(Photo Credit: Steve Babineau / NHLi via Getty Images)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

It had been rumored for some time, but the Boston Bruins officially announced today that Trent Whitfield will be the 14th Head Coach of the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins. The Alameda, Saskatchewan, native has been an assistant coach for the P-Bruins since 2016, after previously spending a season as an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, and the since relocated Portland Pirates of the AHL. He will take over for Ryan Mougenel, who is joining the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach.

Whitfield’s history with the Bruins dates back to the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, when he was selected #100th overall by Boston. The forward didn’t sign with the Bruins, spending time in the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues’ organizations, until finally ending up with the B’s in 2009, where he served as captain of Providence for three seasons, also playing 17 NHL games for Boston, registering one assist. He retired from professional hockey in 2014, after playing a season in the Austrian League with HC Bolzano.

Ryan Ward will be joining Whitfield’s staff in Providence as an assistant coach. The Assonet, Massachusetts, native was Head Coach of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms this past season, where he coached Bruins prospect Cooper Simpson this season. Ward won a Clark Cup Championship with the Phantoms in 2023, and previously spent time in the New York Islanders’ and Toronto Maple Leafs’ organizations. He was also a video coach for USA Hockey during the 2010 and 2012 IIHF Men’s World Championships.