Bruins Optimistic About Season and The Winter Classic

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

The Winter Classic is an important part of the NHL schedule, especially when your team is a participant.

For the members of the Boston Bruins, the Winter Classic is a unique experience, one that transcends all other regular season games and, as one player pointed out, with the amount of media coverage, transcends some playoff matches.

The Bruins are doing their best to treat tomorrow’s tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers as any other game. That said, even the likes of NHL veteran Mark Recchi, sees this game as a unique and exciting event.

Recchi went on to say that, despite the snow, that it was not difficult to see. On the topic of next’s year’s game Recchi was stumped at first, but finally spit out New York, with the Rangers and Islanders be a must from his standpoint. “If you are going to have a game in New York, you gotta have the two rivalries."

I asked Recchi about his unique perspective of once being a member of the Flyers and now being a member of the Bruins and what that meant to him.

“Obviously, Philly Boston, you think hockey, you think, wow, it’s gonna be a great game because, for the most part, over the years both teams have been very good”, replied Recchi.

“It’s great to (have been) part of both organizations, I had a great time in Philly, it was the most time I’ve spent with one organization, so I have some great history there, some fun history and some great friends. At the same time, I am having a great time here. I love the Boston market, I love the city, I love the city and it’s gonna be a lot of fun for me. The game is gonna be terrific”.

Many of the players stated that, due to the snow, stick handling, while not an “issue”, would be a little more difficult. That said, nobody is ready to take a seat to miss tomorrow’s tilt.

Tukka Rask, who is expected to be on the bench for the game, stood by his locker with his customized “Fenway Mask” in hand. It looked awesome, with a gruesome looking bear ready to rip a Yankees jersey to shreds, which was also prominent. It’s a shame that, outside of the warm ups, he probably won’t get a chance to have it on display.

For his part, Tim Thomas had his own unique mask, one which featured Fred Cusick, the Bruins play-by-play announcer and radio broadcaster for 45 years. “Fred Cusick, his picture is on the mask. Apparently one of his last Facebook entries before he passed away, he said something to the effect of, “I can’t wait for the Bruins to start again. I can’t wait to watch Tim Thomas.” I thought it was a way to honor a revered announcer from the Boston area for so many years. Indeed Mr. Thomas!

Until next time,

Peace!