Looking to ship up to Boston
Providence B’s center Studnicka wants in with Black Aces
Providence Bruins center Jack Studnicka is riding out the global COVID-19 pandemic at his family home in Michigan in anticipation of a recall to Boston.
Studnicka will assuredly be on Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy’s wish list of Black Aces if the NHL is allowed to resume the 201920 season.
The Black Aces are a select band of Baby B’s that get summoned to the parent club in April to fill out the Bruins playoff roster.
The Black Aces’ role this time would be to participate in an abbreviated training camp prior to the resumption of the campaign that was suspended back on March 12.
Studnicka is anxious to get back on the ice and he considers his role with the Black Aces an opportunity to participate and function with top talent at the NHL level.
Providence coach Jay Leach said Studnicka’s name had come up in conversations but the player is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“I haven’t heard much on that topic but I obviously see the rumors on social media or whatever or what the plan is,” said Studnicka during a Bruins town hall meeting on Zoom.
“But I would love for a scenario like that to play out. Hopefully the NHL comes back and I am able to be a part of that. That would definitely be something that I would be looking forward to.”
Studnicka played in four Calder Cup playoff games in 2019 before participating in his first stint with the Black Aces during the Bruins’ remarkable playoff run last spring.
The Bruins captured the Eastern Conference title with series wins over the Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets and Hurricanes before falling to the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at the TD Garden.
“I think it was a confidence-booster for sure to be a part of that and I think the organization and the team did a very good job of making us feel like we were a part of it,” said Studnicka.
“Another thing is I think I got a lot better as a hockey player because we were skating every day and we were able, with the group we had, to pick certain things to get better at just because we had that time and that luxury.
“I think skating every day with a good group of hockey players then at night watch it was nice. The NHL playoffs were a confidencebooster and I think in terms of development I was able to get better through that experience.”
Studnicka, just 21, is a 6-foot-1, 176-pound center who plays a 200-foot game with a scoring touch. Studnicka played in 60 games and scored 23 goals with 26 assists on 154 shots. Studnicka plays a two-way game similar to Bruins first-line center Patrice Bergeron but he feels his style is more in line with center/winger Charlie Coyle.
The statistic that jumps off Studnicka’s scratch sheet is the seven short-handed goals he scored on the Baby B’s penalty kill. That is a terrific number at any level, especially in a shortened season.
“I think when you start getting opportunities short handed and you put them in it is definitely a confidencebooster for the next time you are penalty killing,” said Studnicka.
“But it is definitely more important to kill the penalty and that is something I had to learn as the year went on. The main priority is to kill the penalty.
“The penalty kill coach in Providence is Ryan Mougenel and every day I came to the rink he put together a video session for me. Being able to work with him and dissecting how the penalty kill works was really nice.”
Studnicka’s season in Providence was interrupted in a positive manner on Nov. 26 when he made his NHL debut with the Spoked B.
Studnicka skated on the second line with Coyle and Jake DeBrusk in the Bruins’ 8-1 pasting of the Montreal Canadiens at the Centre Bell. Studnicka scored his first NHL goal.
“It was a pretty eventful day and I kind of just lived in the moment,” said Studnicka. “It happened really fast and in pregame skate I felt comfortable and ready to go.”