There’s nowhere to go but up for the Providence Bruins after losing their first two games of the season.

They dropped a 4-2 decision in Hartford on Friday night, then lost to Laval, 3-2, at home on Saturday.

The beginning was bad as the P-Bruins were blitzed in the opening minutes against the Wolf Pack. And the ending on Saturday was grim, as they allowed the Rocket’s winning goal in the final minute.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

*** Mark McNeill scored a goal in both games.

*** The line of Cam Hughes, Jacob Forsbacka Karlsson and McNeill did nice work on McNeill’s  goal against Laval, starting with a good forecheck by JFK.

*** Hughes had assists on both goals against Laval.

*** The line of Anton Blidh-Tanner Pond-Austin Fyten was strong against Hartford.

*** Fyten scored a nifty unassisted shorthanded goal on Friday. On Saturday, he fought Laval’s Mike McCarron after McCarron took a run at Colby Cave.

*** Providence drew a crowd of 9,245 in the home opener.

BAD

*** Scoring two goals per game, as the P-Bruins did this weekend, is not a formula for success.

*** The P-Bruins looked like deer in the headlights early on in Hartford, according to coach Jay Leach.

*** Providence’s top line of Ryan Fitzgerald, Jordan Szwarz and Peter Cehlarik finished the weekend with just one assist (Fitzgerald) between them. All three were minus-3.

*** Urho Vaakanainen lost a puck battle behind the net after the P-Bruins won a defensive zone faceoff, starting the play that led to Laval’s winning goal.

*** Dan Vladar was beaten over the catching glove on Laval’s first and third goals on Saturday night.

UGLY

*** Zane McIntyre gave up three goals in the first 12:39 in Hartford before being pulled. He couldn’t be faulted on the first goal, but the next two were soft.

*** The P-Bruins let a 2-0 third-period lead slip away and gave up the decisive goal with 35 seconds left in the loss to Laval.

*** Injured: Cody Goloubef and Jesse Gabrielle (both upper body), David Broll (hand).

PROVIDENCE — After Providence College exploded for three goals in 2:48 late in the first period, it looked like they might roll to a one-sided win over American International College on Saturday night.

That didn’t happen, though the Friars did enough to earn a 3-1 victory in their season-opening game.

Coach Nate Leaman will take the victory, of course, and go to work on fixing areas where his team fell short.

“I liked certain aspects, but we gave up a lot of chances. I didn’t like some of the chances we were giving up because they were bad reads away from the puck. We got up and then we started cheating a lot, not playing real smart hockey,’’ said Leaman.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who got their first game under their belt. At the end of the day, we won a game.’’

Here are five quick hits:

GREG PRINTZ

The six-foot-two sophomore winger’s stock is rising after starting the game as PC’s extra forward and quickly earning more playing time.

“Greg Printz played really well tonight. He was the 13^th forward, but he played so well I had to find him ice,’’ said Leaman.

Printz scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway, hit a post and missed on a second breakaway.

SCOTT CONWAY

In the first period, Conway scored PC’s first goal on a power play, then assisted on Jacob Bryson’s score.

So far, so good, but in the second and third period, “he got pretty cute and missed some shifts because of it,’’ Leaman said.

“We expect him to be a leader. We’ve got to play smart hockey. Our older guys have got to be the ones that are leading by example. He did a good job in the first and then in the second and third not so much, but he won some key faceoffs for us and that was good.’’

VIMAL SUKUMARAN

There aren’t many players in college hockey who are as difficult to play against. On Saturday, Sukumaran punished AIC defensemen on the forecheck.

In the first period, he trucked Patrik Demel with a clean open-ice hit. When there was a whistle a few seconds later, he skated by Demel and gave him a tap on the shinpads.

“He’s had a great 2-3 weeks. We’re really excited about him. It’s kind of surprised us a little bit. He’s doing a good job with leadership. He had a solid game,’’ said Leaman.

“He’s always been a guy that works hard but doesn’t always work smart. One thing he’s done really well (so far this year), he’s worked smart and he’s teaching other guys to work smart. We’ve found through the first two and a half weeks that whoever we put him with, they play better. That’s the mark of a good player.’’

SHOOT THE PUCK

PC finished with only 25 shots and 51 shot attempts.

Jack Dugan, who has a pedigree as a scorer, was in good position to shoot a few times and chose to pass instead. He wasn’t the only one.

“We passed up a lot of shots. In the first period, we did a better job getting pucks to the net. In the second period, we became a really perimeter team and we didn’t get many pucks to the net. In the third period, we put together some shifts,” said Leaman.

“It’s something we’ve been harping on for a week and a half. Just because we have good stick skill we want to make the extra pass. We had a lot of shots blocked, too. You hold it and look for a better pass and when you do shoot, they’re in our lane.”

JAY O’BRIEN

O’Brien didn’t record any points, but had some impressive shifts, playing fast and with poise.

“For a first college game, he’s light’s out with the puck. He got a couple of pucks right in the slot area and he wants to stickhandle that. You can’t do that at this level. You get one in the right area and it’s got to be off your stick,” said Leaman.

“He was really good with the puck and he’s learning off the puck. That’s nothing that I wouldn’t expect.”

 

HARTFORD — One game down, 75 to go for the Providence Bruins, who opened the season with a 4-2 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night.

Here are three thoughts on the game:

STUMBLING START

Like the big club did in Washington on Wednesday night, the P-Bruins put themselves in an early hole. They were down by three goals before the first period was 13 minutes old, as Zane McIntyre allowed a couple of soft goals before Dan Vladar took over.

“We knew (the Wolf Pack) were going to come out with energy – it’s the home opener, right?” coach Jay Leach said after the game.

“We were not clean. We looked a little bit like a deer in the headlights. We got behind early. Unfortunately, we weren’t really able to recover. We played a lot better the second and third. It wasn’t enough.

“It’s a gauge as to where we’re at. We definitely need to be a lot more clean in our own zone. We needed to get pucks behind their defensemen and we needed to get on the forecheck more because when we did, we were pretty effective.”

The P-Bruins pulled to within one with 4:28 left and were pressing for the tying goal when Hartford’s Peter Holland scored an empty netter.

FOURTH LINE SHINES

The trio of Anton Blidh, Tanner Pond and Austin Fyten was Providence’s best line.

Fyten scored a nifty unassisted shorthanded goal in the third period to give the P-Bruins a spark.

“All they did was go north. They were simple but effective. Our other guys were searching for their games really from the drop of the puck,” Leach said.

SMOOTH DEBUT FOR VAAKANAINEN

Without even one practice under his belt with the P-Bruins, first rounder Urho Vaakanainen jumped into the lineup and played a solid game.

Paired with Connor Clifton, Vaakanainen wasn’t on either of the power play units to start  the game — “We didn’t want to throw everything at him,” Leach said — but he did get some late shifts on the PP. Leach estimated that he played 20-22 minutes.

“For a guy that just got here three hours ago, I thought he was pretty good. The first period, like for most of us, was a little bit of a blitz. We were trying to find our footing. But as it got along he was smooth, as advertised,” Leach said.

Zane McIntyre starts in goal for the Providence Bruins in the season opener against the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center tonight at 7:15.

Jay Leach says the first game of the season is “a little nerve-wracking” for a coach.

“You just don’t know what the heck is going to happen. Especially this training camp this year (with Boston’s players divided into two groups to accommodate the trip to China),” he said.

“You just never know. Once the games start, that’s when the real work starts. That’s when you can start to teach, get your team to play the way you want to play.

“Even with (Boston), I know it was a tough first night, but it’s a reference point – ‘OK, this is where we’re at and this is where we’ve got to get to.’ Getting the first one out of the way is important.”

You can read my Providence Journal season preview here.

For the most part, the P-Bruins will have their ‘A’ lineup tonight.

Colby Cave won’t play. He is attending to a personal matter.

Cody Goloubef, who is coming off an upper body injury, isn’t expected to play this weekend. He had a hard skate after practice this morning.

With Goloubef not ready, Providence has six healthy defenseman.

I’m curious to see if we get a look at Urho Vaakanainen with the P-Bruins at some point this weekend. He’s been a healthy scratch for Boston’s first two games and there’s no fit for him in the lineup unless the big club has another injury on defense. Something to keep an eye on.

Here are tonight’s expected lines:

Ryan Fitzgerald-Jordan Szwarz-Peter Cehlarik

Cam Hughes-Jacob Forsbacka Karlsson-Mark McNeill

Zach Senyshyn-Trent Frederic-Karson Kuhlman

Anton Blidh-Tanner Pond-Austin Fyten

D pairs:

Chris Breen-Jakob Zboril

Jeremy Lauzon-Connor Clifton

Emil Johansson-Wiley Sherman

Goalies:

Zane McIntyre and Dan Vladar

Scratches: Colby Cave, Cody Goloubef, Jesse Gabrielle (upper body), Joona Koppanen, David Broll (hand).

PROVIDENCE – Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson went back to work on Saturday, a day after he fell short in his bid to make the Boston Bruins out of training camp.

Still a month away from his 22^nd birthday, JFK brought his “A’’ game in a 3-2 preseason win by the Providence Bruins over the Springfield Thunderbirds. Playing big minutes in all situations, he set up the first two goals by the P-Bruins, both off offensive zone draws.

Before the game, P-Bruins coach Jay Leach said that he talked with JFK on Friday after he was sent down about what he needs to work on.

“He has to continue to improve upon being engaged in the games. Going in and getting pucks and becoming a centerman that’s going to go and take pucks away. If you think about his preseason, there were a couple of times he gets in on the forecheck first, he pops one loose for a quick goal,’’ Leach said.

“He just has to continue to mature and feel comfortable becoming a center that really can dictate at both ends of the rink. We’ve definitely seen improvement in that area, as his camp showed, but I also think he has to continue to improve at being someone that really dictates.’’

Starting Saturday’s game with Jesse Gabrielle on his left side and Mark McNeill on the right, JFK won races and puck battles, things that he did always do during Boston’s preseason games.

“Being a centerman for the Boston Bruins, you’re really asked to do a lot. Whether it’s fair or unfair, we’re always holding our standard to Patrice Bergeron. To get to that level you really have to make a difference in all areas of the rink. You have to be engaged in all facets of the ice. He’s going to continue to work on that,’’ he said.

Though undoubtedly disappointed over being sent down, JFK is taking the right approach, according to Leach.

“I talked to him yesterday about it. He wants to be in Boston, so he wants to prove that he’s able to do all those things. He’s a very focused individual. He’ll find his way, but right now his mindset is he wants to play and prove that he can do that,’’ he said.

Fast start for P-Bruins

Mark McNeill scored a goal and set up another in Providence’s win.

Cam Hughes opened the scoring at 6:32 of the first period, converting a nice backhand pass from JFK. Mark Fayne was credited with the second assist.

Providence’s David Broll and Springfield’s Tony Turgeon dropped the gloves off the ensuing the faceoff.

McNeill made it 2-0 at 9:35, assisted by JFK.

Shortly after, Austin Fyten of the P-Bruins and Riley Stillman engaged in a spirited scrap.

Zach Senyshyn made it 3-0 with a power play goal at 17:50 of the second period. Senyshyn, who had a strong game, hit the post on a breakaway, but the puck deflected off him and into the net.

It was only fitting that Senyshyn got the goal. Minutes earlier, he’d gone to the dressing room after being boarded by Turgeon, who received a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

The Thunderbirds scored twice on Dan Vladar before the end of the second period. Sean Bonar took over in the third period and made several nice stops to preserve the win.

Injuries

Broll hurt his hand in the fight with Turgeon and did not return.

Jesse Gabrielle played well before leaving the game with an upper body injury.

Joona Koppanen went to the room in the third period after taking what looked like a knee-on-knee hit.

Praise for Fayne

Providence College alumnus Mark Fayne, a veteran of 413 NHL games, played his usual steady game on defense.

“He’s a really good guy. Obviously, you can see that he’s been around, knows the deal,” said Leach.

Fayne, 31, is hoping to earn a contract, either in Providence or elsewhere.

“It’s my first camp ever going in without a contract. It’s definitely a different situation, a different mindset, but you’ve just got to try to make the best of it,” said Fayne.

“There’s a few different options. I’m definitely playing hockey this season. One more year at least.”

PROVIDENCE — Mark McNeill is one of the reasons Jay Leach believes his Providence Bruins will be strong at center this season.

McNeill, the 18th overall pick in 2011 by the Chicago Blackhawks, signed a two-way deal with Boston in July. He had a pair of fights in preseason games with Boston before being assigned to the P-Bruins this week.

“He’s got a boatload of skill and he’s a big body and he does skate pretty well. Clearly shows that he’s physical. I think he opened some eyes with the way he played – abrasive,” Leach said today.

“We’ve had talks just about the fact that he has the ability to play in the NHL. In order to get there, we’ll have to work on his pace, in tight areas, being a little bit more aggressive in using his feet. He’s got all the tools to do it, he really does. That’s our outlook for him to start the season.”

McNeill, 25, had his most productive season in the AHL in 2015-16 when he scored 25 goals and 48 points in 64 games with Rockford.

He played more center than wing during Boston’s training camp and that’s where Leach is likely to play him.

“I think he can play both. Sometimes big boys like that can use a little windup speed. He might be a little bit more effective that way. He’s pretty conscientious defensively. If he works on those first few strides in closing quickly, he really might be able to play (in the NHL),” said Leach.

Pending final cuts in Boston, Leach could have centers Jordan Szwarz, Jacob Forsbacka Karlsson and Trent Frederic in his lineup, in addition to McNeill and Colby Cave.

“We should have four very good centers. There’s a lot of options there, depending on who we get,” Leach said.

Hughes will help

Rookie Cam Hughes, who scored twice for Boston in the preseason, is a handy player to have around.

Leach is looking for the Wisconsin alumnus to “take what he did in camp and keep going with it” as he starts his first full season as a pro.

In Boston’s camp, “He played a little bit of center, a little bit of wing. He and (Karson Kuhlman) seem to have a little bit of chemistry together, especially on the defensive side of things. We’re going to use him in a lot of different situations. He has the ability to make some plays, scored a couple of goals,” said Leach.

“Assuming we’re getting who we think we’re getting (once roster decisions are made in Boston), we should have a lot of opportunities to play people with difference guys. We don’t want to get stale.

“He can be a checker for us and I think he can also score for us, depending on the lineup and the personnel we have at that particular moment. For a coach it’s awesome because I can slot him in a lot of different places.”

Who is the next captain?

Don’t expect the P-Bruins to have a captain when the puck drops in Hartford on Oct. 5.

“For the time being, we’ll probably just have (assistant captains) and we’ll see when the dust settles. We have plenty of leaders in the room. We’ll most like have A’s that will rotate,” said Leach.

Chris Breen, Szwarz and Cave were among the players who wore A’s last season.

“There are a lot of guys who have been here for three or four years now that are well aware of the way we want to play and the standard that we want to compete at. They’re all going to be looked at to lead. Until the dust settles and we really see that guy, we’ll be led with a group effort,” Leach said.

Tommy Cross, who wore the “C” with distinction in Providence for three seasons, is now with Cleveland.

PROVIDENCE — David Broll isn’t ready just yet to wear a black-and-white striped shirt and carry a whistle for a living, but chances are he’ll look at the work of the referees a bit more sympathetically this season.

Broll, who is in training camp on a tryout with the Providence Bruins, got a taste of the referee’s life when he attended the NHL Exposure Combine for prospective officials in Buffalo in August.

“I thought I’d give it a shot and it was awesome,” he said. “They asked me what my situation was, trying to recruit me for this year coming up, but obviously I want to play as long as I can and kind of suck the life out of hockey. They agreed with that.”

Broll, who has spent the last two seasons with Montreal’s St. John and Laval farm clubs,  learned a lot.

“It’s a different prospective. You’re always on the refs during the game. Guys that go (to the Combine) have a different feel for the refs once they come out of the camp and kind of know how much you can push them and chirp them throughout the game.

“It was good for me to see that side of things. If I choose to go that down the road, I know what it looks like. If there is an option there, I think I’d definitely try to pursue it if I enjoy it at that time,” he said.

First, though, there is more hockey to be played. Without a contract, Broll is in the same position he was in with Montreal two years ago.

“I was fortunate enough to have a good camp and make the team out of there, ended up staying with the organization for two more years. I don’t think it matters if you have a contract or not. If they want you here, they’ll make it happen. The stability isn’t there, obviously, until you sign, but it makes you push that much harder and show them what you can do,” said Broll, who gets around the ice well for a big man.

“I’m getting to know everyone. Had a bunch of guys come down (from Boston) today so the skates are a little bit better paced now that we have more bodies. So far, so good,” he said.

Colby Cave returns

Getting sent down by Boston wasn’t what Colby Cave was hoping for, but he’s ready to start the season with the P-Bruins.

“I had an unbelievable experience getting to go to China with the guys and seeing that part of the world, and I’m blessed that I got to compete in an NHL preseason game. You can’t complain about the opportunity. I’m thankful for that. I’m looking forward to putting in some work down here and hopefully ending up back up top,” he said.

“We’ve got a good thing going in Providence, a lot of potential, a lot of good guys coming in. When you can build a winning organization down here, it helps up top. I’m looking forward to the start of the season.”

The more the merrier

Camp went from 16 skaters and 2 goalies in one session on Monday to twice as many in two sessions on Wednesday.

Cave, Anton Blidh and Mark McNeill cleared waivers at noon and hit the ice for the second session. It was an off-ice day for Cody Goloubef, who also cleared waivers.

“It’s a weird number. Right around 30. So if you do 30 in one session, I don’t think the guys get enough. If you split it like we did, it’s tricky. You’ve got to make sure you’re not going too long. Hopefully we found the right mix,” said coach Jay Leach.

“The intensity’s really good. As the ice got a little sloppy, so did the execution. I appreciate their efforts. It’s definitely a competitive group.”

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Bruins coaching staff did its homework on Austin Fyten.

Both Jay Leach and Trent Whitfield made calls to learn more about the 27-year-old center/left wing, who signed an AHL deal a month ago after two seasons with the Texas Stars.

“Everyone – and I mean everyone – said this guy is a top-notch guy,” Leach said after practice on Tuesday.

“He’s a great role player. Will always push the envelope for our guys. We’re excited to have him. He had a good camp (in Boston). For a coach at this level, that guy is awesome,” said Leach.

Hockey in the family

Jack Riley is descended from American hockey royalty.

His late grandfather, also named Jack, coached the U.S. team to a gold medal in Squaw Valley in 1960. His father, Brian, has been the head coach at the West Point since 2004. The Riley family tree is brimming with players and coaches.

Jack, 26, who was the captain for the last two seasons at Mercyhurst University of Atlantic Hockey, is in camp this week with the Providence Bruins. He is under contract for the coming season with Reading of the ECHL, where the coach is former P-Bruin Kirk MacDonald.

Like nearly all of the tryout players in Providence’s camp, Riley is a long shot to earn an AHL deal. That won’t stop him from putting his best foot forward.

“I know they have guys here,’’ he said after practice on Tuesday. “My job is just to work hard, make a good impression on the coaching staff and the rest of the guys here.’’

Riley, a 5-foot-11 winger, scored 17 goals and 31 points in 37 games for Mercyhurst. He had 2-3-5 in five games with Reading after his college season ended.

He is looking to make hockey his career, as have so many other members of his family.

“Growing up around a Division I team, I always wanted to play college hockey. Once I got there, I had to kind of switch goals, move towards the pro game, and then maybe when this is done, get into coaching somewhere. Trying to stay in hockey has always been my ultimate goal,” he said.

Malatesta stands out

Leach mentioned Atlanta (ECHL) defenseman Zach Malatesta as a player he noticed during the first two days of camp.

“Makes some nice plays. You can tell he’s smooth,” said Leach.

Malatesta, 22, was born in Boston. He played for the Junior Bruins before spending three seasons in the QMJHL, where he skated for Moncton and Acadie-Bathurst.

Reinforcements on the way

The five players sent down by Boston on Monday — Zach Senyshyn, Emil Johansson, Cam Hughes, Joona Koppanen and Tanner Pond — didn’t skate on Tuesday, but are expected back on the ice on Wednesday.

Connor Clifton, Karson Kuhlman, and Jeremy Lauzon were sent to the P-Bruins on Tuesday and Anton Blidh, Colby Cave, Cody Goloubef, Mark McNeill, and Jordan Szwarz were placed on waivers.

PROVIDENCE – Jesse Gabrielle was surprised and disappointed when he wasn’t invited to Boston Bruins rookie camp and training camp this year. Instead, the 21-year-old winger was told to report straight to Providence.

Was he given a reason?

“No, they didn’t tell me why. I got a text a couple of days before camp and they said be in Providence,’’ Gabrielle said.

When GM Don Sweeney was asked about Gabrielle’s status at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo on Sept. 10, he alluded to the ankle injury that kept Gabrielle out of the Memorial Cup in the spring. “We’re going to have him start (in Providence),’’ Sweeney said.

While Gabrielle says he was good to go by the end of July — “I’ve been ready,” he said — he did as he was told, reporting to the P-Bruins for the first day of their camp at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Monday.

“Just do it. Smile. Say OK. Show up whenever they want me to,’’ he said after the first workout of P-Bruins’ camp at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Monday.

Boston’s fourth-round draft pick in 2015, Gabrielle is looking for a fresh start after a disappointing stint in Providence last season.

Gabrielle was effective in the Prospects Challenge in 2017 and, playing his agitating style,  was noticeable in some preseason games with Boston. But with his confidence wavering after scoring once in 21 games with the P-Bruins, he was returned to the Western Hockey League in late December.

“I was extremely confident coming down to Providence. I thought I was ready to make the jump and play a lot, play good minutes, big minutes, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way,” he said.

“I had chances to put pucks in the net. They weren’t going in. It’s a tough situation to look back on. I thought I had a really good preseason in Boston and I came in with some expectations. It didn’t work out in my favor. That happened. It’s happened to me before.

“It’s something I needed to reflect on throughout the summer and come back with a different mentality this year, not put my confidence in anyone else but myself and be ready. I’ve got to be mentally tough and battle through adversity,” he said.

Providence coach Jay Leach likes Gabrielle’s speed on the forecheck and his feistiness.

“He’s one of those guys that lives on the edge a little bit. He’s probably most effective that way. It’s hard being that guy sometimes,” Leach said.

“We’re looking for him to be an up-and-down, power winger who can show a physical presence and also score goals, which he’s been able to do (in junior). He can skate, he can shoot.”

The kind of struggles Gabrielle went through last season aren’t uncommon for young players. An early bounce or two this season would help.

“You have scoring chances, you don’t bury them and it starts to fester a bit, it gets frustrating. He has the ability to get those scoring chances. If he buries them, he’s on his way,” Leach said.

Random thoughts:

—  The Boston Bruins are less than two weeks from their season opener and Anders Bjork (shoulder surgery in February) still hasn’t played in a preseason game. Didn’t participate in contact drills in practice the other day. Looks to me like he will start the season in Providence.

— Curt Bennett is in the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame now, but why isn’t he in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame?

Yes, he was born in Canada, but moved to the U.S. permanently as a young child and grew up and was trained as a player in Rhode Island.

He’s undoubtedly qualified. At a time when the NHL was almost exclusively Canadian, he posted back-to-back seasons of more than 30 goals in the mid-1970s.

He was American enough to play for the U.S. in the 1976 Canada Cup and in the world championships in 1978 and 1979.

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2018 class has already been chosen and will be inducted in December.

But when the nomination window opens again on Jan. 1, 2019, I’ll be submitting Curt’s name. He should be in.

— With the announcement this week of staff changes, it appears the Bruins have parted ways with strength/conditioning coaches Mike Macchioni (Boston) and Garrett McDonough (Providence). If true, it’s too bad. Mac and G are first-rate professionals and all-around good guys.

— It’s the preseason and the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is already minus-1 after its handling of Max Domi’s punchout of Aaron Ekblad.

— Strong week for recruiters Kris Mayotte and Ron Rolston at Providence College and Jason Guerriero and James Marcou at Brown University.

These guys are tireless. Mayotte and Rolston are in British Columbia this weekend. Marcou recently spent a week in western Canada.

The Friars received verbal commits this week from ’01 defenseman Cam McDonald of Muskegon of the USHL and ’02  forward Chase Yoder of the NTDP U17.

McDonald comes from good bloodlines. His father Reid played at Michigan Tech and uncle Brian Swanson played 70 NHL games with Edmonton and the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Bears landed ’00 Salisbury School defenseman Luke Krys and ’98 defenseman James Crossman of Odessa of the NAHL.

Krys’ father Mark was an original Providence Bruin in 1992-93. His older brother Chad plays for Boston University.

— The Providence College hockey family was shaken by the death of Mark ‘Roo’ Adams at age 27 on Monday. He played on PC’s 2015 national champs.

I came away from every conversation I ever had with Roo with a smile on my face. That’s the kind of kid he was.

A celebration of his life will be held on Monday night at 6 at The Golf Club at Turner Hill in Ipswich, Mass.

Deepest condolences to Roo’s family.

— It was fun to listen to lively 94-year-old Ralph Warburton on Thursday night when he was the first to be honored at Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame enshrinement. The back rink at Thayer Arena in Warwick is named after him. He is a treasure.

— Thursday was Guy Lafleur’s 67^th birthday. I watched him carve up the Bruins and every other NHL team countless times during his brilliant career. Meeting him at a house party in North Smithfield in June was one of the high points of my summer. Happy birthday, Flower.