On April 11, 2015, Acciari was on the ice with his Providence Friars teammates celebrating the school's first national championship after a 4-3 victory against Boston University. The venue was the Boston Bruins' home, TD Garden.

Little could Acciari have known that less than a year later, on March 1, 2016, he would be back skating at the arena, this time in a Bruins uniform, making his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames.

Then again, hockey success has always come close to home for 5-foot-10, 201-pound center from Johnston, R.I., 60 miles from Boston. Acciari gained notice locally by helping Bishop Hendricken High School from nearby Warwick win the 2007 state championship in Providence.

Three years later, in the fall of 2012, Acciari joined the Providence College hockey program. Over his three seasons as a Friar, he showed offensive touch a desire to excel in the defensive aspects of the game. Acciari had 15 goals and 32 points during the Friars' championship season and was named the NCAA East Regional Most's Outstanding Player and the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year.

On June 8, 2015, the 23-year-old, undrafted Acciari signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins. The following season he had 19 points in 45 games for the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence before playing 19 games with Boston.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Signed as a free agent by Boston, June 3, 2015.