Even though the Providence Bruins season has been over for nearly three weeks, five members of the team are still skating at the 146 rink in North Smithfield just in case the parent club runs into injuries.

Boston's "Black Aces'' are forwards Mikko Lehtonen, Jeff LoVecchio, Zach Hamill, Jamie Arniel and Max Sauve.

Under the direction of head coach Rob Murray and assistant Butch Cassidy, the players have been alternating skating and off-ice workouts all week.

Goalie Dany Sabourin and defenseman Andy Wozniewski started out with the Providence contingent but have since moved up to Boston.

Goalies today were Brian Francis, a local men's league netminder who fills in during the season when the P-Bruins need a practice goalie, and Dan Rosen, the Brown University goalie who is scheduled to graduate in a few weeks.

Black Aces is the term used throughout pro hockey for the extra players who stick around at playoff time in case of injury. It reportedly dates to Eddie Shore's days as owner of the Springfield Indians.