vs. Monarchs-regardless of the outcome of the Sunday AM game, it was not a highly contested affair. The Bruins won, nonetheless, and remain the top seed for the championship game.

The Bruins won 3-0 behind goals by Logan Romano, Mike Kerdock and Matt Manzella. Petie von Rosenvinge pitched the shutout.

PENDENZA TRICKS PENS
On to the Finals for the Bruins

MARLBORO, MA-A win on Saturday and the Bruins would find themselves in their third straight championship game. They got just that in a wild affair at NESC.

The Bruins got a hat trick from Joey Pendenza, along with two assists, in a 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins. The B's got a five assist game from Justin Mansfield and Max Barron collected his 100th point on the year when he scored a beauty of a goal that also gave the B's a 5-3 lead in the third. The B's went on to score two more and close the game out by a 7-3 score. The Bruins next play the NH. Jr. Monarchs on Sunday morning in a game that means little other than who will be the home team in the title game on Sunday afternoon. Both teams, regardless of the outcome of the Sunday morning game, have qualified for the Empire Title game.

B's WORK OT MAGIC...AGAIN
Sandonato to the Rescue

MARLBORO, MA-Friday, in the late afternoon, Zach Sandonato wristed a shot to the net from the left wing corner that beat Syracuse Stars goalie Eric Sorenson to send the B's piling onto the ice in celebration in the opening game of the Empire Final Four.

This is the second game in a row the B's needed extra time to get a win. Earlier in the game forward Max Barron scored his 47th goal of the year to tie the game.

The story of the game, however, was goalie Clay Witt who is playing his best hockey of the year. Witt made 18 saves in the win with several of the spectacular variety.

 

FALITE LEADS HOCKEY EAST
Former Bruins Forward Having Big Sophomore Season with Riverhawks

LOWELL, MA-Kory Falite, in his sophomore season at U-Lowell, has done something no former Riverhawk has done before: lead Hockey East in goal scoring. His 15 led all players this season.

Falite, a long time AAA tournament team player for the B's, came to the program full time to play with the Junior Bruins Midget AAA team (now know as the Junior Bruins-Empire team) and then spent three season with the EJHL team.

For the full story visit the LOWELL SUN link.

QUICK WORK!
Pendenza Scores Six Seconds into OT to End Huskies' Season; B's Moving On

MARLBORO, MA-Sunday afternoon the B's were put to the test in their game with the Fitchburg Huskies. The Huskies, fighting for their playoff lives, needed a win to force a mini game.

After the Bruins scored 17 seconds into the game on a gorgeous passing that play that touched four Bruins' sticks it looked like the B's may run away with the game. No such luck.

The Huskies tied the game later in the period and it stayed that way till overtime. Just six seconds into the extra session Joe Pendenza went in on a breakaway and scored to send the B's piling onto the ice and onto the Empire Final Four.

WITT SHINES IN 3-0 SHUTOUT
B's Open Series with Win

MARLBORO, MA-Saturday afternoon the Junior Bruins (Empire) got a 27 save, shutout performance to key them to a 3-0 win over the Fitchburg Huskies.

The Bruins got goals from Max Barron, Charles Bando and Gunnar Hughes. A win on Sunday afternoon and the Bruins are back to the Empire Final Four for the third straight year.

Sunday action starts at 12:50 PM at NESC in Marlboro, MA.

"NEXT"
6-2 Win Sends B's to Semi Finals

FOXBORO, MA-The Bruins (EJHL) got a strong game from their power play in their series clinching quarterfinal game against the Bridgewater Bandits on Sunday afternoon. With the man advantage the B's scored three goals (from Joe Zarbo, Steve Morra and John Henrion) that propelled them to a 6-2 win.

Tom Atkinson, Henrion again and Kyle Solomon rounded out the scoring for the B's and Connor Knapp made 22 saves in net.

The win moves the Bruins on to the EJHL semi finals where they meet their rivals to the north-the NH Jr. Monarchs. Action takes place Saturday and Sunday at NESC.

BRUINS DRAW FIRST BLOOD
Top Bandits 4-2 in EJ Playoff Opener

FOXBORO, MA-The Bruins posted a 4-2 win in their quarterfinal playoff opener at the FSC on Saturday. The Bruins got goals from Steve Morra, Bryan Kriner, Jake Coyle and John Henrion en route to the win.

A 2-2 tie was broken when Coyle undressed a Bandit defender scoring the game winner with 2:23 to go. Henrion iced the game with an empty netter with only 31 seconds left in the game. Connor Knapp made 18 saves in the win.

The two teams meet again on Sunday.

MOVING ON!!!
Bruins Close Out Bandits

MARLBORO, MA-Sunday afternoon the Bruins played a strong game from start to finish scoring three third period goals on their way to a 5-1 series clinching win over the Bridgewater Bandits at NESC. The win puts the B's playoff record at 17-1-1 during their three years in the league. The B's play next on Saturday and Sunday with both games at NESC. The B's will play either the NE Jr. Huskies, CD Selects or South Shore Kings.

The B's dominated the first period on Sunday out shooting the Bandits 13-5 and controlled play for most of the first but could not solve goalie Dave Spagnoli. Into the second the Bandits generated more offense and tested goalie Clay Witt several times. Each time, including two breakaways, Witt kept the Bandits scoreless and preserved the 0-0 tie. That was until the B's gave up their third breakaway of the game and the second in a 20 second time span. Third time was the charm for the BAndits as they opened the scoring when Max Capuano scored on the breakaway.

As they have done all year the B's quickly got the goal back and tied the game when Danny Federico snapped a shot from the left point that found its way into the back of the net. The goal was set up by Mike Kerdock and Logan Romano. Just a 1:50 later the B's got the lead when Romano wristed a shot to the net on the power play.

It would stay that way into the third when the goal of the weekend was scored and gave the B's some breathing room. Max Barron scored a highlight reel goal when he completely undressed a Bandits defensemen and then did the same to Spagnoli. minutes late Zach Sandonato gave the Bruins a 4-1 lead when he scored the team's second power play goal of the game. The game was put completely out of reach Barron scored his second of the game on a delayed penalty call.

Romano ended up with a 4 point game while Federico and Kerdock had three point games. The B's ended up with a 47-16 shot advantage with Witt making 15 stops. The Bruins will play the lowest remaining seed after the first round games are over. They will either the CD Selects, NE Jr. Huskies or the South Shore Kings. The Empire's second round for the National Conference will be played at NESC. So, the other two round one winners will also play at NESC. At the same time as the Empire's second round is taking place on rink 2 at NESC the EJHL semi finals will be taking place as well on rink one so it will be an action packed weekend at NESC.

MCLAUGHLIN POWERS B's TO OPENING GAME WIN
Bruins Take 1-0 Lead in Playoff Series

MARLBORO, MA-The playoffs got underway on Saturday night for the Junior Bruins (Empire) and they got two goal efforts from Sean McLaughlin and Joe Pendenza in the 6-4 win over the Bridgewater Bandits.

The Bruins found themselves down 1-0 when the Bandits goalie scored to make it a 1-0 game. That is not a typo. Goalie Dave Spagnoli scored the first goal of the game. Bruins goalie Clay Witt headed to the bench for an extra attacked as the BAndits were whistled for a penalty. While he went to the bench the Bruins got caught on a line change and a missed pass that started in the Bandits zone ended up in the Bruins' own net. Since Spagnoli was the last Bandit to touch the puck he was credited with the goal.

The B's then got three straight to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. First it was Sean McLaughlin banging home a rebound, then a rocket from Colin Shea at the point (on the power play) and then a Daniel Szerlip tip (also on the power play).

The Bandits scored the lone goal of the second period but the B's got the two goal lead back when McLaughlin scored his second of the game. The Bandits scored the next two and now the game was tied with 7:40 to go.

Pendenza then scored a highlight reel goal that proved to be the game winner. After picking up the puck on the right wing wall, with Justin Mansfield heading to the net, the Bandits lone defender went to the ground thinking Pendenza was going to move the puck to Mansfield. Instead, he held onto the puck, cut to the middle of the ice, froze the goalie till he dropped and continued skating to his left and ripped one in the open net. He scored an insurance goal after Mansfield threaded a perfect pass form the left wing corner to put the game away.

The two teams meet again Sunday afternoon at NESC.

THREE-PEAT!!!
B's Crowned Champs of Empire League; Punch Ticket to Nationals

MARLBORO, MA-The Junior Bruins, for the third year in a row, have won the Empire League's regular season championship. They needed a win (or a tie) in their game on Wednesday afternoon and they got just that in an 11-2 route of the Valley Jr. Warriors.

The team has done it with a balanced game and the categories they lead the league in points to just that: best home record, best road record, league leader in wins, power play percentage, penalty kill, goals scored per game, goals allowed per game and fewest penalty minutes.

The win also earns the Bruins a spot at Nationals, also for the third year in a row, to compete for the Silver Cup. The B's will also have home ice throughout the playoffs as a result of winning the regular season title.

The Bruins have done it with a league best offense as well as a league best defense. To date, the Bruins average giving up only 1.97 goals per game. The Bruins' goaltending duo of Clay Witt and Petie von Rosenvinge are among league leaders in all goaltending statistical categories. Witt set a new Empire League record when the Bruins beat Brewster in overtime on Presidents Day with his 23rd win of the year. That mark broke the previous total Connor Knapp (22 wins), also with the Bruins, set in the 2006-2007 season.

The Bruins defense has, at times, made the goalies job a bit easier limiting the amount of shots on net. The defensive core of Tommy Monteiro, Colin Shea, Zach Todd, Steve Ginand, Danny Federico, Jeff Brown and Al Butler have been good in their own end and their biggest strength may be their ability to break the puck out and limit time spent in the Bruins' own end. Monteiro, one of the team's captains, is leading the league in scoring for a defensemen and Shea leads the team in +/- with a +49. Another player who is playing his best hockey of the year is Danny Federico. While only a '92 Federico is among the best in the league at his position. Ginand and Todd have developed into top level defensemen and the newly added Jeff Brown has provided the team some added strength with his physical play.

Those defensemen, along with a large list of forwards who are on the teams penalty kill unit, are killing penalties at a league leading 92.64% rate. They have given up a league low 12 power play goals and have shown to be the most disciplined team in the league as well as their league leading total of only 443 penalty minutes shows. The closest team to that total is Pittsburgh's 683. The B's average only 11.07 penalty minutes per game. The league average is 18.9 pims per game. Some key players to the B's penalty killing unit up front are Sean McLaughlin, Zach Sandonato, Daniel Szerlip, Joe Pendenza, Justin Mansfield, Gunnar Hughes, Cody Learned and Charles Bando.

The Bruins offense has scored a league high 210 goals to date and that is good for a 5.25 goals per game average. The leaders offensively have been Max Barron (65 points lead the team and he leads the league in game winning goals, along with Mansfield, with 7), Joe Pendenza (63 points, leads the team in power play points and is tied for the team lead with Barron for assists) and Mansfield (his 31 goals currently lead the team with seven of those being game winners). Two other forwards who have been making a push up the teams leader board for scoring have been Mike Kerdock and Logan Romano. Both are having strong second halves and have a nice "shot in the arm" to the teams offensive production along with line mate Sandonato.

The Bruins power play has been converting a ridiculous rate of over 30% all season. Through their first 40 league games the B's have a 31.15%. All this with having the fewest amount of power plays. The B's have had 183 power plays through 40 games. That is dead last in the league and 111 fewer power play chances the leader in that category-Pittsburgh.

The Bruins' season has not all been chocolates and roses. The team has been hit by the injury bug and that has had an effect on the team. Mid way through the season the Bruins lost forward Nick Foy. Not only is Foy a captain but also one of the top players on the team. "Losing Nick was a big blow to our team," coach Chris Masters commented. "I feel he is one of the best players in the league and, with his 6'4 frame, physical play and scoring touch it has changed the dynamic of our team. I am, however, proud of the way the team has responded and with the players who have filled the void left by his absence."

Another player who was lost for a substantial amount of time has been forward Matt Manzella who has been out of the lineup for a month with a shoulder injury. He is due back in time for playoffs. Foy, lost to a concussion, was not the only Bruins player to have been lost to that injury. Defensemen Ryan Brothers was expected to join the team at some point during the year but was also lost for the season with post concussion problems. The team was also thrown a curveball a few months into the season when USA Hockey informed the Bruins that Frankie Vatrano was ineligible to play due to his age ('94 birth year). In the games he did play with the team he fit right in so, losing him, was like losing a player due to injury for the year.

The Bruins, with an average age of 16.04 years old, are also the youngest team in the league by a wide margin. The closest team to the B's is Syracuse (16.5 year average). The average age for a player in the Empire league is 17.34 years old so the Bruins are, on average, giving up 1.3 years per player. "There are games when we are giving up a lot in size, strength and age," coach Andy Powers commented. "So, those teams are not only older and stronger but they are talented as well and it forces our players to play a near perfect game so it is really a credit to our players' skill level, commitment and work ethic that they were able accomplish what they did this year."

"The regular season title is only one of a handful of preseason goals we set," Masters continued. "We are proud of the players for the work and effort that goes in to being the top team over six months. They did the work, put the time in and deserve the credit. The league gets stronger every year and there are some great teams we had to beat out so we are fortunate for that. We need to quickly turn our focus to finish the regular season on a strong note and carry that momentum into the playoffs which will be tougher than it has the previous two years."

2007-2008 Empire Jr. Hockey League Regular Season Champs

CD SELECTS SHOWCASE RE-CAP
Mansfield Hat Trick Powers B's

ALBANY, NY-The Junior Bruins (Empire) hit the road to travel the Albany, NY area for a three game set with the Buffalo Stars, Applecore and Brewster Bulldogs at the CD Selects Showcase. When the B's get on the bus on Monday they will have only six games left in the regular season so the "fine tuning" the Bruins need after a poor performance in their last game to prepare for the playoffs has begun.

Junior Bruins vs. Applecore

RPI-Houston Fieldhouse-On Sunday it was Justin Mansfield's turn to lead the way, as he has done before, netting a hat trick in the B's 6-2 win over Applecore. The Bruins blitzed the 'Core scoring four goals in the first eleven minutes of the game.

Logan Romano got it started when he finished off a rebound of a Mike Kerdock shot (Zach Sandonato also assisted on the play). Three minutes later Mansfield scored his first as he buried a Max Barron pass to make it 2-0. Less than a minute later Kerdock one timed a Dan Szerlip pass. Szerlip made a great move out of the left wing corner, sucked the Applecore defender to him and dished to a wide open Kerdock. The last goal of the first half was Mansfield's second of the game. This one was a power play goal that he tipped past goalie Carl Rappa. Joe Pendenza and Tommy Monteiro assisted on the play.

Applecore scored a 4-3 goal to make it 4-1 going into the break.

The lead was cut in half halfway through the third when the Bruins got caught playing sloppy in their own end. It would stay that way for the next seven minutes and goalie Petie von Rosenvinge made some big saves, none bigger than a breakaway that would have brought the game to 4-3. Mansfield's hat trick goal went off his leg when Barron fired one to the net on the power play. Monteiro assisted on the goal for his second helper of the night. The final goal of the game was a short handed goal with a minute to play. Bruins defensemen Colin Shea found himself on a breakaway, the Bruins third short handed breakaway of the day, and Rappa made the save on the Shea shot. Sandonato followed the play to the net and jammed home the rebound.

Not to be lost was the first half play of goalie Clay Witt who tied a Bruins and Empire League record with his 22nd (league) win of the season. Witt's next win makes him the sole owner of the record for wins a in season.

Junior Bruins vs. Buffalo Stars

Albany Academy-The B's got off to a good start, not only to the game, but to the weekend as they scored in the opening minutes of the game en route to a 6-0 blanking of the Stars. Max Barron scored his 28th and 29th goals of the season and added an assist to help lead the Bruins. Line mate Justin Mansfield duplicated that out put with his own two goal, one assist effort.

Barron's first goal was a case of being in the right place in the right time as he worked to get to the net as a shot came in from the right point when Tommy Monteiro wristed one towards the net. Joe Pendenza tipped it out of mid air and it landed right on Barron's stick who shot it into the empty net. The score would stay that way through the rest of the first half and B's goalie Clay Witt was sharp making every save and, in the end, won his league leading 21st game of the season. Witt now is one win away from tying the Empire League record for wins in a season of 22. That record was set a year ago by the Junior Bruins' Connor Knapp.

In the second five straight and ran away with the game. Logan Romano on a shot from the slot (assists to Mike Kerdock and Zach Sandonato), Kerdock whistling a snap shot top shelf (assists to Sandonato and Jeff Brown), Mansfield on a tip of a Danny Federico shot, Barron (set up by Pendenza and Mansfield) and Mansfield finishing off a gorgeous passing play that started in the neutral zone (assists to Barron and Sean McLaughlin) did the scoring.

"This was a good win for our team," coach Masters commented. "We hadn't played a team like this all year and I was proud of the way our guys responded, kept their composure and stayed disciplined despite all the 'chirping' and trash talking going on during the game. It is good to see that we can play through that, keep our focus and just worry about winning games."

Junior Bruins vs. Brewster Bulldogs

Albany Academy-The Bruins finished off the weekend with a wild game with the Brewster Bulldogs. The Bruins, who beat them earlier in the year in OT, got out to a 2-0 start on goals by Mike Kerdock and Justin Mansfield. The B's dominated the first half out shooting the 'Dogs 28-15 but found themselves tied 2-2.

The 'Dogs scored two more to take a 4-2 lead and had momentum. This is a resilient group and they fought back to tie the game on goals by Charles Bando and Max Barron. The B's furious comeback continued and they took the lead when Dan Szerlip scored a power play goal to take the lead, 5-4. The comebacks didn't stop there as Brewster tied the game with 30 seconds to go when they scored a 6-5 goal as they had pulled the goalie.

It went to over time and, for the second time this year, the B's potted the OT winner in the first minute of the extra session. Joe Pendenza and Mansfield forced the Brewster defensemen to turn the puck over in the offensive zone and Pendenza pounced on the loose puck, fired the puck to the net and Mansfield got to the front of the net and banged home the rebound.

With the win, the Bruins are now one point away from making them league champs for the third year in a row.

BRUINS MARCHING TOWARDS HISTORY
Inch Closer to League Title

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Coming off a three game weekend sweep at the CD Selects Showcase the Bruins are now one win away from winning the 2007-2008 Empire Jr. League regular season championship. If they pick up one more win (they have five games remaining), the regular season title will not only be theirs but they will also have their ticket punched for Nationals. Should the Bruins win they will make Empire League history as the only team to ever Three-peat as regular season champs.

Two other teams, Wheatfield and Applecore, have won the regular season crown back to back, but both failed in their attempt at the Three-peat. The Bruins, who first joined the league for the 2005-2006 season have compiled an 80-7-2 record in their first two seasons and now have a combined regular season record of 104-9-2-3 to date.  That is good for a staggering .902 winning percentage. Their winning ways can be looked at like this-this year, 15 of the 19 teams in the Empire League have lost 9 or more games THIS year.  In three years of league play the B’s have only lost 9 times.

The Bruins success has carried over into the playoffs in their first two years in the league as well. They have a combined playoff record of 15-1-1. In ’05-’06 they reached the title game losing to the Syracuse Stars. In year two they reached the finals again, this time taking down the NH Jr. Monarchs.

The teams combined regular season and playoff record in the Empire league now sits at 119-10-3-3 (as of February 18, 2008).

In their first season in the league the team was an offensive machine scoring an Empire league record of 6.29 goals per game. They were led by Stevie Moses (Junior Bruins/UNH), David Boehm (Cedar Rapids/U-Mass Amherst), Justin Alonzo (Junior Bruins), Matt Zarbo (Junior Bruins/Clarkson), Mike Cichy (Tri-City/University of North Dakota), Cody Warila (Junior Bruins) and Mike White (Junior Bruins).

Last season it was a slew of new leaders who came onto the scene and led the Bruins to a 40-4-1 regular season mark. In addition to leading the league in goals scored per game they were also the league leaders in goals against. Steve Morra (Junior Bruins), Johnny Henrion (Junior Bruins/UNH), Derek Arnold (Junior Bruins/Maine), Cory Kane, Connor Knapp (Junior Bruins/Miami of Ohio) and Evan Gogonis (Junior Bruins) took the reins leading the B’s.

The ‘07/’08 Bruins returned only ten players so it was time to start all over again. The team has answered the bell, like those before them have done, and have put themselves in a position to check off one of their preseason goals of winning the regular season crown. The first chance the Bruins will have is a Wednesday matinee with the Valley Jr. Warriors at the New England Sports Center.

BACK TO THE DESERT
B's Heading To Las Vegas

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Junior Bruins will be sending five teams to Las Vegas this summer after their trial run with a '95 team was a success in '07. It is a unique tournament and comes with a lot of questions. We hope we answered most of them at the link we created that has details on the tournament. The B's will bring a team at the '95-'99 level.

The link can be found in the drop down menu above (AAA Summer Teams) as well as below.

LAS VEGAS DETAILS

DR. ARTHUR F. CHRISTIANO-ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
New Member to the Junior Bruins Organization

FRAMINGHAM, MA- The Junior Bruins proudly announce the addition of Arthur F. Christiano, MD as the new team physician for the Junior Bruins organization.  Dr. Christiano is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and has a subspecialty certification in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Dr. Christiano has volunteered his services to the Junior Bruins players as the team physician and assures he will see any player that requires an orthopedic evaluation within 24 - 48hrs of the injury. Dr. Christiano will also be providing educational presentations on ‘hot’ sport topics at some of the Junior Bruins/Beantown Classic events.

A Massachusetts native (Holden), Dr. Christiano graduated with honors from Bowdoin College in 1993 in Biology. He received his medical training at New York Medical College, and completed his orthopedic residency at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey.

After completing his residency, Dr. Christiano was awarded a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. While there, Dr. Christiano underwent specialty training in advanced arthroscopic and reconstructive procedures involving the knee and shoulder. He also served as assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Wings, and St. Joseph's University.

Dr. Christiano returned to Massachusetts and began his orthopedic practice. He specializes in all problems involving the knee and shoulder. His specialty interests lie in caring for the injured athlete. He has fellowship training in advanced arthroscopic procedures including all arthroscopic rotator cuff and labral repairs, ACL reconstructions, and meniscal surgery.

Dr. Christiano sees patients at Boston Knee and Shoulder's Natick office, which is affiliated with MetroWest Medical Center.

Clinical Focus: Sports Medicine
Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy
Reconstructive and replacement surgery of the knee and shoulder

For more information or medical needs please contact:

Dr Arthur F. Christiano
Medical Office Building
67 Union St, Suite 102
Natick, MA  01760
508.650.5440
www.bostonkneeandshoulder.com

or

Lisa Ayles, ATC
Sports Medicine Program Manager Rehabilitative Services
67 Union St, Natick, MA 01760
Ph:  508.650.7275
Email:  lisa.ayles@mwmc.com

MANSFIELD TO THE RESCUE...AGAIN
B's Nip 'Narchs, 4-3 in OT

Tuesday night the Junior Bruins (Empire) hosted the NH Jr. Monarchs at Kelly Rink in Conte Forum on the campus of Boston College in a clash of conference and league leaders. This is their second, and final, meeting of the regular season and could go a long way in determining the regular season league champion.

The Bruins won their earlier meeting, in Hooksett, by a 7-2 score and that win was their 10th straight over the Monarchs. This time it took a Justin Mansfield overtime goal to put the game in the books and the Bruins remain unbeaten, lifetime, against their rivals to the north.

The Bruins jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Sean McLaughlin made a laser, tape to tape pass finding Joe Pendenza who one touched it into the net beating goalie Nick Therrien. The Monarchs got the game tied just before the first intermission when the Bruins got caught up ice and turned the puck over in the neutral zone.

Max Barron got the Bruins the lead again early in the second period finishing off a Mansfield pass. That lead could not be held for more than a minute as the Bruins defense, again, got caught up ice after a turnover and the Monarchs connected on a 2-1. It would stay that way heading into the third period until the Monarchs took their first lead of the game.

With the Bruins in the penalty box the Monarchs converted with the man advantage to take a 3-2 lead. The see saw battle continued when Zach Sandonato finished off a Logan Romano and Mike Kerdock play and the game was again tied. It remained that way through the end of the period and the teams would need overtime to try and determine a winner. The save of the game went to goalie Clay Witt who made a game saving glove save with only a minute or so to go in the game. With the Bruins, who played sloppy in their own end and even worse in the neutral zone for most of the game, got caught running around and one of the Monarchs top forwards was all alone on the right side of the net receiving a pass from the left wing corner. Witt, coming right to left, somehow got a glove in position to completely rob the Monarchs and preserve the tie.

In overtime, with less than a minute to go, Mansfield took a shot from the left point that hit Barron just in front of the net. Mansfield followed his shot to the net, got to the puck first, and put one past Therrien to give the Bruins the win and sending the B's players pouring onto the ice to celebrate.

"Any time you beat one of the top teams in the league and your rival," coach Chris Masters remarked, "it is a good win and something we are happy about. But we were outplayed for most of the game and this is one we stole from them. There are a lot of lessons for us to take away from the game and one is that this team learned that we can win, and beat a great team, when we are not playing our best and get outplayed. It is not something we can make a habit of, and certainly not against this team, but it is a good win."

The Bruins have a busy weekend with road games against Valley and then two with Tri-State.

STRONG SHOWING FOR B's
Bruins Shine in Empire All Star Game

HOOKSETT, NH-While the National Conference took it on the chin, losing 8-3, to their American Conference counterparts the B's representatives had a good day.

Forwards Joe Pendenza (goal and an assist), Max Baron (goal and an assist), Justin Mansfield (two assists) and Tommy Monteiro (only defensemen to be a plus in the game; +1) all did their part. Goalie Clay Witt gave up only two goals in his half of the game.

2007-2008 Junior Bruins All stars
(top row-left to right) Nick Foy, Justin Mansfield, Clay Witt
(bottow row-left to right) Tommy Monteiro, Joe Pendenza, Max Barron

JUNIOR BRUINS ALUMNI UPDATE
Over 120 Players with B's Ties in College

FRAMINGHAM, MA-Looking to see where a former Junior Bruins player is today? A good place to look is on a college hockey roster. There are close to 120 players currently playing college hockey that have ties to the Junior Bruins. That number includes players that played on our summer AAA tournament teams. Some starting with the B's when they were as young as 10 years old. The number of players on D-1 rosters that played on either (or both in many cases) the Junior Bruins (Empire) and Junior Bruins (EJHL) teams? That number passes 30 and includes a player at every Hockey East school.

Here is a quick look at the numbers:

• Over 120 players that played on our AAA tournament teams all at the D-1 level
• 31 players at a D-1 school who played on our junior team
• 19 players in Hockey East that played on our junior team
• 58 players in Hockey East that played on our AAA tournament teams
• 18 former Little Bruins players in Hockey East
• 25 former Little Bruins on a D-1 roster
• 56 players outside of Hockey East (CCHA, ECAC, Atlantic League, CHA) that played on our AAA tournament teams

A closer look at some college rosters and you will find that they first met and played with their current college teammates for the first time on a Bruins tournament team, Little Bruins or one of our junior teams.

"One of the fun things about our AAA tournament team program is to see the kids progress throughout the years and see their hockey careers progress and, finally, when they move on and realize their dreams of playing college hockey," Chris Masters commented. "Some of these players and families we have known since they were 10 years old and we can remember them playing with us at tournaments we still go to today like OTTF, Prospects, Mission Cup (now Warrior), Jr. Chowder Cup and the list goes on. Remembering back on not only the fun at the rink but at the hotels in the pool, playing knee hockey, whiffle ball and football games, out at dinner and visiting places like the Hockey Hall of Fame and Old Montreal. Seeing them now playing for, and having an impact, at some of the top programs in the country is what makes watching those games so fun."

A lot of those players, as they became age eligible to play with the Little Bruins or one of the Bruins' two junior teams, then came on with the program on more permanent basis. This season, if you are at an ECAC or Hockey East game, you will be hard pressed to not be watching a former B's alum as 31 players who were with one of the junior teams is playing at the D-1 level with the majority of them playing in one of those two leagues.

"When we go to college games now we don't really root for any team," Peter Masters said, "we root for our former players. It is rewarding for us to see them having the success they have and know we might have played a little part in helping them get to where they are."

Here is a school by school breakdown of all 120 plus players:

EJ=played on our Junior Bruins (EJHL) team
Emp=played on our Junior Bruins (Empire) team or our Midget AAA Bruins team. M-AAA team was renamed JB-Emp
LB-played on our Little Bruins team (split season midget team)
AAA=played on our AAA tournament team

Boston College
Pat Gannon (EJ, AAA)
Ben Smith (EJ, LB, AAA)
Anthony Aiello (AAA)
Benn Ferriero (AAA)
Matt Greene (AAA)
Matt Lombardi (AAA)
Joe Whitney (AAA)

U-Lowell
Kory Falite (EJ, Emp, AAA)
Nevin Hamilton (EJ, LB, AAA)
Nick Monroe (LB, AAA)

UVM
Josh Burrows (EJ, Emp, LB, AAA)
Josh Franklin (LB, AAA)
Peter Lenes (AAA)
Pat Cullity (AAA)

UNH
Bobby Butler (EJ, LB, AAA)
Brian Foster (AAA)
Kevin Kapstad (AAA)
Jerry Pollastrone (AAA)
Kevin Regan (AAA)
Danny Rossman (AAA)
Paul Thompson (AAA)

Providence
Joey Lavin (Emp, AAA)
Cody Wild (EJ, Emp, LB, AAA)
Chris Mannix (LB, AAA)
Eric Baier (AAA)
Mark Fayne (AAA)
Austin MAyer (AAA)
Ian O'Connor (AAA)
Jon Rheault (AAA)
Ryan Simpson (AAA)

U-Mass Amherst
Alex Berry (EJ, AAA)
Topher Bevis (EJ, LB, AAA)
Matt Burto (EJ, AAA)
Dave Leaderer (EJ, Emp, AAA)
Will Ortiz (LB, AAA)
Cory Quirk (LB, AAA)

Boston University
Jason Lawrence (EJ, LB, AAA)
Chris Higgins
Dan McGoff
Brian Strait

U-Maine
Bret Tyler
Robbie Bellamy
Matt Duffy
Keif Orsini
Nick Payson

Merrimack
Pat Kimball (EJ, LB, AAA)
Pat Bowen (AAA)
Andrew Letellier (AAA)
Rob Ricci (AAA)

Northeastern
Chris Donovan (EJ, AAA)
Jimmy Driscoll (EJ, LB, AAA)
Ryan Ginand (EJ, LB, AAA)
Ryan MaGuire (LB, AAA)
Jimmy Russo (LB, AAA)
Rob Rassey (AAA)
Josh Robertson (AAA)
Steve Silva (AAA)

Colgate
Kevin McNamara (AAA)
Brian Day (AAA)

Clarkson
Jon Marshall (EJ, Emp, AAA)
Eric Daddario (AAA)
Tom Pizzo (AAA)
Dan Reed (AAA)
Dan Tuttle (AAA)

Princeton
Kevin Kaiser (AAA)
ERic Pridham (AAA)
Dan Bartlett (AAA)

Dartmouth
Jonathan Wolter (EJ, LB, AAA)
Peter Boldt (AAA)
Joe Gaudet (AAA)

Harvard
Brian McCafferty (LB, AAA)
Doug Rogers (LB, AAA)
Mike Del Mauro (AAA)
Paul DuFault (AAA)
Chris Huxley (AAA)
Matt McCollem (AAA)
Chad Morin (AAA)
Joe Smith (AAA)

Brown
Paul Baier (AAA)
Ty Fernandez (AAA)
Hunter Thunel (AAA)l
Matt Vokes (AAA)

Quinnipiac
Greg Holt (AAA)

RPI
Scott Halpern (AAA)
Garrett Vassel (AAA)

Yale
Pat Brosnihan (LB, AAA)
Tom Dignard (LB, AAA)
Chris Cahill (AAA)
Mike Karwoski (AAA)
Denny Kearny (AAA)
Broc Little (AAA)

St. Lawrence
Dan Coughlin (AAA)
Nick Pitsikoulis (LB, AAA)

Union
Sam Bowles (EJ, AAA)
Torren Del Forte (EJ, Emp, AAA)
Mike Harr (EJ, LB, AAA)
Jonathan Lareau (EJ, AAA)
Justin Pallos (EJ, LB, AAA)
John Simpson (LB, AAA)
Chris Potts (AAA)
Matt Cook (AAA)

Army
Ian McDougall (EJ, Emp, AAA)

Bentley
Sean Nealon (Emp, AAA)
Casey Russell (EJ, AAA)
Jay Bletzer (AAA)

Sacred Heart
Mike Rosata (AAA)
Kyle Tyll (AAA)

U-Conn
Steve Bergin (Emp, AAA)
Joe Walchessen (AAA)

Niagara
Bryan Hacyzk (AAA)

Wayne State
Evan Mackintosh (EJ, Emp, AAA)

Miami (OH)
Carter Camper (AAA)

Michigan
Max Pacioretty (AAA)
Kevin Quick (AAA)

Bowling Green
Phil Greer (LB, AAA)
Russ Sinkewich (AAA)

Ohio State
Corey Toy (AAA)

Manhattanville
Joe DiCamillo (Emp, AAA)

Wentworth
Rob Pagani (Emp, AAA)

Bowdoin
Chris Rossi (EJ, LB, AAA)

Williams College
Chris Liu (Emp, AAA)

Salem State
Kevin Hughes (LB, AAA)

US NTDP
Former Bruins that have also played for the US team
Adam Pineault (EJ, AAA)
Jason Lawrence (EJ, LB, AAA)
Joey Lavin (Emp, AAA)
Mike Cichy (Emp, AAA)

Have we overlooked someone? Please send us an EMAIL so we can include all those who deserve to be recognized.

Alumni-Have a picture of you playing for your college? Please email it to US.

 

LUCKY 7's AGAIN FOR BRUINS
EJ Tabs Seven For All Star Game

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Eastern Junior Hockey League announced its All Stars and the Junior Bruins, once again, led the way with a conference high seven players selected to play.

The game, directly following the Empire Junior Hockey League's all star game, will take place Monday, January 21 at 1:00 PM.

Forwards Steve Moses, Steve Morra, John Henrion, Kyle Solomon will join rearguards Edwin Shea and Alan Dionne and goalie Connor Knapp. Coach Peter Masters was named as an All Star coach as well.

BRUINS SEND SEVEN TO ALL STAR GAME
1st Place Bruins Reap Rewards

FRAMINGHAM, MA-The Empire Junior Hockey League announced their All Star teams and the Bruins will have six players and a coach representing their conference at the annual event schedule for Monday, January 21 at the Tri-Town Arena in Hooksett, NH.

Forwards Joe Pendenza, Nick Foy, Max Barron and Justin Mansfield will be joined by defensemen Tommy Monteiro and goalie Clay Witt. B's coach Chris Masters will coach the National Conference as well.