Most fans think the biggest hockey story right now involves a retired giant or a current roster spot. The real shock came from a local writer who spends his days covering minor league hockey. Mark Divver, a reporter for Stanley Cup of Chowder, was named the winner of the James H. Ellery Award. This honor recognizes the best coverage of the American Hockey League for the 2025-26 season. It is a huge deal for someone who writes about the Providence Bruins while the rest of the world watches the NHL.
The award was announced on August 20, 2026, by the league itself. According to a post from the Providence Bruins, Divver was selected to receive the James H. Ellery Memorial Award. This is not a small trophy. It is given once a year to a single individual who has done an outstanding job reporting on the AHL. The league noted that Divver has been available to the Boston market for years. He does not just cover the pro team in Rhode Island. He also tracks New England prep hockey and college happenings. That mix of work is rare in today’s media landscape.
Fans in New England have been spoiled for a long time because of this coverage. Many other AHL teams get very little attention compared to their big brother NHL clubs. The gap in reporting quality is huge. Divver fills that gap every single day. To say this recognition is deserved is an understatement of the summer. The effort he puts in for local hockey business is clear to anyone who reads his work. The Providence Bruins organization made sure to show their support when they shared the news online.
While the writing award grabs headlines, the ice itself saw a massive moment in Slovakia. Zdeno Chara held his testimonial and retirement game in Trencin on Friday. The event marked the end of an era for the massive defenseman. He literally left his skates on the ice and walked away for the last time. He walked off with his twin boys to finish the ceremony. It was a final goodbye that fans will remember for a long time. The game was an exhibition affair where Team Boston ended up winning the match.
The scoring was wild during that Friday night affair in Europe. Both Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic recorded hat tricks in the game. That is two former Bruins captains finding the net three times each in one night. David Pastrnak tried to join the fun, but the night belonged to the veterans. Chara also allegedly hit a slap shot that reached 108.8 MPH. The number comes from a social media post that the NHL account shared. It is likely more of an honorary mark than a real speed reading, but the legend lives on.
The week ended with a look at the upcoming season ramp-up. The last full week of August is here, and the hockey season is just around the corner. Get stoked for the new week of news. There was little in the way of on-ice news last week, but these stories matter. The future looks bright for the Bruins organization with these honors and goodbyes. Fans can now enjoy some late-summer weather before fall envelops the region. The wait for the real games is almost over.
