Boychuk Slated For Rehab Start with Provo Penguins

Walpole, MA - Boston Bruin Johnny Boychuk, who suffered a fractured forearm in the loss to the Rangers on Saturday night, is scheduled to make a rehab start for the Provo Penguins upon his return. It has been longtime rumored that the Penguins and the Boston Bruins had been working on a formalized arrangement between the two teams.

According to sources close to the Penguins, the Boston Bruins had allegedly reached out to the senior hockey team, in order to formalize a working relationship, where injured Bruins’ players would begin their climb back to the NHL by working out with the Provo Liquor Penguins.

“The Bruins are excited about this agreement,” stated one source, who wished to remain anonymous. “They have had difficulty in the past, rehabilitating players after an injury. By the Provo Penguins allowing them to use their facility, and to join their team for official NESHL games, it really provides a great advantage to the Bruins players.”

Hockey insiders are mixed in their opinion of this agreement. While all would agree that this benefits the Bruins, many are left wondering what the Penguins actually get out of this deal.

“Don’t get me wrong, it looks good on paper,” explained Stan Croakley, from Penguins Insider Magazine (PIM). “Every senior hockey team would love to be affiliated with an NHL team, but for the Penguins they don’t gain much. In fact, there is some concern that the rehabbing players, might actually take the level of play down for the Penguins. You basically have a guy coming off a sprain or a fracture, and he is trying to compete at a senior hockey level with the greatest team in NESHL history. It has yet to be determined how it will affect the level of play.”

No other details have been made available to the public on the agreement, but both parties seem to be happy with the deal. Boychuk could begin playing at the end of November, and is slated to play with the Penguins either against the Maple Leafs or the Scorpions.

“Whatever we can do to help these guys out works for us,” commented veteran Penguins defenseman, Sean Kenney. “JB has always been one of our favorites, so if slapping some pucks around will get him back on the ice for the Bruins faster, than we are all in!”