Under-The-Radar Bruins Prospect Considered ‘Fabric’ Of Franchise

BOSTON -- After playing three seasons of junior hockey with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, defenseman Jackson Edward could make his professional debut with the Providence Bruins this season.

Edward skated in the Bruins' development and rookie camps and will compete in the Prospect Challenge at LeCom HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y., from Sept. 13-16. Providence head coach Ryan Mougenel told reporters after Day 1 of rookie camp why Edward has impressed the AHL staff.

"We've really enjoyed watching Jackson grow," Mougenel said at Warrior Ice Arena on Wednesday. "He's another guy that (Adam McQuaid) spent a lot of time with, both on and off the ice, and we're excited about the person.

"I think there's a lot of growth with somebody like that that's super inquisitive and wants to get better. The aggressive part of it and playing hard that's the fabric of being a Bruin. He looks like a Bruin to me."

Edward is a prototypical hard-nosed, hard-hitting skater who will fit in perfectly within the Bruins organization. Being physical is the 6-foot-3, 199-pound defenseman's favorite part of the game.

"I like it," Edward said. "That's why I got into hockey. I like contact."

The 20-year-old Ontario native amassed 253 penalty minutes in 178 games with the Knights while tallying 12 goals and 49 assists from the blue line. The Bruins selected Edward in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract last October.