Might as well get one of the longest bus rides of the season out of the way right off the bat.

Providence Bruins coaches Rob Murray and Bruce Cassidy and about a dozen Bruins minor-leaguers, draft picks and free agents will make a 10-hour, 570-mile journey Saturday from Wilmington, Mass., to Kitchener, Ont., for a rookie tournament against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. The rest of the 24-man roster will travel to Kitchener on their own. The games start on Monday.

The tournament offers a terrific opportunity for players already under contract and those looking to earn contracts to show what they can do, said Murray.

"It’s a chance to get a jump on everything, to get in some game situations,” before Boston’s training camp opens on Sept. 12, Murray said.

In turn, Boston’s front office will have a chance to assess the players. "It’s a chance for management to get a better read on some players,” Murray said.

The team will practice on Sunday before facing Toronto at 2 p.m. on Monday. Murray said he and Cassidy will have only enough time to touch on the basics of special teams and defensive-zone coverage.

"We’ll try to put in some structure. You’ve got to play with some structure. You can’t be running all over the place,” he said.

Murray said that each of the three goalies -- Matt Dalton, Adam Courchaine and Mike Hutchinson -- probably will play one full game.

In addition to Monday’s game vs. the Leafs, Boston will face Ottawa at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. on Thursday. All games are at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

The Bruins roster:

FORWARDS

Zach Hamill, Providence (AHL)

Max Sauve, Val d’Or (QHL)

Jeff Lovecchio, injured, did not play

Lane MacDermid, Windsor (OHL)

Jason Wilson, London (OHL)

Levi Nelson, Providence (AHL)

Jamie Arniel, Sarnia (OHL)

Chris Desousa, Niagara (OHL)

Taylor Macdougall, Cape Breton (QHL)

Jason Lawrence, Boston University (Hockey East)

Jordan Knackstedt, Providence (AHL)

Tyler Randell, Kitchener (OHL)

Peter Stevens, Barrie (OHL)

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Button, Prince Albert (WHL)

Rob Kwiet, Windsor (OHL)

Marc Zanetti, Ottawa (OHL)

Alain Goulet, Gatineau (QHL)

Mark Isherwood, Medicine Hat (WHL)

Scott Fletcher, Plymouth (OHL)

Brad Good, Carleton University

GOALIES

Matt Dalton, Bemidji State (CHA)

Mike Hutchinson, Barrie (OHL)

Adam Courchaine, Ottawa (OHL)

*****

While the exact date has not been set yet, Providence Bruins training camp will open the week of Sept. 21 at the Rhode Island Sports Center on Route 146 in North Smithfield.

The first exhibition game is Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. against Springfield at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass., followed by a game on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. versus Lowell at the Iorio Arena in Walpole, Mass. The final preseason game will be Saturday, Sept. 26, against Springfield at the MassMutual Center in Springfield at 7 p.m.

*****

Former Boston University winger Jason Lawrence, ECHL defenseman Nick Tuzzolino, enforcer Brett Clouthier, who has played in England for the past three years, and former Colgate defenseman Jared Ross will be in Providence’s training camp, according to Murray.

The camp roster has not been finalized. "There’s no shortage of guys looking for tryouts out there,” Murray said.

*****

A familiar face, Peter Henderson, returns as Providence equipment manager this season. Henderson held the same job with the P-Bruins from 1992 to 1998 under coaches Mike O’Connell, Steve Kasper, Bobby Francis and Tommy McVie. Henderson also was the equipment manager for the Boston Bruins from 1998 to 2006.

"This is great. I’m really excited” about coming back to Rhode Island, said Henderson, who was with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals the past two seasons.

The P-Bruins new trainer is Mark Grotzinger, who was with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL last season.

*****

Former Brown defenseman Paul Baier of North Kingstown, who played for Portland last season, signed an AHL contract with Binghamton and will be playing for Ottawa’s team in the Kitchener tournament.

Former Toll Gate star John Hynes, who was hired as an assistant with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this summer, will be on Pittsburgh’s bench.