(Photo Credit: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis and Linktree

Fans have been clamoring for it for weeks now, and it looks like Don Sweeney and Co. have finally answered the call. As first reported by Black N’ Gold Hockey’s own Mark Allred, the Boston Bruins have called up 23-year-old center Georgii Mekrulov from Providence.

Through the first 31 games of his sophomore campaign with the Providence Bruins, the Russian-born forward has 14 goals, 16 assists, and 30 points, good enough for fourth in the AHL in scoring. Merkluov has been especially good of late, notching 20 points in his last 14 games.

Merkulov first caught the eye of the Bruins when he played his first year of college hockey with Mason Lohrei at Ohio State. In his freshman campaign with the Buckeyes, he scored 20 goals, 14 assists, and 34 points in 36 games, good enough to earn a three-year entry-level contract with the Bruins. Since being signed, he’s spent 106 games in the AHL, posting 39 goals, 51 assists, and 90 points.

Merkulov caught the attention of fans after his eye-opening first season in Providence, where he tallied 55 points (good enough for 2nd in rookie scoring) and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. Fuel was added to the fire when he spent the majority of this offseason’s training camp skating on a line with Jake Debrusk and Danton Heinen.

His first possible NHL game could come as soon as Saturday, December 30th, against the New Jersey Devils in front of the TD Garden faithful.