The Maine Mariners will remain an affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the NHL and Providence Bruins of the AHL at least through the 2027-28 season. The Bruins announced Monday that they have extended their affiliation agreement with their ECHL team in Portland.“It has been a pleasure getting to know and collaborate with Dexter Paine over the past year-plus of his ownership tenure, and we are confident that his and the entire Mariners staff’s dedication to developing players and competing for championships fully aligns with our organizational development model. The Bruins are excited to continue working with the Mariners to prepare our prospects for the next levels,” said Providence Bruins General Manager Evan Gold, who is also the Assistant General Manager for Boston. The Mariners first became a Bruins affiliate in 2021, before their third ECHL season. The 2025-26 season marks year five of the affiliation and begins the new three-year extension.“We are excited to extend our affiliation agreement with the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins,” said Mariners Owner and Governor Dexter Paine. “It is an important step for our franchise as we align the Mariners with these two historic franchises. Stabilizing and growing the partnership with both Boston and Providence was a priority of mine after purchasing the team last fall.”A New Hampshire native, Paine bought the Mariners from Comcast Spectacor in 2024. Comcast Spectacor brought the Mariners to Portland in 2017 as a member of the ECHL after the Portland Pirates, who played in the AHL, relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts in 2016.A native of North Conway and lifelong Boston Bruins fan, Paine has long been a leading voice in organized sports.Since 2021, he has served as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors and is on the boards of both US Biathlon and United States Ski and Snowboard. He is also actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid.The previous Maine Mariners team was also a Boston Bruins affiliate for five years when they were a member of the AHL, before relocating to Providence in 1992.The Mariners drop the puck on their new season on Oct. 18 in Worcester. Their home opener is Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. against Reading.
The Maine Mariners will remain an affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the NHL and Providence Bruins of the AHL at least through the 2027-28 season.
The Bruins announced Monday that they have extended their affiliation agreement with their ECHL team in Portland.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know and collaborate with Dexter Paine over the past year-plus of his ownership tenure, and we are confident that his and the entire Mariners staff’s dedication to developing players and competing for championships fully aligns with our organizational development model. The Bruins are excited to continue working with the Mariners to prepare our prospects for the next levels,” said Providence Bruins General Manager Evan Gold, who is also the Assistant General Manager for Boston.
The Mariners first became a Bruins affiliate in 2021, before their third ECHL season. The 2025-26 season marks year five of the affiliation and begins the new three-year extension.
“We are excited to extend our affiliation agreement with the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins,” said Mariners Owner and Governor Dexter Paine. “It is an important step for our franchise as we align the Mariners with these two historic franchises. Stabilizing and growing the partnership with both Boston and Providence was a priority of mine after purchasing the team last fall.”
A New Hampshire native, Paine bought the Mariners from Comcast Spectacor in 2024. Comcast Spectacor brought the Mariners to Portland in 2017 as a member of the ECHL after the Portland Pirates, who played in the AHL, relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts in 2016.
A native of North Conway and lifelong Boston Bruins fan, Paine has long been a leading voice in organized sports.
Since 2021, he has served as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors and is on the boards of both US Biathlon and United States Ski and Snowboard. He is also actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid.
The previous Maine Mariners team was also a Boston Bruins affiliate for five years when they were a member of the AHL, before relocating to Providence in 1992.
The Mariners drop the puck on their new season on Oct. 18 in Worcester. Their home opener is Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. against Reading.
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