Boston Bruins prospect Riley Duran is known for winning battles in front of the net and possessing a very effective shot. The 2020 sixth-round pick is entering his third season at Providence College and has become one of the better forwards in Hockey East. The junior had 20 points in 29 games last season for the Friars and performed well in Bruins Development Camp this past summer. Duran was a late-round pick but has the potential to give himself a chance to play professional hockey soon. At 21 years old, this will be an important year for the development of the Woburn, Massachusetts native, and a good start is needed. So far, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound center is leading the way for Providence, the 10th-ranked team in the nation.
Duran has been a stat sheet filler in the first three games of the season, with two goals and two assists on 15 shots. The forward has also blocked four shots and won 64 percent of his faceoffs. Duran is playing on the top line at right wing and is teammates with fellow Bruins prospect goaltender Philip Svedebac.
Duran was impressive in the World Junior U20 Championships last season with five points in five games and is steadily climbing the Bruins prospect charts, currently sitting at 12th in the Bruins Benders Podcast Top 30. There won’t be a lot of highlight reel plays from Duran, and his play will not stand out at times, but he is a very effective player who goes to the net and creates chances.
Duran is playing against top competition and excelling, as evidenced by his performance against the sixth-ranked team in the nation, Michigan, where Duran scored a goal to put Providence up 2-1 in a game they eventually won 4-2. At the end of the season, Duran can make the decision to play his senior year at PC or turn pro.
Providence hosts second-ranked Denver on Friday night in what will be another good test for an up-and-coming prospect in the Bruins organization.
