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Bruins Sign Patrice Bergeron for a Year

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins signed forward Patrice Bergeron to a one-year contract through the 2022-23 season worth $2.5 million, plus an additional $2.5 million in performance-based incentives.  The announcement was made by Bruins GM Don Sweeney.

Bergeron, 37, is entering his 19th NHL season, all with the Bruins. The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec native ranks third in Bruins history in games played (1,216) and game-winning goals (74), fourth in goals (400), assists (582) and points (982). The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centerman also ranks second in Bruins history in playoff games played (167), playoff points (127), third in playoff assists (78) and tied for third in playoff goals (49).

Among active NHL players, Bergeron ranks third in plus/minus (plus-254), ninth in points and games played, 10th in assists and 12th in goals. Bergeron also ranks seventh among active players in playoff points and playoff assists, eighth in playoff games played and tied for eighth in playoff goals.

In 2021-22, the Bruins captain appeared in 73 games, tallying 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points with a plus-16 rating. In seven playoff games, Bergeron recorded three goals and four assists for seven points.

Following the season, Bergeron was named the winner of the 2022 Frank J. Selke Trophy, given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game as judged by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. It was the fifth time in his career that Bergeron has won the Selke Trophy, the most ever by a player in NHL history. Bergeron previously won the award in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Bergeron was originally selected by Boston in the second round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Bruins Name Montgomery Coach

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins named Jim Montgomery as the 29th head coach in team history.

“The Boston Bruins are pleased to introduce Jim Montgomery as the next head coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome Jim, his wife, Emily, and his children, JP, Colin, Ava and Olivia, to the city of Boston,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “Jim has a winning history, and throughout the interview process he conveyed his ability to connect with all types of players while also demanding that his teams play with structure. We are excited for Jim to begin to make his imprint on our team.”

Montgomery will be officially introduced in a press conference with CEO Charlie Jacobs, President Cam Neely and Sweeney at TD Garden during the week of July 11.

Montgomery, 53, served as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues from 2020-22. Prior to his time in St. Louis, Montgomery served as head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2018-2020. Montgomery led the Dallas Stars to a 43-32-7 record in 2018-19, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in three years.

Before being hired as the head coach in Dallas, Montgomery served as the head coach for the University of Denver from 2013-17, where he led the Pioneers to the NCAA tournament in each of his five seasons, including two Frozen Four appearances (2016, 2017) and a National Championship victory (2017). Montgomery was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2017.

Prior to his time with the Pioneers, he served as the head coach for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2010-13.

In his first year at the helm, he led the Fighting Saints to win the 2011 USHL championship. He would go on to lead the team to another Clark Cup win in 2013.

Prior to his time in the USHL, the Montréal, Quebec, native spent time as an assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006-10) and Notre Dame (2005-06).

Montgomery spent 14 seasons as a forward in the NHL and AHL from 1993-2005. Montgomery skated in 122 NHL games for five different teams, (St. Louis Blues, Montréal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars) tallying 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points and 82 penalty minutes.

Montgomery also appeared in 451 AHL games for the Hershey Bears, Philadelphia Phantoms, Kentucky Thoroughblades, and Utah Grizzlies, amassing 165 goals, 328 assists, 490 points, 674 penalty minutes, and a plus-84 rating.

Prior to making the jump to professional hockey, Montgomery played four seasons at the University of Maine from 1989-93. In 1993, Montgomery captained the Black Bears team that set the NCAA record for wins in a season with 42. Maine went on to win the NCAA championship behind Montgomery’s efforts as the team’s leading scorer, including his hat trick in the third period of the 1993 Championship game to help seal victory.

Cassidy Fired; Bruins Begin Search

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) –  Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, June 6, that the team has relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach.  Cassidy has served as head coach of the team since February 7, 2017.

The search for the next head coach of the Boston Bruins will begin immediately.

“Today I informed Bruce Cassidy that I was making a head coaching change,” said Sweeney. “After 14 years working with Bruce, this was an extremely difficult decision. I want to thank and acknowledge Bruce for all his work and success with the Bruins organization. His head coaching record for the Bruins is impressive, and we are appreciative of Bruce both professionally and personally. After taking some time to fully digest everything, I felt that the direction of our team for both this season and beyond would benefit from a new voice. I want to wish Bruce, Julie, Shannon and Cole much success as a family and with their future opportunities.”

“On behalf of the Jacobs family, I’d like to thank Bruce and his family for their dedication to the Boston Bruins organization,” said Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs. “Throughout his time in both Providence and Boston, Bruce’s deep passion for the game and pride he showed in representing the franchise was undeniable. We wish Bruce, Julie and his entire family nothing but success in the future and thank them for all they’ve done for the team both on and off the ice.”

“I want to thank Bruce for his time and service to the Boston Bruins organization over the last 14 years,” said Bruins President Cam Neely. “Bruce has been a fantastic coach and has helped this team win many games and achieve success over his tenure behind the bench. I also want to extend my gratitude to Bruce and his family for everything they’ve done over the years to support the New England community and Bruins organization. We wish them continued success in the future.”

“I have the utmost confidence in Don to conduct a thorough search to identify the best candidate that is going to help our team reach its full potential,” Neely added.

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | April 24

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – In 2019, the Grim Reaper was coming after our Rock Stars with death falling upon such a diverse group of rock legends, from Long Island’s Eddie Money to Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, each passing away within two days of each other. Within a month, Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker were dead. … One of my personal favorites passed as Kofi Burbridge, who mastered the keyboards and flute with the Tedeschi Trucks Band from its founding in 2010 until his death on Feb. 15, 2019, at age 57. Kofi was fighting heart disease for the last years of his life. … Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack, widely known as “Dr. John,”was one of New Orleans’ most beloved musicians who died in 2019. Sadly, the list is long and I could go on-and-on.

In 2020-21, it was a nightmare, of course, as COVID took 6.2 million and counting.

Now, in 2022, they’re coming after our NHL favorites and goal scorers. This column has already documented the deaths of New York Islanders mainstay in Clark Gillies and the team’s best goal scorer in Michel ‘Mike” Bossy, the 50-in-50 sniper who went down to lung cancer after a career as the most efficient goal scorer in NHL history.

This week, Montreal’s Guy Lafleur, 70, was taken, passing from a battle against lung cancer. From 1976 to 1979, the Canadiens were invincible. Lafleur was scoring 50 goals and 100 points, winning a couple scoring titles in what seemed to be an effortless style of play. He was THAT good.

On one occasion, I had the pleasure to watch Lafleur play at The Forum in Montreal, a two-game weekend set against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. In 1977-78, Lafleur was battling Islanders’ center Bryan Trottier for the NHL scoring title. The Forum crowd would chant, “Guy, Guy, Guy” every time he was on the ice. In one instance, Lafleur’s linemate, Steve Shutt, scored a goal and the announcement was made (en Francais, of course) and there was polite applause for Shutt and then a thunderous reaction when it was announced, “assist, Guy Lafleur!”

Lafleur won the Art Ross Trophy as NHL points-leader in 1976-77-78, scoring 125-136-132 points, respectively, in each of those three seasons.

“You didn’t need to see Guy Lafleur’s name and number on his sweater when ‘The Flower’ had the puck on his stick. As distinctively stylish as he was remarkably talented, Lafleur cut a dashing and unmistakable figure whenever he blazed down the ice of the Montreal Forum, his long blond locks flowing in his wake as he prepared to rifle another puck past a helpless goaltender – or set up a linemate for a goal,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

“A native of Thurso, Quebec, selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1971 NHL Draft, Lafleur joined the organization with the daunting task of following in the footsteps of franchise legends Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau. He somehow met those expectations, becoming the Canadiens’ all-time leading point scorer and one of the most beloved players in franchise history – the torch was passed to him and he held it high.

“In 1974-75, his fourth year in the NHL, Lafleur transformed from productive to prolific, recording the first of his six straight seasons of at least 50 goals and 119 points. He won back-to-back Hart Trophies as League MVP in 1976-77 and 1977-78, three straight Art Ross Trophies as NHL scoring leader from 1975-76 to 1977-78, and led the playoffs in scoring three straight seasons (1977, ’78 and ’79), winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1977. On one of the most star-studded teams in hockey history, he was the marquee performer, lifting fans out of their seats chanting, ‘Guy! Guy! Guy!’ as he dazzled en route to six straight selections as NHL First-Team All-Star right winger and five Stanley Cups.

“Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, Lafleur was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League’s Centennial celebration in 2017.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills received the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award. The annual award is designed to honor a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. … Each NBA team nominated one of its players for the NBA Sportsmanship Award. From the list of 30 team nominees, a panel of league executives selected one finalist from each of the NBA’s six divisions. Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of six finalists, with nearly 300 players submitting their votes through confidential balloting conducted by the league office. … In addition to Mills (Atlantic Division), the finalists were Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo (Southeast Division), Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (Pacific Division), Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (Central Division), Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green (Northwest Division) and Memphis Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr. (Southwest Division).

Mills received 1,975 total points (58 first-place votes) in balloting of NBA players. Green finished in second place with 1,841 points (60 first-place votes). The six finalists were awarded 11 points for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for each third-place vote, five points for each fourth-place vote, three points for each fifth-place vote and one point for each sixth-place vote.

A 13-year NBA veteran from Australia, Mills won the NBA Sportsmanship Award for the first time.

STORM: According to Sporttechie and the Sports Business Journal, Amazon Prime Video renewed its streaming deal with the WNBA to show 17 nationally broadcast league games, including the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup. The streaming service also added a regional carriage agreement to stream Seattle Storm games throughout Washington State. … Approximately 30 of the Storm’s 36 regular season games will be streamed state-wide. The team’s longtime commentators, Dick Fain and Elise Woodward, will be behind the mic while Rush Media will produce the broadcasts.

59: PGATourBrunch noted in its 6-days-a-week e-News this Friday: With a magic number – 13-under (59) – Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele set the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 18-hole scoring record on Thursday. The team’s bogey-free round included 11 birdies (including Nos. 16-18) and an eagle on the par-5 second hole when Cantlay made a 27-foot, 1-inch putt. … Despite the first-round (59), there’s room for caution as no 18-hole leaders/co-leaders have converted for the win at the Zurich. That said, the duo leads by five strokes heading into Sunday’s final round at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale after shooting (59)-(68)-(60) in the first three rounds. … The format of the Zurich Classic is intriguing enough that the PGA Tour could stage a mid-season, three-weekend, three-site “May Madness”tournament with 64 two-player teams competing until they concluded with a “Final Four.” … It’d be great for bringing attention to pro golf between the Masters and the summertime majors or late summer FedEx Cup Playoffs.

TID-BITS: Why has Father Time caught up with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony but has left Chris Paul to flourish, even though the speed needed to excel as an NBA point guard is much more precious than the ability to shoot jumpers? … Did the Tampa Judge – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle – issue a ruling on washing our hands and singing Happy Birthday twice? … Before the NBA Playoffs and Play-In started, I didn’t realize that Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant couldn’t play or care less about playing defense. He is, probably, the most gifted offensive player in the league. … Speaking of the Nyets, you know the old adage: “A playoff series doesn’t start until a team wins on the road?” Peter Vecsey‘s esteemed column contributor Frank Drucker wrote: The Boston vs. Nets series doesn’t start until Nets lose a game in Teaneck, Commack, Hempstead, Uniondale, Piscataway, East Rutherford or Newark. … When Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Al Horford all play and the Celtics score ≥ 100 points, the Cs are (21-0, 1.000) in their last 21 games says Boston Sports Info. … Best wishes to retiring Villanova head coach Jay Wright, one of the very best of all-time. Wright, 60, decided to step down from his post while “on top,” and will be able to spend more time with his family. Wishing him much personal happiness and future professional success with a guess he’ll be taking the Acela to the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City quite often. … Thoughts on studio shows? … While watching Saturday night’s ESPN Countdown show before Game 3 of Celtics vs. Nets, I had to dive for the remote and hit mute. … ‘Til this day, I can NOT believe how great TNT’s studio, pregame, and postgame Sports EMMY award-winning “Inside the NBA” show is and how ESPN just can’t get it right. It’s been a total mess since 2002. … Also, Thank God for ESPN/ABC’s Mike Breen on the big-game NBA play-by-play. (Lisa Salters is pretty good, too).

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Welcome to MiLB and our coverage of the Portland Sea Dogs vs the Birmingham Rumble Ponies – yes, the Rumble Ponies. Check-out the HBP that led to the all-out brawl at Portland, then the commentary on video. Meet me on the flip side.

SO MUCH TO DELVE INTO: First, the franchise history of the Ponies: In 1976, the franchise played as the Williamsport Bills in Williamsport, Pennsylvania but soon moved to Jersey City, in 1977 and 1978, then Buffalo, New York, from 1979 through 1984.

The club returned to Williamsport in 1987 when they were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1987 and 1988, but changed affiliations to the Seattle Mariners during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. During that time, the Bills franchise was actually two separate franchises. After the 1988 season, the original owners moved the Bills to Hagerstown, Maryland, while the Eastern League franchise – based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts – moved back to Williamsport before the 1989 season.

Security fell upon the club when it was purchased by the New York Mets in 1991, and moved to Binghamton in 1992 to be crowned the Binghamton Mets.

That’s when it got interesting. In 2016, the franchise announced a plan to stay in Binghamton for the foreseeable future, but to change the team’s nickname.

The club held a “Name-the-team” contest on its website from May 17 to June 1, 2016 and the finalists were the Bullheads (for the bullhead catfish abundant in the nearby Susquehanna River), the Gobblers (for the rich hunting culture of the area, as well as the turkeys in Binghamton), the Rocking Horses (for the Triple Cities’ nickname as the “Carousel Capital of The World”), the Rumble Ponies (also a carousel tribute), the Stud Muffins(for the collections of carousel horses in Binghamton), and Timber Jockeys (for everyone who rides the carousels).

On November 3, 2016, the team announced that it would be rebranding as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and released a new logo.

Secondly, let’s dig deeper into this unique team nickname, The Rumble Ponies, as you just can’t make this stuff up: Upon announcement of the new name and branding, the club issued media information that noted the Rumble Ponies are a “fierce horse that no carousel can contain.” “The aggression and fighting spirit in the horse represents the fighting spirit of Binghamton,” team owner and President John Hughes said. “Ready to do battle. Ready to take on the world.”

They were talking about a wooden rocking horse on a merry-go-round! Not surprisingly, soon after, there were personnel changes at the GM spot.

In 2017, Hughes accepted the resignation of team GM – get this – Jim Weed. Yes, Weed quit a position he’d held since 2010 to “pursue other opportunities.” Editor’s Note: Insert wise-crack about the air quality in Jim Weed’s office when they chose “Rumble Ponies” over “Stud Muffins” righthere.

On the other side of the brawl, Sox 1B prospect Tyreque Reed was hit by the pitch and tossed the first haymaker to start the brawl. Keep in mind, if his name was Ron Artest or Jermaine O’Neal, the brawl would be playing in loops on CNN and every newscast all weekend and Reed would be met at the clubhouse door by the men in blue, a la the Hanson Brothers in Slap Shot scene.

But, in baseball, dugout/bench-clearing, bullpen-clearing, assistant equipment manager-clearing brawls – like in ice-hockey – are “a part of the game” and no one bats an eyelash.

I’ve written it before: When I’m Commish, this rule change in the first 100 days – You leave your position during an altercation: FIVE game suspension (if multiple players leave position, tough luck and the AAA team better be ready). If players are on bench and they cross the warning track during an altercation: 10 game suspension. If players leave the BULLPEN during an altercation: 50-game suspension. That’ll nip bench-clearing brawls right in the bud and do wonders for pace of game stats, too.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS: Fisticuffs in baseball ranged from the MiLB game in Portland, Maine all the way to central Texas as a Junior College team’s pitcher, Owen Woodward, put the hi jinx on the batter that just took him downtown for a two-run homer. Check out the video from Dallas FOX 4 News closely and you’ll note the umpire was beginning to take action, so there must’ve been some trash talking going on as Josh Phillips rounded the bases.

Woodward was given a four-game suspension by the umpires and league, but the school took it further to kick the pitcher off the team. Phillips was given a two-game suspension for taunting. As Warner Wolf used to say on WABC-TV 7, “Let’s go to the video tape.”

Bruins Extend Lindolm Contract

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension with defenseman Hampus Lindholm, said Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney in a statement. The deal will call for an annual cap hit of $6,500,000.

Embed from Getty Images

Lindholm, 28, was acquired by the Bruins on March 19 along with  Kodie Curran in exchange for defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

As part of the deal, the Anaheim Ducks retained 50-percent of Lindholm’s salary.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games for the Anaheim this season. The Helsingborg, Sweden native has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points.

Lindholm was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

Bruins Add to D – Acquire Lindholm

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Hampus Lindholm and defenseman Kodie Curran from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, defenseman John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick. The Anaheim Ducks will retain 50% of Lindholm’s salary.

Lindholm, 28, has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games this season. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points. The Helsingborg, Sweden native was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Curran, 32, has appeared in 37 games this season for the San Diego Gulls, recording 1 goal and 15 assists for 16 points. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman was signed as a free agent by Anaheim on June 3, 2020.

Vaakanainen, 23, has recorded four assists in 15 games for the Bruins this season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has appeared in 31 career NHL games with Boston. The Joenssu, Finland native was originally selected by Boston in the first round (18th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Moore, 31, has appeared in seven games for the Bruins this season. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound defenseman has recorded one assist and a plus-two rating. The Winnetka, IL native has appeared in 544 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Ranges, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins, tallying 38 goals and 80 assists for 118 points. Moore was originally select by Columbus in the first round (21st overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Bruins to Honor Rask March 31

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BOSTON – The Boston Bruins will honor the career of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask on Thursday, March 31 when Boston hosts the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden at 7 p.m.

Rask, who spent all 15 seasons in the NHL with the Bruins, will perform the ceremonial puck drop prior to the start of the game. The goaltender amassed a record of 308-165-66 during his time in Boston, with a 2.28 goals against average and .921 save percentage. Rask is Boston’s leader in wins (308) and is second among the franchise’s goaltenders in shutouts (52).

The Savonlinna, Finland native won multiple awards with Boston throughout his career, including the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2019-20, the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, and a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2010-11. Rask was also voted to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2014 and the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2020.

Rask announced his retirement on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Bruins Trade for Callahan

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Bruins acquired the rights to defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Boston’s seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 134 games for the Providence Friars (NCAA) for four seasons from 2018-22, tallying 13 goals and 53 assists with a plus-23 rating.

The 22-year-old blue liner was born in Franklin, MA and was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

NHL Upholds Marchand Suspension

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release and Statement) – National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension that was assessed to Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand by the Department of Player Safety for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during their game in Boston on Feb. 8.

Bettman heard Marchand’s appeal of the original decision, assessed Feb. 9, at a hearing on Feb. 16.

The incidents occurred at 19:35 of the third period. Marchand was assessed a minor penalty for roughing as well as a match penalty.

“In reaching my conclusions I have given careful consideration to Mr. Marchand’s testimony concerning his efforts to control his emotions in order to excel as an impact player who plays aggressively, but within the rules. I believe that he has already made significant strides towards achieving this goal. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Marchand’s behavior and lack of judgment in respect of these incidents did not meet acceptable NHL standards. He created a distraction which reflected poorly on himself, on his team and on the League as a whole, and as such, I find he also deserves the penalty he received. Having said that, I encourage Mr. Marchand to reflect on this experience and to use it positively in furtherance of his efforts to refine and improve his on-ice image and game for everyone’s benefit,” said Bettman in his statement.

While We’re Young (Ideas) | February 13

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TL’s Super Sunday Sports Notes | Tribute to Tuukka Rask

“You could say I lost my faith in science and progress

You could say I lost my belief in the holy Church

You could say I lost my sense of direction

You could say all of this and worse, but

If I ever lose my faith in you

There’d be nothing left for me to do,’

– Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – He came to Boston from Savonlinna, Finland by way of the 21st overall selection in the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft, a pick made by the Toronto Maple Leafs. His trade to the Bruins is high on the list of the worst trades in Maple Leafs history and that’s a lofty list of mistakes.

By 2007, when goalkeeper Tuukka Rask was first called up from the Providence Bruins to the mother ship in Boston, he would be among four players attempting to crack the Bruins’ line-up of which only two goaltenders share the daily duties. A season in Providence would pass.

In 2008, although Rask had the best save percentage (.952) among the goalies in NHL preseason play, followed by teammates Manny Fernandez(.875), Tim Thomas (.869) and Kevin Regan (.857), the Bruins kept Thomas and Fernandez on their roster.

By 2008-09, a red-hot Thomas would earn the Vezina Trophy honors as the best goalkeeper in the NHL by playing 54 games and winning 36 of them. Fernandez backed up Thomas for 27 games while Rask played in only one. Thomas and Fernandez were 34 years old while Rask was 21 that season.

Two years later, Thomas led the Boston Bruins to drink from the Cup with mask as his primary back-up. Thomas started 55 games and recorded a .938 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average. Rask started 27, but went 11-14 while posting a .918 save percentage and 2.67 GAA.

In 2012-13, with Thomas retired, Rask led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in a lock-out shortened season. He started all 22 playoff games but the Bruins came up short, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-games-2 but Rask recorded a .940 save percentage and 1.88 GAA in the 22 games. The Bruins had their starting goalkeeper and he was only 25 years old.

From that moment – on – the Boston Bruins put their faith in TUUUKKK.

Rask guarded the Bruins’ nets brilliantly, although the club would only get back to the Stanley Cup Finals one more time, losing 4-games-3 to the St. Louis Blues in 2018-19. He went 14-9 that postseason with a 2.02 GAA and a .934 save percentage.

The global pandemic and Father Time soon came a’ visiting and a series of injuries felled Rask. In the pandemic, he opted to return to his family and leave the team. It was later learned that his daughter was undergoing a medical emergency at that time. He also underwent surgery in the summer of 2021, dealing with an acetabular labrum injuries in his hip.

Rask became an unrestricted free agent but made his plans known to play with the Boston Bruins or not play at all. He attempted a comeback between January 2 and February 9 of this year, eventually starting four games with the Bruins, but he decided to retire as of February 9.

Bruins G Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have started all but four of Boston’s games and will oversee the net minding duties for the time being.

Rask went 308-165-66 over his career, hitting the incredible NHL milestones of 500 games played and 300 wins. He also surpassed the great masked one, Gerry Cheevers, to become the winningest playoff goalkeeper in Boston Bruins history. task also led Finland to the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics, including a shut-out against the USA in the medal game and a quarter-final victory over Russia on their home ice in Sochi.

Said Rask in a statement announcing his retirement from the Bruins:

“Today is a day that I hoped would never come. But now that it’s here, I feel I owe it to everyone to hear it from me. When I made the decision to have surgery on my hip last summer, I did so knowing that the road to recovery would be challenging. I also knew it was something I would have to do if I wanted to give myself a chance to play my best hockey again. The rehab, the workouts, the practices – all of it was with the intention of getting back to where I needed to be to help my teammates win games and make another run at a Stanley Cup. Over these last few weeks, I’ve realized that my body is not responding the way it needs to for me to play at the level I expect of myself and that my teammates and Bruins fans deserve.

Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from the game of hockey.

While I am sad to say goodbye to the game I love, I am so very thankful to have shared these last 15 years with the greatest teammates and fans in the best sports city in the world. We have shared so many special memories over the years – bringing the Cup back to Boston in 2011, our runs to the Final in 2013 and 2019, playing overseas in the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and China, and of course the Winter Classics. I am also so thankful that I was able to represent Finland on the world stage and win a bronze medal in the 2014 Olympics. While these experiences were all incredible, what I will remember most about all of them is the bond that I had with my teammates, coaches and team staffs, the memories that we will always have, and the friendships that will last a lifetime.

Through all the ups and downs, I am so grateful for all the support this team and the people of Boston have given me. I will miss everything that comes with representing the Boston Bruins. But now, I’m excited to spend more time with my family and friends who never stopped supporting my dream. Boston is special for so many reasons and will always be our adopted home. We look forward to remaining a part of this amazing community.

I especially want to thank the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, my coaches, the equipment staff and the rest of the team support staff for all they have done for me throughout my time with the Bruins organization. I’ve never wanted to play for any other team. I’m so proud to have worn the Spoked-B for my entire career and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Kiitos paljon translates to ‘Thanks a lot” Boston

Farewell TUUUKKK, the hockey fans of Boston never lost faith in you.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: American downhill skier Mikaela Shiffron had a rough week at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The 26-year old Olympian was disqualified from her first two races this week after missing gates and ultimately skiing off to the side of the course, head in hands and realizing her failure. The social media-verse skewered the TV/media coverage for shining the bright lights of exposure upon her misfortune. Yet, only a few days later, Shiffron did what all real pro athletes do, she competed in the Super-G race, only to finish ninth.

“I didn’t think there was a very big chance to come in and win or even medal in this race, with these women who have been skiing Super-G all season,” she said. “It felt really nice to ski that today. It was a little bit uncertain—or very uncertain. Coming back out and getting the chance to race again, was just the perfect thing to do, actually.”

She also took complete responsibility and “owned” the shortfall: “I do consider it failure,” said Shiffrin. “I think a lot of people do. It’s just tough to see that word in the headline of an article and it feels like clickbait to say, you know: ‘Crashes out!’ ‘Fails!’ ‘Disappoints the world!’ ‘Chokes’! All of it. They’re just harsh words … I failed twice to do the job that I am supposed to do. I can say that. That’s the honest truth.”

What Shiffron discovered through the experience was much more valuable than gold. She realized the amazing compassion and support of an entire nation – maybe the entire world – showing her the support she deserved.

“I would never have expected to feel in this moment, severely under-performing in an Olympics, that humans could be so kind. It’s the most surprising thing of my Olympic experience, how kind people have been in the face of my failure. I mean, it is failure – it’s okay to say that. I’m okay with that. And I’m sorry for it, but I also was trying, and I’m proud of that,’ said the downhill champion skier.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, personified. On TV and properly covered by the TV and media on hand.

ICYMI: On Saturday, February 12, William Felton Russell turned 88 years young. The 11-time NBA champion, 12-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA MVP and member of the league’s 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary all-time great teams, hailed from West Monroe, Louisiana but moved to Oakland with his family and attended University of San Francisco from 1953-56. He won a gold medal for the USA in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks but traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan.