Bruins Connection

I’m not talking about the Chilliwack Bruins (sorry Duane). Every hockey fan can have their alternate team they cheer for can’t they? I mean the best part about my duo is that they’re in different conferences. However don’t think for a second that if my two teams meet up in the Stanley Cup finals that I’ll hesitate to toss on my stick in rink and wear it with pride.

When I was little I remember sitting on our couch in Newton, next to the pillow that had such intricate embroidery I swear I always saw a face whenever I looked at it, and watching hockey games. I don’t remember the scores, the action or much about the games themselves as I was about 6 years old at the time. I just recall that there was one team out there with a big “B” on the front of their sweater and that made them cool, cause “B” is also for “Becky”.

Since then, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Bruins and in 2002 when I moved to their hometown they soon became my team. Whenever I was jonesing for some hockey action I’d either gather ’round with other ex-pat Canadians to watch games, catch them on NESN or attend a handful at the Fleet Center.

I still followed the Canucks though, I would tune into CKNW‘s webcast feed to listen to Shorty give the play-by-play late at night. When the Canucks came to town I switched gears and cheered for Vancouver, who won 6-4, which was pretty awesome. At that time they still had Thornton, who was a powerhouse alongside Murray, and I knew the guy who did the music in the Fleet Center for games. I could always tell when he was working when some Tragically Hip would come on before a faceoff.

At one game when everyone stood up to sing the national anthem a girl behind me (who had already had too many beers at this point) proceeded to tip and spill her entire beverage down my back. My shirt was completely soaked so I decided I would just go buy something to wear for the rest of the game. I found a cute little jersey, changed into it, and went back to my seat – reeking of booze.

I haven’t had many opportunities to wear the jersey since then, until recently. The local Vancouver teen who lead the Vancouver Giants to the Memorial Cup as tournament MVP, Milan Lucic is currently playing for the Bruins.

[He] has done everything asked of him so far – skating well, playing two-way hockey, finishing his checks, dropping the gloves…

…If Lucic plays in more than nine games with the Bruins this season, his service time will count toward his three-year entry-level contract, which is worth an annual $850,000.

With some ice time, Lucic, who’s projected as a grinder with some offensive touch, could provide depth at left wing, perhaps allowing the club to make a veteran available for a trade to beef up the back end. [Boston Globe]

Side Note: If you still haven’t heard DaveO’s “Vancouver Giants Day” coverage at City Hall last spring with Pat Quinn, Brent Festerling, Don Hay, Kendal McCardle, and Milan Lucic, I suggest you go listen/download over at HockeyNW.

Best of luck to Milan in the big leagues, and although we’ll miss him at the Pacific Coliseum, I hope he definitely gets his time to shine with the Bruins this year. If he needs any tips on some really cool places to hang out (that you won’t have to be 21 to enter), he should give me a buzz. I know of all sorts of wholesome activities in Boston, even though they mostly involve bowling.

For me, I know there was nothing like watching a Habs/Bruins game being thousands of miles away from home but still enjoying some exciting “original six” hockey action. With all the reasons why I hold the Bruins close to my heart, I really hope they’ll have a great season. They are such a dynasty of a hockey club with far more history that I can attempt to compound into a blog post.