It is hard to believe that the opening of Boston Bruins Training Camp ’99 is less than 10 days away, but the summer has indeed flown by and this year’s annual camp and pre-season promises to be an interesting one for head coach Pat Burns, as the Bruins have added a lot of new faces to their system, to complement the talented nucleus of youngsters that led the Providence Bruins to the AHL’s 1999 Calder Cup Championship. Here is a look at what prospects are in and out, and which players you’ll probably see wearing the spoked B during the season.
Who’s In(New to organization):
Jeff Zehr LW(FA), Nick Boynton D(1-99), Matt Zultek LW(2-99), Mikko Eloranta C/LW(9-99), Joe Hulbig LW(FA), Vratislav Cech D(FA), Sean Pronger C(FA), Kay Whitmore G(FA)
Who’s Out:
Randy Robitaille(Nashville), Jim Baxter(Carolina), Bob Prier(Ottawa), Paxton Schafer, Matt Alvey, Terry Virtue(Rangers), Chris Taylor(Buffalo)
The Incumbents:
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When the Boston Bruins open training camp in early September, one name not to forget as a possible replacement to Tim Taylor is Marquis Mathieu. Mathieu a 5-foot-11, 190 pound center, spent most of last season playing on the “D Line” for the Calder Cup Champion Providence Bruins recording 15 goals, 30 points in 64 games with 166 pim. In the past 5 years, Mathieu has had stints in Wheeling, Fredericton, Raliegh, Toledo, Worcester, Johnstown, Birmingham, and Houston. Recently, Marquis held down a job at the parts counter of a Suzuki dealership in Quebec city.
Two years ago, Mathieu was recovering from abdominal surgery and worked for a Suzuki dealership. “I found out what it was like to wake up every day and have to go to work for a living. I thought there had to be a better life for me than working 9 to 5″. Realizing he wanted to give hockey another chance, Mathieu joined the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and impressed bench boss Peter Laviolette. When Laviolette took the head coaching job in Providence last season, he convinced Bruins management to sign Mathieu to an AHL contract. By October, the Bruins liked Mathieu so much they promoted him to Boston ahead of top prospects Cameron Mann and Randy Robitaille. Mathieu signed a 1 year NHL contract with the Bruins on the airplane to his first game in Montreal for $325,000 (U.S.).
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The 1998-99 hockey season was filled with ups and downs for Peter Ferraro. From being signed as a free agent by the Boston Bruins during the offseason, to making the starting line-up with the Bruins, to fighting through a string of injuries over a four month period, to being reassigned to Providence in the American Hockey League in early March, to leading Providence to the Calder Cup Championship and winning the Jack Butterfield Trophy as Playoff Most Valuable Player. Peter showed drive and determination to overcome the hard times and he ended the season on a very positive note.
Ferraro signed on with the Boston Bruins as a free agent on July 21, 1998. After spending the better part of three seasons (1995-96 through 1997-98) shuffling between the NHL and AHL, that road taking him from the New York Rangers to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and back to the Rangers organization, the stage was set for Peter to prove that he belonged in the ‘big show’.
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Who would have thought the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League would go from last place in 1997-1998, to being the 1998-1999 AHL Calder Cup champions. Against all odds the Bruins came together and were the winningest team this season breaking benchmark records in the process. With a championship under their belts, the players of the Providence Bruins enter this seasons training camp with more confidence in their abilities than ever before. The Bruins brass are confident in their youth and recently released veterans Ken Baumgartner and Dave Ellett to make room for the talented youngsters.
Nick Boynton
In the festive spirit of Ray Bourque’s 20th anniversary of being drafted, Defenseman Nick Boynton, was selected by the Boston Bruins with their first pick, 21st overall, from the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League. The former CHL +/- Award winner, has exceptional vision and intelligence with and without the puck, and had the 2nd hardest shot among defensemen at the 1997 prospects skills competition (89.2 mph). The 6’2″, 210 lb. native of Etobicoke, Ontario finished last season with 11 goals and 48 assists for 59 points with 83 pim in 51 games. Boynton captained his Ottawa team to the Canadian Major Junior Hockey championship, the Memorial Cup, and was named the MVP in that tournament!
Matt Zultek Read more»
In a draft day filled with trades and intrigue, the Boston Bruins stayed out of the dealing fray and waited their turn at the 21st position to select defenseman Nick Boynton, a player everyone in Boston hopes can help the Bruins’ fortunes sooner than anticipated. As the host city of the 1999 Draft, Boston was well-represented by its fans who voiced their pleasure when Boynton’s name was called. When future Hall of Fame defenseman Raymond Bourque, who 20 years ago was the Bruins’ top draft pick, made the announcement, draft day ’99 was that much more special for the legions of Bruins supporters in attendance. By the time the smoke cleared at the Fleetcenter, and the final name was called, Boston had taken 3 key members of the CHL’s top team, the Ottawa 67s. With 3 defensemen, several forwards and 2 goaltenders, Mike O’Connell and Harry Sinden closed the book on what appears to be a successful draft.
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