By: Evan Michael | Follow me on Twitter @00EvanMichael
He’s making a list and checking it twice. Pasta’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice for this Christmas. And so are his generous teammates!
Jeremy Swayman was leading the way, man, as the B’s began their annual “Holiday Toy Shopping” event today. In good spirits, players championed the spirit of the giving season by going up and down the Target aisles looking for fun gifts.
And who will be on the receiving end of this generational generosity? According to the team’s official website:
“The Bruins annual holiday toy shopping event, which was started by Hall of Fame Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque, has been carried on throughout the years by many of the team’s players.
The toys are purchased through donations from the Bruins players, coaching staff, and the Boston Bruins Foundation and will be donated to over 600 children unable to celebrate the holidays at home.
[Some of the] hospitals receiving toy donations [in the past] have included Boston Children’s Hospital, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Shriners Hospital for Children, Franciscan Hospital for Children, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.”
NHLBruins.com
Happy kids will be (read in Yoda voice, of course) with this gift, no doubt, as Star Wars has always been a star celebration for B’s players — and not just Swayman as this Black n’ Gold blogger so “FORCE-fully” pointed out when championing Charlie McAvoy’s commitment to community recently.
That’s why the B’s annual “Holiday Toy Shopping” means so much to the Greater Boston community. Because it shows the true joy the players have in giving joy to kids, fans and families who need it most over the holidays.
And the Bruins are certainly making the most of another break in their already lopsided Fall schedule to take advantage of their time away from the ice to spend some time playing Santa.
While Pasta will be giving the gift of DJ Barbie’s for Christmas 2021 (as shown above), Jakub Zboril will apparently be giving the gift of Pasta himself (as seen below), LOL!
A “priceless” purchase indeed for all boys and girls throughout Boston!
Linus Ullmark will look to make his mark through some cool electronic toys for the boys. Taylor Hall, after strolling and rolling by a games and dolls display, hopes to add smiles that way for the girls. And team captain Patrice Bergeron, seen just a few aisles over, perhaps has puzzles and Legos in his plans for both!
Speaking of building blocks, Bergy — who leads the event after taking over from former playing partner P.J. Axelsson — is all about building this solid reputation for his teammates on and off the ice. They have each other’s backs just like they have the community’s.
Which is why the B’s are so great at giving back for the holidays.
You know who else will be “having a time” once all these presents are delivered to them in December? The hundreds and hundreds of area kids — be they sick in bed or in the hospital — who look forward to their favorite players donning not just Black N’ Gold jerseys but those all-too-familiar Red and White caps this time of the year.
Yet another reason, thanks to the Boston Bruins, why it’s called “the most wonderful.”
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