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Boston Hockey

When it’s too cold to walk around Boston Harbor and the Red Sox are in the off-season, Boston has another favorite past-time: hockey. With its college rivalries, Stanley Cup wins, and even a historic Zamboni tale, Boston is a hockey town like none other. The New England city is most renowned for its National Hockey League team, the Boston Bruins. Over the years, the team has one several Stanely Cup Championships and all-stars such as Bobby Orr on their roster. But Boston is also home to major college-level teams, infamous hockey rivalries, and a city full of fans that want nothing more than for their home team to win.

Boston Bruins History

The Boston Bruins joined the National Hockey League in 1924, becoming the first NHL team in the United States. The Bruins are part of the Original Six—the first six teams to join the NHL that still play in present day. Businessman Charles Adams funded the Boston team, which played (and won) its first game in 1924 against the Montreal Maroons. Adams hired Art Ross as the team’s general manager. In the team’s third season, Ross signed players from the Western Hockey League including star defense-man Eddie Shore.

In 1928, the team moved to the newly built Boston Garden. Later that season, the Boston Bruins, led by a star line-up featuring Dit Clapper, beat the New York Rangers to win the 1929 Stanley Cup. The winning roster included famous players like Dutch Gainor, Eddie Shore, Lionel Hitchman, and goalie Cecil “Tiny” Thompson. It was the team’s first of many Stanley Cup wins, with victories following in 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, and 2011.

The Boston Bruins were also the first NHL team to use a Zamboni on their home ice. The original machine, purchased in 1954, is now on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. In 1995, the Boston Bruins made TD Garden their home ice, having played at Boston Garden since 1928.

Although they are known for their bold uniforms, the team’s original colors were brown and yellow. The Bruins updated to black and gold in 1939. The word “Bruin” comes from the Dutch word for brown, which is also an old English term for a brown bear.

Bruins Hall of Fame Hockey Players

As one of the oldest teams in the National Hockey League, many former Boston players are now in the Hall of Fame. Most notable of these, however, is defense-man Bobby Orr, who joined the team in 1966. Orr is often called the “greatest player of all time”, and is a favorite of former Boston-coach-turned-TV-commentator Don Cherry. Other Boston players who were inducted into the Hall of Fame Hall of Fame include the team’s first star Eddie Shore, high-scoring Phil Esposito, and goaltender Gerry Cheevers. In 1958, Willie O’Ree—the first black player in the NHL—played left wing with the Boston Bruins.

College Hockey in Boston

When it comes to college hockey, there are four big Boston teams in the game. Every February, teams from Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, and Northeastern University go head to head for bragging rights as the best. This annual event, first held in December of 1952, is called the Beanpot Tournament. The event is now held at TD Garden in early February, and has inspired a sister event held for women’s hockey players, which is held the day after the men’s tournament.

Although there are infamous college rivalries between all the schools, chief is the rivalry between the Boston University Terriers and the Boston College Eagles. The competitive spirit is often called the Green Line rivalry, as the schools are both along the subway Green Line on Commonwealth Avenue. Boston University’s team is Division I, and since their first game in 1918, they’ve won about half of the Beanpot Tournaments as well as national championships.

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Boston Hockey