Coming off a torrid start this year in American Hockey League play, former Massachusetts hockey player Frank Vatrano was rewarded with a call-up to the Boston Bruins, as announced by the team Friday.

The East Longmeadow native was recalled to the Bruins with the assignment of forward Alex Khokhlachev to its AHL affiliate in Providence. Through 10 games for Providence this year, Vatrano led the AHL with 10 goals.

Vatrano signed an entry level deal with the Bruins at the conclusion of last season after leading the Minutemen with 18 goals and was second with 28 points. The then-redshirt sophomore then forwent his final two seasons of eligibility at UMass and was the second Minuteman to sign with an NHL team in the early offseason alongside Brandon Montour.

He appeared in five games with Providence last season, scoring one goal, before excelling at the level this year. Vatrano joins a Boston team standing at 6-5-1 with its next game coming tomorrow at Montreal against the Canadiens.

Vatrano could not be contacted by the Daily Collegian as of Friday afternoon.

Anthony Chiusano can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @a_chiusano24.