close
close

Woburn’s Riley Duran ready to take step forward for Bruins roster

Posted on by angelo

Providence forward Riley Duran (8) skates during the second period of an NCAA hockey game against Northeastern on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Boston.
Riley Duran is looking to break into the NHL roster this fall. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

Riley Duran has dreamed of wearing the B-spoke all his life.

The Woburn native didn’t have to stray far from the nest on his path to professional hockey – elevating his stock at Lawrence Academy and the Cape Cod Whalers before spending a season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.

After three college seasons at Providence College, the 2020 sixth-round pick is finally in the Boston organization.

““You just have to come in with confidence,” Duran said Tuesday at Warrior Ice Arena of his approach to the 2024-25 season. “I think that’s what I care about the most. When I play with confidence, that’s when I’m at my best. You just have to get bigger and stronger. It’s not a boy’s game anymore, it’s a man’s game.”

Although he has only played 11 professional hockey games so far, Duran has been mentioned by Don Sweeney as a prospect who could challenge for a spot on the team coming out of camp in September.

“I would say (Georgii Merkulov) and (Fabian Lysell) or Riley Duran — keep going down the list. Just put your ears back, train like crazy this summer and come in with the intention of finding an opportunity here,” Sweeney said Monday.

While Lysell and Merkulov might boast higher upside as potential midfield contributors, Duran’s pace, compete level and physicality make him an attractive candidate for a fourth-line role in the near future.

“It’s just the level of competition,” Duran said of what comes through in his game. “I like my speed. I have good speed. I like to shoot the puck and play with a lot of competition. I like to give it my all every night.”

Boston already has an abundance of fast, physical skaters ready to contribute on the fourth line in 2024-25, headlined by Johnny Beecher, Justin Brazeau and new additions Mark Kastelic, Max Jones and Riley Tufte.

Duran, who turned pro in March after finishing his junior year with the Friars, might have trouble overtaking many of those skaters on the depth chart.

But after a solid three-year stretch in college (27 goals, 55 points in 102 games), Duran took the ice with the Providence Bruins, recording four points in his first 11 games with the Baby B’s while adjusting to the aggressive play of the next level.

“I say this with respect, he’s a simple player,” former Bruins defenseman and current player development coordinator Adam McQuaid said of Duran. “He comes to work. He does the little things well. I’ve been impressed with his play on the boards, especially at the pro level. I think he’s really established himself as a player that coaches can count on. I’ve also been impressed with his composure with the puck to really make plays. We saw that at times in PC and we knew it was there.”

For now, Duran isn’t trying to look too far ahead.

The 22-year-old forward is focused on establishing himself as the leader of Boston’s 2024 development camp roster, already showing a heavier shot during the first two days of training in Brighton.

It’s still only natural for a local kid to imagine the day he’ll play for the team he grew up supporting.

This day may come sooner than expected.

“That was my dream growing up – to play in the NHL,” Duran said. “I’m going to show up to training camp and give it everything I’ve got.”

Loading…