• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Minor League Report

Providence Bruins’ Bobby Robins: The Warrior-Poet

By Bob Mand November 5th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

 

Bobby Robins of the Providence Bruins (Photo Courtesy of Alan Sullivan/Providence Bruins)

The first star of the game, number twenty-one, Bobby Robins!

The crowd roars. Skating to the ice, beckoning for more applause, is a lone black-and-gold clad forward. The stadium responds in-kind, cheers rising to obscene decibel-levels.

The thirty-one year-old Robins is no ordinary grinder.

On this night Robins doesn’t drop the gloves. Almost comically, the fistic fourth-liner (with five fights already this season) will fall a fight shy of his first Gordie Howe Hat-Trick with the Baby B’s. The Dunkin’ Donuts Center faithful will have to be satisfied with a game-winning tally and a game-icing helper.

During each shift, Robins’ efforts exude passion and he appears to swell with intensity and energy. Even his missed checks carry momentum to the team. When the P-Bruins all but secure the win with a Lane MacDermid third-period goal (which Robins assisted), number twenty-one leaps over MacDermid’s prone form– half trying to avoid his prostrate teammate and half bubbling-over with jubilation.

Remember, this is November. Not April.

Providence Head Coach Bruce Cassidy won’t deny the team got some added ‘bump’ from seeing Bobby score just twenty-two seconds in: “It gives us a big lift… When they see him score, it counts for a little bit more… the guys love Bobby – love the way he plays. It’s always nice when those guys get rewarded, especially early when it gets the crowd into it.”

On this night, Robins’ early goal was all they’d need. The P-Bruins received an excellent performance from their fourth-line and their starting goaltender, finally winning their first game on home-ice this season and breaking out of a three-loss skid.

Despite contributions elsewhere, Robins won’t deny looking for the Gordie, a slight grin on his face: “I was willing to do whatever I had to do. When it came down to it – I was definitely looking around… it wasn’t one of those games, though.”

On the ice, Robins is energy incarnate. After the win, he said, “energy is a part of my game… it can’t be measured on the score-sheet… whether the energy comes from big hits, fights, a goal like tonight, or being a vocal leader – that’s just the way I’ve always been and always played.”

When he fights, Robins throws. Boy, can he ever. He might not be a tactician like Shawn Thornton or an unstoppable force like Milan Lucic, but he makes-up for it with effort and charisma. Every confrontation on home ice seems to end the same way – with a resolute Robins waving to the crowd, giving… demanding energy and momentum.

New England hockey-fans love a self-sacrificing pugilist. They especially love guys with charisma (see Stock, P.J.). Robins fits the bill… but while he’s exactly that, he’s also much more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7SIz9ivwbIo

In hockey, grinders are often pigeonholed. They’re energy-guys. They’re fighters. They’re defense-first. They’re meatheads.

Bobby Robins is player who embraces and embodies those stereotypes so brilliantly – yet simultaneously expresses the passionate, reflective sensitivity of an artist.

Still, this Renaissance–man is as tough as they come. On the ice, the 6’1, 220 lbs. winger roams the rink as a veritable wrecking-ball of aggression. When he drives the net, the crease will be crashed… literally. When he lines-up a hit, he’s damn-well going to follow-through with punishing consequences. When he drops the gloves, he won’t stop swinging until someone’s butt is on the ice.

Yet, that burgeoning physicality is just one layer.

After I suggest ‘warrior-poet,’ a smiling Robins corrects me: “Fighter and a writer,” he says. “I’m a Libra so I look for balance in my life. I’m definitely on the right path – I’m battling and releasing that aggressive animal side of me on the ice and concentrate on the more reflective side off the ice. I think it’s a good balance – I definitely feel like I’m more balanced than I’ve ever been right now.”

Bobby Robins escorted to the box. (Photo Courtesy of Alan Sullivan/Providence Bruins)

Off the ice, his blog – www.bobbyrobins.com – plumbs the depths of his experiences in pro hockey and life. Subtle, honest and well-crafted; his diaries and discourse evince a man whose sum is far more than his stat-line.

Some of the posts read in the positive, effervescent way Robins approaches hockey, his teammates and life. Some entries detail past difficulties – particularly with addiction – serving as a reminder of how far he’s come.

“I’m well over two and a half years clean now. Two years ago – my first year back from Europe, when I was in Bakersfield it was really tough seeing guys chew and I was still walking that line where all it would take is one slip-up… I’m to the point luckily now where it’s not even an issue – I don’t think about it.”

After four years at UMass-Lowell, Robins inked a pro contract with the Ottawa Senators but never saw NHL action. Instead, he shuttled around North American and European Pro Leagues for seven seasons before landing in Providence last year.

Despite being clean for several years, several Providence players ‘dip’. It’s not something that can be pushed to the background. Even reminded of his struggles, Robins remains focused and upbeat:

“If anything I look at guys who are doing it and say: ‘I know where you’re at, man. I’ve been there, I’ve done that and there is hope. It’s a desperate feeling, an addiction like that. I just put it out there that I can be a resource and a guide if somebody needs one en route to quitting… [still,] these are all pro athletes and big boys and they can live their own lives.

“To me, it’s not too hard [seeing teammates chew],” Robins states matter-of-factly “… it’s just a reminder how addictive it is and how lucky I am that I was able to overcome it.”

His blog frankly discusses themes of addiction and depression. Personal and engaging, Robins’ said of his straightforward style, “I feel like I have my own voice… I grew up reading a lot of young adult literature like J.D. Salinger – learning how to write in first-person voice, getting your feelings across through your prose.”

Robins reads Salinger’s famous work, Catcher in the Rye frequently, and counts it as one of his major influences: “… Obviously that book captures a lot of angst and disappointment, while I try to have a little more positive spin than Holden Caulfield.”

That optimism reflects progressions in Bobby Robins’ own experience: “It’s never too late for anybody. Whatever line of work you’re in… I got a second chance in the American League really late, and I’m just trying to do all the right things and take advantage of it. Luckily, it seems to be a good fit [for me, here] in Providence. The fans are taking to me…”

“I’m just running with it and doing the best I can every day and trying to win every day.”

 

Follow Bob Mand on Twitter at @HockeyMand

  • Tags
  • Bobby Robins
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 1:20 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Rookie Spotlight: Jakub Zboril

Jan 19th 1:10 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Defense Boosted by Returns of Johnson & Byram

Jan 19th 1:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

NHL Rumors: Senators, Canucks, Avalanche, Oilers, More

Jan 19th 11:24 AM
Archives

They Wore It Once: Bruins Players and Their Unique Numbers

Jan 19th 11:14 AM
Archives

Top-5 Players From France in NHL History

Jan 19th 10:55 AM
Women's Hockey

Metropolitan Riveters 2021 Season Preview

Jan 19th 10:45 AM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Andersen, Marner, Spezza & Robertson

Jan 19th 10:35 AM
Philadelphia Flyers

Couturier’s Injury Results in Opportunity for Flyers’ Young Talent

Jan 19th 10:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Fans & Media Need to Give Drouin His Due

Jan 19th 10:15 AM
All-Star Weekend

1991 NHL All-Star Game & the Gulf War: The Modern NHL in a Time of War

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information