For the past century the Bruins have served as one of the NHL’s flagship franchises and are a team that’s been at the center of nearly every significant development in league history.
Their impact, both on and off the ice is unprecedented.
Not only were they the first American NHL team, but within five years of their founding in 1924 American NHL teams outnumbered their Canadian counterparts six to four. They broadcast their games on radio from Day One and even featured a between periods feature delivered in French to the team’s many French-Canadian fans by the brother-in-law of broadcaster Frank Ryan.
Boston’s star defenseman Eddie Shore served as hockey’s Babe Ruth in an era where he inspired the building of new arenas in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and Toronto. And following decades of sold-out games (13,909) on Causeway Street that showcased the likes of the famed Kraut Line of Schmidt, Dumart, and Bauer, the arrival of defenseman Bobby Orr in 1966 forever changed both the fortunes of the franchise, league, and the game itself. For during Orr’s all-too-brief decade-long career the NHL tripled in size while also securing its first national TV deal with CBS. In addition, following the Bruins Stanley Cup victories in 1970 and 1972, player salaries increased exponentially, a rival league (WHA) was formed, and countless hockey rinks were constructed across New England and the Northeast.
The teams of Orr and Esposito, along with Don Cherry’s rough and tumble Lunchpail AC helped inspire the US Miracle on Ice team of 1980 while paving the way for generations of American NHL players. Likewise, the teams of Bourque and Neely broke the Montreal jinx in 1988 as part of the team’s record-setting string of 29 consecutive playoff appearances. In recent years the 2011 Stanley Cup champions launched their Duck Boats in an era defined by the heroics of Rask, Chara, Thomas, Bergeron, and Krejci. And, on an inbound green or orange line train to North Station, I imagine a Gallery God vintage grandparent made the apt comparison to their grandchild of ever gritty Leo Labine to Brad Marchand while on their way to Sunday’s 100thanniversary matinee date with Les Canadiens.
The Original Six are now the Original 32 in a league in which the Bruins laid the foundation in 1924.
Here’s to the next 100 years.
