Riley Duran has dreamt of donning the spoked-B his whole life.
The Woburn native hasn’t had to stray very far from the nest on his path to pro hockey — elevating his stock at Lawrence Academy and the Cape Cod Whalers before spending one season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms.
After three collegiate seasons at Providence College, the 2020 sixth-round pick is finally within Boston’s organization.
“Just come in with confidence,” Duran said Tuesday at Warrior Ice Arena of his approach entering the 2024-25 season. “I think that’s my biggest thing. When I’m playing with confidence, that’s when I’m at my best. Just get bigger and stronger. It’s not a boy’s game anymore, it’s a man’s game.”
Despite playing only 11 games of pro hockey so far, Duran was mentioned by Don Sweeney as a prospect who might push for a roster spot out of camp in September.
“I would say that [Georgii Merkulov] and [Fabian Lysell] or Riley Duran — keep going down the list. Just pin your ears back, train your ass off this summer, and come with the intent that there’ll be an opportunity here,” Sweeney said Monday.
While Lysell and Merkulov might boast higher upside as potential middle-six contributors, Duran’s pace, compete level, and physicality make him an appealing candidate for a fourth-line role in the near future.
“Just the compete level,” Duran said of what stands out about his game. “I like my speed. Got some good speed. I like to shoot the puck and play with a ton of compete. I like to bring it every night.”
