Bruins prepare for camps
The long wait for Boston Bruins to return to the ice is almost over, as Bruins President Cam Neely has announced the Boston Bruins will open Training Camp, Thursday, September 17. Boston Bruins Rookie Camp will start a week earlier, Thursday, September 10. The round-robin rookie tournament will include two games in Buffalo, New York, against the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney listed the Rookie Camp roster to include: Forwards: Noel Acciari, Anton Blidh, Colby Cave, Austin Czarnik, Jake DeBrusk, Mitchell Dempsey, Jesse Gabrielle, Colton Hargrove, Justin Hickman, Joonas Kemppainen, Jordan Maletta, Eric Neiley, Zachary Senyshyn, Frank Vatrano. Defensemen: Linus Arnesson, Brandon Carlo, Max Everson, Max Iafrate, Jeremy Lauzon, Frankie Simonelli, Jakub Zboril. Goaltenders: Matthew Ginn, Zane McIntyre, Daniel Vladar.
Although the schedule for both Rookie Camp and Training Camp are set, both are subject to change. Dates for rookies will begin with off-ice testing on Thursday (9/10), followed by Friday and Saturday (9/11 & 9/12) practices in Buffalo, in preparation for their matchup with the New Jersey Devils rookies on Sunday (9/13). Bruins rookies will participate in a morning skate on Monday (9/14), as they ready themselves for the second and final rookie game versus the Buffalo Sabres rookies at 7:00pm.
Main Camp opens Thursday, September 17 for off-ice testing, and will be closed to the public. Practices at Ristuccia Arena will be open to the public. Two-a-day practices will be held Friday and Saturday (9/18 & 9/19), scheduled for 10:00am and 12:15pm. The team will practice on TD Garden ice on Sunday (9/20) morning, before departing for Providence’s Dunkin Donuts Center, and the start of their first pre-season game versus the New Jersey Devils (7:00pm).
Twice-a-day practices resume on Garden ice with Monday (9/21) at 11:00am and 1:15pm, and Tuesday (9/22) 10:00am and 11:15am, before playing their first home pre-season game against the Washington Capitals (9/22, 7:00pm). Wednesday practices are set for 10:00am and 12:15pm. Thursday (9/24) 10:00am and 11:15am, with pre-season game #2 versus the New York Rangers on Garden ice at 7:00pm. Friday (9/25) will resume with practice at 10:00am and 11:15am at Ristuccia Arena, Wilmington. Saturday (9/26) continues with 10:00am practice at Wilmington to prepare for Boston’s second road preseason game versus the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena (7:00pm).
The Bruins return to TD Garden ice for Sunday (9/27) practices at 10:00am and 12:15pm. Monday’s (9/28) practice at 10:00am will serve as preparation for the team’s pre-season rematch by hosting the Red Wings at 7:00pm. Tuesday (9/29) practices at Ristuccia Arena are at 10:00am and 12:15. Bruins will practice on Wednesday (9/30) at Ristuccia Arena, traveling to New York to take on the Rangers in a 7:00pm contest. Thursday has a lone 10:00am practice scheduled at Ristuccia Arena, with the final day of camp winding down with a 10:00am practice at TD Garden, before heading to Washington to take on the Capitals for their final preseason contest at 7:00pm. Boston’s regular season home opener will be versus the Winnipeg Jets at 7:00pm.
Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and longtime NHL scout Bob Crocker have been named recipients of the 2015 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. The New York Rangers presented the award, one of the most prestigious in hockey, to the National Hockey League in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager and was a pioneer in the sport’s development. The recipients will be honored as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 17, in Boston. Ticket information available at www.ushockeyhalloffame.com.
Red Devil football team
readying for 2015 season
The Chelsea High football team has been preparing for the 2015 season in the final week of the proverbial dog days of August under the direction of new head coach Jack Halas.
However, the Red Devils escaped the traditional opening week of double sessions thanks to the early start of the school year, with football practice officially getting underway August 24 and classes beginning the next day.
“Things have been going well and everybody has been working hard thus far,” said Halas, who has been the CHS defensive coordinator for the past five seasons. “We’ve had a good turnout of 60 candidates with a lot of new faces.”
The Chelsea football program is entering its third year of co-op with Pope John XXIII of Everett, but at the present time there is only one player from that school, senior quarterback Mike Rowan, who is a returning letterman.
Among the other returning Red Devil lettermen are senior two-way lineman Denny Hernandez, senior offensive lineman and linebacker Christian Carceres, junior wide receiver and linebacker Javier St. Leger, junior wide receiver and defensive back Nik Ieng, junior running back and defensive back Jahhaiha Carr, junior wide receiver and defensive back Muktar Mohammed, junior tight end and defensive end Dashawn Alves, and sophomore linebacker and offensive lineman Nelson Hernandez.
Among the other Red Devils who have impressed thus far in the pre-season are senior two-way lineman Petherson Braga, senior wide receiver and defensive back Jahro Marshall, and junior tight end and defensive Malik Bissett.
“We have a good number of skilled players and lots of athletes,” said Halas. “In addition to the players who are returning, there are some boys on the roster who have the ability and potential to become consistent impact players. However, we are just a little thin at offensive line and we do not have a lot of size.”
Halas’s coaching staff consists of mainly former Red Devil players and coaches. The offensive coordinator is Jaime Delverde, a Northeast Regional grad who previously coached at Chelsea from 2004-06, Medford, and Boston English; Joseph Saez (’12) and David Roque (’13), both of whom played for Halas at CHS; Corey Doe, who played as a running back at Charlestown High and Mt. Ida College; and equipment manager, Adam Aronson, who is the Dean of Discipline and an assistant track coach at CHS and who graduated from Tufts University.
“I think we’re building something worthwhile right now,” said Halas. “If we can keep our excitement high and stay healthy, we have a chance to have a very good season.”
Halas and his squad are set to entertain Boston English for a scrimmage Saturday afternoon at 1:00. The season-opener will be a Friday night lights affair September 11 on the CHS field.
Chelsea has added former long-time rival Revere to its schedule, which figures to be a highlight of the season, with that contest set for September 18 at Revere’s all-new Harry Della Russo Stadium and sports complex.