The Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are Boston's beloved NHL team. The Bruins have had their ups and downs, but like any Boston sports, remain heroes year in and year out.  The team has hosted several NHL hall-of-famers, including the legendary Bobby Orr, and has won many Stanley Cup titles, including for the 2010-2011 season.

History of the Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins were established in 1924 as one of the Original Six to join the National Hockey League. They play in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference and their team colors are black, gold, and white. They won their first Stanley Cup in 1929, and then again in 1939 and 1941.

The Bruins were part of the Original Six, along with the Detroit Redwings, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs, to play in the NHL until the expansion of 1967. The Bruins were at a disadvantage during that time, along with the Chicago and New York teams. All six teams had exclusive rights to negotiate agreements with the best players within 50 miles of their stadiums. This meant that Detroit, Montreal, and Toronto had access to a better talent pool.

The Bruins won two more Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972, when the legendary Bobby Orr was on their roster, before entering into a championship drought of nearly four decades.

Boston Bruins Home Ice

The Boston Bruins’ original home ice was at the Boston Arena, now known as Northwestern University’s Mathew’s Arena.  They played at Boston arena from Christmas Eve, 1924 (their first winning home game), until 1928. They then moved to the Boston Garden until, in 1995, they relocated to TD Garden along with the Celtics. Their current stadium is near some of Boston’s most famous attractions like the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall.

Ownership

The Charles Adams family owned the Boston Bruins when they were first established, but sold them to Storer Broadcasting for the 1972-73 season. Two years later they changed hands again, going to Jeremy Jacobs of Delware North Companies. The team did well competitively under his ownership, breaking their drought to win their sixth Stanley Cup in 2011.

Famous Bruins Players

Bobby Orr is perhaps the most famous Boston Bruins player. He won the Calder Trophy in 1967 as a rookie and went on to become known as one of the best hockey players of all time for his skill. Other notables include Peter McNab, a high scorer and versatile player, Rick Middleton, who was traded to Boston from New York and found great success with his new team, and top scorers like Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Wayne Cashman, Ken Hodge, Terry O'Reilly, and Cam Neely.

Rivalries

The Boston Bruins had strong rivalries during the Original Six days. The small number of teams playing in the NHL meant that players often developed personal conflicts with their competition. Today, Bruins fans consider the Montreal Canadiens their biggest rivals, on a par with the conflict between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees in baseball. The frequency of games between the two teams only increases this less-than-friendly competition.

Fan Loyalty

Fans remain loyal to the Boston Bruins through the team's ups and downs, despite the long period without making it to the Playoffs after 1972. The team's 2011 Stanley Cup win revitalized Bostonian fanship. To celebrate, Bostonians dressed up historic statues, like the portrayal of George Washington on horseback in the Boston Public Garden, in Bruins shirts.

Bruins Music

Fans associate certain music with the Boston Bruins. During the team's game broadcasts in 1967 on WSBK, the station used "Nutty," an instrumental rock version of The Nutcracker's overture, for each opening. The song soon became synonymous with the team, and it can still be heard at some games at the TD Garden. A 1920s song called "Paree" is used to welcome the Bruins onto the ice. This tradition originated with organist John Kiley in the 1950s.

Other music associated with the Bruins includes "Karnkraft 400" by Zombie Nation, which celebrates home ice goals, and "Dirty Water" by the Standells, which is played after their home victories.

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