Providence Bruins announce October return to R.I. May 13, 2021 6:14 pm PROVIDENCE – Professional hockey will return to Rhode Island in October. The Providence Bruins announced late Thursday the first six home dates at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the upcoming 2021-22 season, including opening night on Saturday, Oct. 16. That night will be the first time the P-Bruins – the American Hockey League affiliate of the Boston Bruins – will play in the Ocean State, and in front of fans, since before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state. Additionally, this is the first such announcement of any events set to take place at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, which had been used as a mass testing site and is currently being used as a mass testing site during the pandemic, since March 2020. The JLC Live Residential Construction Show is slated to be held at the R.I. Convention Center next door Aug. 12-14.