PROVIDENCE WELCOMES CAPACITY CROWDS WITH AHL HOCKEY EVENTS

Bennett family members gather for father’s induction into American Hockey League (AHL) Hall of Fame

PROVIDENCE – This weekend the City of Providence expects an overflow crowd, as it celebrates the first-ever American Hockey League (AHL)  All-Star Championships in the capital city, and as one local family gathers for the posthumous induction of their father, hockey legend Harvey A. Bennett, Sr., to the AHL Hall of Fame.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Director of Economic Development Jim Bennett joined last year to make a strong pitch to bring the AHL event to Providence. Bennett was unaware his father, Harvey Sr., would be considered as an inductee for the highly-regarded Hall of Fame. The event will mean first-ever capacity crowds at the Vets Auditorium, the Rhode Island Convention Center and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Brothers and former professional hockey players Curt, Harvey Jr., William and James Bennett will gather at the Dunkin Donuts Center restaurant at 4 pm today to talk about the Monday (Jan. 28) event that will honor their late father, Harvey Bennett, Sr., a former member of the AHL and locally-beloved Providence Reds hockey team along with three other inductees to the Class of 2013.

According to the AHL website (http://theahl.com/al-hall-of-fame-class-of-2013-set-p178389, Harvey A. Bennett Sr., played 13 seasons in the League and was “one of the league’s most successful goaltenders of his era, becoming synonymous with hockey in Rhode Island both during and after his playing career.” He passed away in 2004, and saw five of his sons play professional hockey.  His grandson, Mack, plays at Michigan State, and his granddaughters have also continued the tradition, playing ice hockey competitively at private schools.

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