The ECHL isn't the destination most prospects have in mind when they report for training camp, but ECHLers in Reading, Pa., this season will at least know they have a potential path to Boston to pursue.
The Bruins announced on Wednesday that they have renewed their affiliation with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. The Royals began serving as a Bruins affiliate last year. With the renewal of the affiliation agreement, Reading will continue to receive players designated for assignment to the ECHL within the Bruins' professional development system during the upcoming season.
Reading also will remain the ECHL affiliate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. That relationship is entering its third year and can make for some interesting arrangements, considering the rivalry of the parent clubs in the NHL's Northeast Division.
"We're extremely pleased to renew our affiliation relationships with Toronto and Boston," said Reading GM Gordon Kaye in a statement released by the Bruins. "Over the past two seasons, we have been very pleased as our interaction with the Maple Leafs and [the AHL] Marlies has expanded, and adding Boston as an affiliate last year provided our team with an additional source of talent, while providing an excellent opportunity for young prospects to improve and advance their careers in Reading."
Among the players Boston sent to Reading last year were goalie Matt Dalton and forward Yannick Riendeau, both of whom will be in camp with the Bruins in September. Rob Kwiet, Scott Fletcher, Jared Ross, Matt Marquardt and Kevin Regan also split time between the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence, R.I., and Reading last year. With the depth of the prospect pool available for Providence this season, Reading may get even more players from the Bruins in the upcoming season.
Having Reading available is especially important for the club's goaltending prospects. With Dalton, Adam Courchaine and Michael Hutchinson in the system, along with recently signed minor league veteran Nolan Schaefer, the Bruins will need an ECHL landing spot to get all of them playing time, as they did last year with Dalton and Regan spending time with the Royals.
Although Reading has yet to send a player on to Boston, there have been plenty of recent Bruins who spent time in the ECHL developing their games. Current Bruins Tim Thomas (Birmingham, 1997-98) and Michael Ryder (Tallahassee, 2000-01; Mississippi, 2001-02) came up through the ECHL, while recent Bruins Shane Hnidy, Alex Auld, Glen Metropolit, Joey MacDonald and Jay Leach also played in the league before reaching the NHL.
Going further back, goalie Byron Dafoe began his pro career in Hampton Roads in 1991-92, and Davis Payne, the current head coach of the St. Louis Blues, played 22 games for Boston in 1995-96 and 1996-97 between five seasons spent in the ECHL.
The Royals share more than an affiliation with the Bruins. They also endured a shocking end to their season, as the Royals became the first ECHL team to lose a playoff series after leading 3-0. Reading lost to Cincinnati in the American Conference finals, falling 1-0 in Game 7 just two days before the Bruins were ousted by Philadelphia 4-3 in Game 7 after leading the Flyers 3-0 in the second round.
