Bruins announce 2024 rookie camp roster
Wednesday came with a sure sign that hockey is approaching and is officially and dangerously close, with the rookies hitting the ice for the start of 2024 Bruins rookie training camp at Warrior Ice Arena.
It’s far from the longest event by any stretch, of course. In fact, they’re only practicing in Boston on Wednesday and then again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday before they fly out to Buffalo where they will take part in the annual Prospects Challenge held at the HarborCenter. But in addition to being the first organized team activity of the 2024-25 slate, it also gives some player their first chance at surprising those in the B’s front office and potentially pushing for a contract or even a gig in training camp.
This year’s roster (which, as always, does not feature any prospects currently playing in the NCAA ranks), features a mix of noteworthy prospects up front and on the backend. The most notable among that group is certainly P-Bruins standouts such as forwards Trevor Kuntar and Riley Duran, while defenseman Jackson Edward is prepped for the pro jump after a strong career with OHL London.
The full roster goes as follows…
Forwards
John Farinacci: Signed in the summer 2023 after a strong collegiate career at Harvard, Farinacci, who is related to the Donatos, put up 12 goals and 38 points in 71 games with the P-Bruins a year ago.
Evan Vierling: Considered a “high motor” player, the 6-foot-1 Vierling was signed to an AHL contract by the Bruins back in July after spending last year in the ECHL and AHL. The 22-year-old Vierling, originally a fifth-round pick of the Rangers back in 2020, put up 25 points in 34 games for ECHL Wheeling, and had two goals and seven points in eight AHL appearances for the Baby Penguins.
Trevor Kuntar: A potential dark horse for some NHL run this season, Kuntar scored 10 goals and totaled 20 points in 70 AHL games for Providence last season. Kuntar is mostly known for his net-front game and finishing ability, and showed that he was not afraid to mix it up.
Riley Duran: A Woburn, Mass. native, Duran was highlighted by Don Sweeney as a player who could make a push for a spot on the B’s NHL roster this season. The 22-year-old, who spent three seasons at Providence College, put up two goals and four points in 11 AHL games to close out his 2023-24.
Owen Pederson: The 6-foot-3 left-shooting wing put up 13 goals and 25 points in 54 games for ECHL Maine last season, and made two appearances for the P-Bruins a year ago.
Brett Harrison: Drafted by the Bruins with the No. 85 overall pick in 2021, Harrison put up five goals and 14 points in 47 games with the P-Bruins last season. Harrison’s development will be interesting to watch moving forward here, as the Bruins have put him at both center and the wing throughout his pro tenure.
Jaxon Nelson: Signed by the Bruins after a collegiate run with Minnesota, Nelson is a 6-foot-4 center who totaled 19 goals and 31 points in 39 NCAA contests a season ago, and added one goal in seven late-season appearances for AHL Providence.
Connor Hvidston: Originally a fifth-round pick by the Ducks in 2022, Hvidston is a right-shooting right wing, and has scored 48 goals and 124 points in 112 games for WHL Swift Current over the last two seasons.
Adam Mechura: The 21-year-old, Czech-born center tallied 22 goals and 48 points in 63 games for ECHL Maine last season.
Carlin Dezainde: A 5-foot-11 forward, the 19-year-old Dezainde finally broke through in the WHL this past season, with 25 goals and 56 points in 51 games for the Prince George Cougars.
Jake Sloan: The 20-year-old Sloan is in Bruins camp after spending five seasons with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, and is coming off a year that featured 31 goals and 70 points in 68 games played.
Lucas Romeo: A winger out of the QMJHL, the 6-foot-3 Romeo posted 25 goals and 32 points in 54 games between Charlottetown and Cape Breton.
Charlie Hilton: This is an invite that appears to have an eye towards the future, with the 17-year-old Hilton brought into B’s rookie camp after appearing in 32 games for OHL Ottawa in what was his first year of competition. Hilton is already listed at 6-foot-5 and over 200 pounds.
Markus Vidicek: The lefty-shooting Vidicek is an intriguing option added to the fold for the Bruins here, as he’s coming off back-to-back years of at least 80 points with the Halifax Mooseheads, and posted what was a QMJHL-career best 45 goals and 88 points a year ago.
Defensemen
Jackson Edward: Absolutely, 100 percent the name to watch on the backend here, Edward is making the jump to the pros after a stellar run under Dale Hunter with the OHL London Knights. The Knights have been known for producing some downright menacing presences, and Edward is no exception. He plays with edge, he plays with bite, and he’ll be the first to tell you that the contact is why he decided to play hockey in the first place.
Drew Bavaro: The right-shooting Bavaro, who was signed by the Bruins last spring, is getting set for his first pro season after a collegiate career split between Bentley University and Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3 Bavaro made seven appearances for the P-Bruins after the Fighting Irish’s season ended.
Frederic Brunet: An offense-first defender, Brunet went through his ups and downs jumping from juniors to the AHL (and as a young AHLer at that) a year ago. Still, the 21-year-old put up two goals and 12 points in 48 games with the P-Bruins a year ago, and feels ready to take that next step after learning what he can and cannot get away with at hockey’s next level.
Tomas Cibulka: The Czech-born Cibulka has spent the last three seasons playing in the Q, and put forth a great 2023-24 campaign, with 10 goals and 49 points in 55 games between Val d’Or and Cape Breton.
Jack Brauti: The 18-year-old Brauti put up nine goals and 21 points in 62 games for OHL Barrie last year.
Parker Von Richter: Two years into his OHL career, Von Richter has scored five goals and 40 points in 131 games with the Mississauga Steelheads, and set career-highs in goals (three), assists (22), and points (25) for the club last season.
Felix Plamondon: A 6-foot-1 left shot, Plamondon posted two goals and 15 points in 68 games for QMJHL Shawinigan last season.
Loke Johansson: A sixth-round pick by the Bruins this past June, Johansson recorded five goals and eight assists in 33 games with AIK Jr. of the Swedish Junior Hockey League in 2023-24.
Ryan Mast: The 2021 sixth-round pick spent the majority of his 2023-24 season with ECHL Maine, where he put up five goals and 16 points in 47 games. Mast, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 221 pounds, was also called into action for seven games for Providence during the AHL season.
Goalies
Keegan Warren: Joined the QMJHL in 2023-24 and played his first full season with the Moncton, with a 13-6-1 record, 3.19 goals against average and .899 save percentage.
Ryan Bischel: Signed to a minor-league deal, Bischel is joining the B’s organization as their next project following a strong college career at Notre Dame. As a fifth-year talent for the Irish in 2023-24, Bischel posted a 15-19-2 record with a .924 save percentage. Bischel’s .924 save percentage was tied for the fifth-best mark among all NCAA goaltenders, while his 1,112 saves were the most in college hockey, and with a 58-save lead over the second-place goaltender.
