Month: January 2021

When the Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers for their home season opener on January 21st, they hadn’t score a 5v5 goal in the young season. Enter Jack Studnicka, the Bruins 53rd overall pick in the 2017 draft.

The six foot one inch centre has been playing in the AHL for the past two seasons, scoring 23 goals last season in 60 games. Studnicka played junior hockey and was the captain with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League from 2015 to 2019. Primarily a centre, Studnicka can also draw into a right winger role, as the Bruins have centre depth. His scouting report highlighted all of his great assets, like offering plenty of scoring ability and having a good sized frame, but said he needed to work on being more consistent with his game. The 21 year old earned his first NHL point on an assist in 2019, but was still looking for his first NHL goal.

On opening night, he drew into the Bruins second line on Krejci’s right wing, with Nick Ritchie on the left wing. Going into the third period, down 2-0, Bruce Cassidy sent out the Krejci line to start the third period. Not even a minute into the third, Jack Studnicka got the Bruins on the board. David Krejci and Nick Ritchie earned as assist each, as Studnick scored on a pass from Krejci. This was not only his first NHL goal, but the Bruins first 5v5 goal of the season.

This goal was the start of a four goal comeback in the third period (where have we heard that before?). The Boston Bruins won in a shootout, with Jake DeBrusk scoring the nasty game winner. The Bruins face the Flyers again tonight at 7pm at TD Garden, as well as six other times this season. This isn’t the last time we will hear of Jack Studnicka, as David Pastrnak is out until mid-February and Studnicka will continue to draw into the lineup in his place.

Until Next Time

~ RJ

In 1958, Willie O’Ree broke barriers and became the first black player to compete in an NHL game. 63 years later, his number 22 will be retired into the TD Garden rafters. Even though O’Ree played 42 NHL games for the Boston Bruins, scoring a total of 14 points in his NHL career, his legacy still continues today.  This season, the Boston Bruins will add two emblems to their helmets: one to honor Travis Roy and his legacy and one to honor Willie O’Ree and his commitment to equality. 

Hockey players either choose random numbers or numbers that mean something to them when entering the league. What does the number 22 signify? According to numerologists, 22 is considered one of the most powerful numbers, as it is a number of precision and balance. The number two symbolizes duality, balance, adaptability, insight and selflessness.

O’Ree’s importance to the NHL deeply influenced later players. Joel Ward named O’Ree as one of his inspirations and voiced his opinion that the number 22 should be retired league wide, like Jackie Robinson’s in the MLB. Madison Bowey had been taught by his Black Canadien father about O’Ree’s importance and had selected the number 22 in honor of Wille O’Ree. 

With his number being retired soon, Willie O’Ree joins players like Eddie Shore, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Terry O’Reilly and Ray Bourque in having their number retired by the Boston Bruins. 

Other Boston Bruins who have worn the number 22:

• Ed Kryzanowski (1951)
• Bill Ezinicki (1952) 
• Joe Klukay (1953-55)
• Norm Corcoran (1953-55)
• Floyd Smith (1955-57)
• Ed Panagabko (1956-57
• Dick Cherry (1957)
• Willie O’Ree (1958-1961)
• Larry Hillman (1958-1960)
• Dick Meissner (1960-62)
• Irv Spencer (1963)
• Bill Knibbs (1965)
• Bob Dillabough (1966-67)
• Jim Lorentz (1969-70)
• Grant Erickson (1969)
• Bill Lesuk (1969)
• Tom Webster (1969)
• Ivan Boldirev (1971-72)
• Chris Oddleifson (1973-74)
• Rick Adduono (1976)
• Brad Park (1976-83)
• Mike Gillis (1984)
• Butch Goring (1985)
• Michael Thelven (1986-1990)
• Bob Beers (1992)
• Jozef Stumpel (1993-95)
• Rick Tocchet (1996-97)
• Ken Baumgartner (1998-99)
• Mikko Eloranta (2000-2002)
• Dennis Bonvie (2002)
• Michal Grosek (2003-2004)
• Brian Leetch (2006)
• Shean Donovan (2007)
• Shawn Thornton (2008-2014)
• Peter Cehlarik (2019-2020)
• Craig Smith (2021) (changed to #12)

Congratulations Willie O”Ree, hopefully your story and legacy continue to inspire others.

Until Next Time

~RJ

For 14 seasons, the big bad Bruins have been lead by a six foot nine beast, Zdeno Chara. The 43 year old defenseman has signed with the Washington Capitals on a one year deal, worth $795,000. The Bruins did offer him a contract, but it was as a seventh defenseman, in a more reduced role. Winning the Cup in 2011, and reaching the Cup Finals three times, Chara is still hungry for more. His role on the Capitals will likely have him playing on their third defensive pair and on the penalty kill, providing his veteran leadership.

In a Zoom chat, Chara said that “I still have gas, and I still want to go out there and do my thing” and that he didn’t want any regrets by not trying to prove it.

Joining the Bruins in July 2006, the big man signed a five year deal. He was named captain of the squad the same season, taking over for Joe Thornton who was traded to the Sharks. Over the next 14 seasons, Zdeno Chara lead the Bruins to a 2011 Stanley Cup win, an appearance in the Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019, as well as holding the record for hardest shot with a stunning 108.8mph, winning the Norris trophy in 2009, Mark Messier Leadership award in 2011, and was introduced to the IIHF All-time Slovakia Team in 2020.

Regular Season	During Playoffs
Games Played: 1,022	Games Played: 150
Goals: 148	Goals: 15
Assists: 368	Assists: 41
Points: 481	Points: 56
Penalties in minutes: 1,055	Penalties in minutes: 159

With Chara now gone, the longest tenured Bruin defenseman is Kevan Miller, arriving in 2011. Miller has been injury riddled the last few seasons, and his status for the upcoming season is unknown. The second longest tenured Bruin defenseman is Matt Grzelcyk, who arrived in 2012. By losing both Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara, the Bruins lost two veteran defensemen who could help shape and mold an upcoming younger team.

Thank you Zdeno Chara, for all of my hockey life you have been the face of the Boston Bruins I know and love. You didn’t stand for any kind of “rookie hazing” and learned multiple languages so that you could communicate with new teammates and make them feel at home. I will still root for you, as the Washington Capitals will play against the Boston Bruins eight times this upcoming season. I wish you got your storybook ending, going out on top with the Bruins but hopefully we will see you with the Bruins in the future. Lastly, thank you for mentoring players into future leaders, and assuming the Bruins will upgrade Patrice Bergeron to the next captain, you’ve done an amazing job co-leading with him.

Do you think the Bruins will retire #33? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time

~RJ