Bruins Sign Bobby Allen and Byron Bitz

[Thrillhouse]

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Bobby Allen and forward Byron Bitz.

Allen, a 6'1", 215-pound defenseman, split time last season between the Providence and Boston Bruins. After making his Bruins debut in Buffalo on January 17, 2007, Allen appeared in 31 games for Boston last season recording three assists and 10 penalty minutes. Prior to being called up to Boston, Allen had tallied five goals and 13 assists with 14 penalty minutes for Providence.

The 29 year-old Hull, Massachusetts native was originally drafted by the Bruins with their second pick, 52nd overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Allen was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Sean Brown in 2002, before being picked-up by the New Jersey Devils in 2004. Allen returned to Boston last July when he signed as a free agent.

Allen played his college hockey locally for Boston College, where in 2001 he won a National Championship, while being named Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman as well as a First Team All-American.

Prior to attending BC Allen played prep school hockey for Cushing Academy and received the Bruins John Carlton Memorial Award in 1996-1997 as the top high school hockey player in Eastern Massachusetts.

Bitz comes to the Bruins after completing his senior year of college hockey for Cornell University. In four years at Cornell, Bitz registered 28 goals and 60 assists with 157 penalty minutes in 124 career games. Last season Bitz served as the Big Red's team captain.

The 6'4", 220-pound forward was the Bruins fourth pick, 107th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He is a native of Corman Park, Saskatchewan.

[blackngold]

Next: Jeremy Reich