PROVIDENCE -- If you're familiar with the term "plebe" then you know your U.S. military jargon. If you happen to be Canadian and understand what the word means, you know your hockey terminology, too.

In the military academy world, the word means "freshman." On the ice of North America, it means "rookie." Either way, it was just another way of calling someone inferior. Oh, how times have changed.

During the days of old-school hockey, rookies were supposed to be seen and not heard. They were accustomed to some type of hazing. If they resisted, it only got worse. The landscape nowadays is different. Rookies, more often now called prospects, are put into situations in which they are challenged to succeed. Organizations place a lot of emphasis on developing young talent, and team management wants nothing to hinder the progress.

The Providence Bruins (0-1) host the Worcester Sharks in their home-opener tonight at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and unlike previous P-Bruin teams, this year's version is loaded with young talent.

Twelve players are 22 years old or younger, 10 of whom were originally drafted by the Boston Bruins. Having so many prospects on a club could be a headache for the veteran players and coaching staff.

That's not the case in Providence.

Young players such as goaltender Mike Brown, forwards Martins Karsums, David Krejci, Petr Klaus, Ben Walter, Nate Thompson, Kris Versteeg, Wacey Rabbit, and defensemen Matt Lashoff and Jonathan Sigalet were all selected by the Bruins. Some are experiencing the pro game for the first time. For others, it is their sophomore season at the AHL level.

There's nothing inferior about their abilities, and if there were, the veterans and coaches would see to it the problems were fixed in a timely manner. Realistically, all of these players are here to help the parent club in some way, sooner rather than later.

P-Bruins assistant coach Rob Murray is considered an AHL legend. He played 15 seasons (1988-2003), mostly for Springfield, and has 107 games of NHL experience. He's sixth all-time with 1,018 games played in the AHL, and is second all-time with 2,940 penalty minutes.

He has seen rookies come and go, and knows how difficult it can be sometimes to bridge that gap between plebes and veterans.

"The game has changed in a sense," said Murray. "Rookies and younger players are . . . I don't want to say are given more opportunity, but it's different. Veterans know that and the onus is on them to bring these guys along. In my career when I got older, it was very gratifying if I could help one of the younger guys move on."

During their tenure behind the P-Bruins' bench, Murray and head coach Scott Gordon have had younger players who worked incredibly hard and are now playing in the NHL. Other Bruin draftees who had the ability but not the work ethic are not playing in North America.

"There needs to be more internal accountability," said Murray. "It's not like if you don't play better you're going to get your head shaved. It's up to the older guys to make sure these guys are listening, paying attention, giving the effort that's needed and not take what they've got for granted."

There are more and more players making the immediate jump from the collegiate and junior levels to the AHL. Most find out quickly that there's nothing minor about the American League. Players are stronger and faster, and the veterans realize they are just a backcheck away from the NHL.

"The proof is in the pudding," Murray said. "You look at a guy like (team captain Jay) Leach, he's battled his entire career to get to where he is now, and he's taken nothing for granted his entire career."

Sit-downs, if needed, are the norm around AHL locker rooms. Veterans will explain to younger guys how to keep themselves in line on and off the ice. All hockey players want to play in the NHL, but only those who have accomplished that feat know exactly what it takes to get there and stay there.

"It's a process," said Leach, the 27-year-old former PC standout who has played only two games in the NHL. "Right now it's at the stage where they are still learning, and you need to have patience. You have to help them along and we're hoping for a quick learning curve. It'll take these guys a few games, but it's fun to see once it develops. It's rewarding being an older guy to see that happen, almost like a coach."

Sometimes veteran players encounter a prospect who views himself as the next great one and who looks at an older AHL guy and thinks, "What does this guy know? If he's so good how come he's not in the NHL?"

"To be honest," said Leach, "if that does happen then that kid has a lot to work on. He's not going to make it because if you ever think that way then you'll never work as hard as you should work to get to the NHL. These kids are rookies and they respect that, and that's the way you have to be. You're going to play the same way in the NHL as you do in the AHL. You're going to act the same way here as you do up there."

At first glance the P-Bruins have a young team. But, there is a solid mix of talent and leadership that, in the end, could help everyone involved.

"It's a tough game," said Murray. "Things are not going to work out for you every night. You have to work at it, stay together as a team. It doesn't matter if you have 10 first-round picks, as long as you're winning and playing as a team. If everyone is pulling the same rope, we'll be okay."

jmcdonal@projo.com / (401) 277-7340