Ice Hockey

Boston BruinsProducts Relating to 'Boston Bruins'

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team and a member of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is based in Boston, Massachusetts and plays in the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Boston Bruins as a professional hockey franchise was founded in 1924. The Bruins were the first American team in the NHL and named hockey legend Art Ross as the team's inaugral General Manager. Along with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks: the Boston Bruins are an original six hockey team.

THE EARLY YEARS

After the lobbying of a Boston grocery tycoon, known as Charles Adams, the NHL expanded to Boston. Adams was able to convince the NHL to expand to America. After hiring Art Ross, Adams wanted a logo and jersey color scheme for his new franchise. Art came up with the Bruins; A bear that is quick and untamed. Also, bruins do not hibernate in the winter which is another convienant fact that could be associated with a professional ice hockey team. Adams then decided to administer his team's color scheme as brown and gold. The same color scheme that his grocery chain had. The Boston Bruins finished in last place during its inaugral season. However, the next year the Bruins missed the playoffs by a mere one point. In the 1928-1929 season the Bruins won their first ever, Stanley Cup.

STANLEY CUP VICTORIES

The Bruins won Stanley Cups in the following years:

• 1928-29
• 1938-39
• 1940-41
• 1969-70
• 1971-72

Starting in 1966, after the drafting of the Bruins' great defenseman Bobby Orr, their team was unofficially known as "The Big Bad Bruins". They meritted the name from their physical style of play and abundance of talent. The team went on to win two Stanley Cups in this period. The last being in 1972, which is the most recent Boston Bruins' Stanley Cup victory.

RETIRED JERSEY NUMBERS

• 2 Eddie Shore 1926-1940
• 3 Lionel Hitchman 1925-34
• 4 Robert G. Orr 1966-76
• 5 Aubrey "Dit" Clapper 1927-47
• 7 Phil Esposito 1967-75
• 8 Cam Neely 1986-96
• 9 Johnny Bucyk 1955-78
• 15 Milt Schmidt 1936-55
• 24 Terry O'Reilly 1972-85
• 77 Raymond Bourque 1979-2000

BOSTON BRUINS OF TODAY

When team owner, Jeremy Jacobs, and General Manager of the Boston Bruins, Peter Chiarelli, agreed to fire ex head coach Dave Lewis (2006-07) he hired Claude Julien to replace him. Julien is the head coach and has deemed Zdeno Chara captain for the 2007-2008 season.

Julien's inaugral season (2007-08) will also be the inaugral season of the Boston Bruins current uniform set. The Bruins' and their black and gold uniforms are a member of the Northeast Division, which is a part of the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins' minor league affiliates are the Providence Bruins and the Johnstown Chiefs. The Providence Bruins, also known as the "Baby B's" are located in Providence, Rhode Island and are a member of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The Johnstown Chiefs are located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and are a member of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

boston bruins

Article Published: Tuesday 4th December 2007