BRIGHTON, Mass. - The Bruins announced some shakeups within their hockey operations department on Thursday at the outset of rookie training camp.
The most notable is a nearly complete revamping of the strength and conditioning department after watching the Bruins fall apart down the stretch each of the previous two seasons. There are also a few additions to the scouting department, including former Bruins forward Matt Lindblad. Longtime strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides has been moved over to the Director of Health, Fitness and Wellness and will have much more involvement in community outreach after years in the trenches working out B’s players.
In a related change, longtime assistant athletic trainer Derek Repucci has been relieved of his duties with the team after ten years as the athletic trainer/massage therapist. The changes to the hockey operations staff follow both Doug Houda and Doug Jarvis being relieved of their duties as B’s assistant coaches following last season.
“These changes are a reflection of the overall commitment that the Bruins organization continues to make in identifying and recruiting talent, coupled with providing players within the system the best possible tools to maximize their on-ice potential,” said the Bruins in an unattributed quote in the press release announcing the moves.
The moves in total: Executive Director of Player Personnel John Ferguson will also serve as General Manager of the Providence Bruins. Sean Jordan has been hired as Head Physical Therapist, Ansel Garvey has been hired as Assistant Athletic Trainer, former Strength and Conditioning Coach John Whitesides has transitioned to a new role of Director of Health, Fitness and Wellness, Kenneth Pitts and Mike Macchioni have been hired as Sports Performance Coaches.
On the scouting side, Ryan Hardy has been hired as a U.S. amateur scout, Victor Nybladh has been hired as a European amateur scout, former Bruins and P-Bruins forward prospect Lindblad has been hired as a professional scout, and former Bruins forward Brett Harkins has been hired as a part-time collegiate scout.
The news that Lindblad is joining the Bruins as a scout means he’s retiring from pro hockey at 26 after injuries limited him to a handful of games with the Hartford Wolfpack last season after he left the Bruins organization to sign with the New York Rangers.
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