By: BNG Staff | Follow Us On Twitter @BlackNGoldPod
Below are ten interesting things about the National Hockey League’s longest United States franchise team that may surprise you. The Boston Bruins are 6 time Stanley Cup Winners. They have won the President’s Trophy three times, the Conference Championship three times, and are 26-time division winners. The Bruins are one of the oldest teams in the NHL and will be celebrating their 100th year as a team in 2024. Today, we are going to share 10 interesting facts about the team with you.
#1 – The Bruins were one of the Original 6
Between the years 1942 and 1967, there were only sis teams that played in the NHL – the Bruins were one of these teams. The other five were Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
#2 – The Bruins were the first American team to join the NHL
When the Bruins joined (what is now) the NHL in 1924, they were the first and only American team. This would continue to be the case for another ten years.
#3 – The Bruins rostered the NHL’s first black player
The Boston Bruins were the first NHL team to sign a black player. The player was the legendary Willie O’Ree.
Now the NHL hands out the annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award in his honor to “recognize the individual who has worked to make a positive impact on his or her community, culture or society to make people better through hockey.”
#4 – The Bruins used to play in the Matthews Arena
The Bruins began their hockey journey in the Matthews Arena in 1924. The Arena is the oldest ice hockey rink in the world and is still used today. The area can be found at Northeastern University.
#5 – The Bruins have had 52 alumni and 7 staff members inducted into the Hall of Fame
While 52 isn’t a large number of players to have in the hall of fame, having seven staff members is.
These seven staff members are referred to as Hall of Fame builders, and they were inducted for the work they have done to build up the sport of hockey. The first two broadcasters to join the hall of fame came from the Bruins’ roster.
#6 – The Bruins have 11 retired numbers
The numbers are 2 (Eddie Shore), 3 (Lionel Hitchman), 4 (Bobby Orr), 5 (Aubrey “Dit” Clapper), 7 (Phil Esposito), 8 (Cam Neely), 9 (Johnny Bucyk), 15 (Milt Schmidt), 16 (Rick Middleton), 24 (Terry O’Reilly), and 77 (Ray Bourque).
All NHL teams have retired the number 99 in honor of Wayne Gretzky.
They are also the only team in the Original six that hasn’t retired the number 1 shirt.
#7 – When the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 1941 Pat McReavy’s name was misspelled in the engraving
Poor Pat McReavy had been forced to put up with years of his name being misspelled in team records, team photos, and even articles about him.
When the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 1941, the engraver spelled his name wrong on the cup. Then, when the Replica Cup was made in 1957, they replicated the mistake as a tribute to McReavy.
#8 – The Bruins are 4th on the list of most Stanley Cups won by an NHL franchise
The only teams that have won the Stanley Cup more than the Bruins (six times) are:
- Detroit Red Wings (11)
- Toronto Maple Leaves (13)
- Montreal Canadiens
#9 – Ray Bourque was Boston’s longest-serving captain
If you are a Bruins fan, then you will recognize the name Ray Bourque. Bourque played ice hockey for Canada and competed at the Olympics, but he is perhaps most famous for his 21 seasons with the Bruins.
He was on All-Star teams 19 times, 13 on the first team, and six on the second team. He sadly never won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins, but he did win one with the Colorado Avalanches.
Do you think the Bruins have a chance of winning the Stanley Cup again in 2021-22, bet on it at https://www.fanduel.com/sbk/nhl-picks.
#10 – Tim Thomas had a .938 save record in the 2010 season
Former Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas holds the all-time record for the highest saves recorded in a season. Thomas ended the 2010/11 season with a .938 save record. This performance helped the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup in nearly 40 years. He also won the Conn Smythe trophy that year as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP.
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