Bruins ‘lead the way’ with honor and respect this postseason
The horror that occurred on Marathon Monday shocked not only Boylston St., but also the entire country that day. Since then, some of the pieces from that day have been picked up and with the help of the Boston Bruins; the city is starting to get its pride back. When the team set out on their quest for the Stanley Cup this post season, they knew that this finish was not just going to be for them, but for the entire city of Boston.
Late Monday night following a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg took the podium for postgame questions. The workhorse defenseman met with the media wearing a playoff tradition the Bruins began since the Marathon bombings. The Army Ranger camouflage jacket with a Bruins patch on it has been given to the player of the game after a win that exemplifies the meaning “Rangers lead the way.”
Andrew Ference, the mastermind behind the vintage Bruins jacket that became the team’s player of the game uniform after each 2011 postseason victory, came home with the jacket when he paid a visit to a Georgia Ranger’s training camp. Army Sgt. Lucas Carr, who has since established a special friendship with both Ference and Shawn Thornton, was humbled when he heard of the Bruin’s honorable salute.
Photo via USA TODAY Sports
“Seeing the guys wear the jacket, I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been getting emails and Facebook messages left and right,” Carr told Boston CBS Local. “The guys that are seeing this are in awe. They’re very humbled: ‘Oh, my God, this professional hockey team is using our insignia, out there performing for us. We’re their heroes.’ Hockey players can have heroes, too. That’s what Andrew’s conveyed for this team.”
It’s hard to compare the work of an elite Army Ranger to a hockey player. Just to wear the customized Ranger Tab, an individual must complete two months of specialized training in a combat leadership area and small-unit tactics. When the Bruins put on that meaningful jacket, they know honor associated with it.
Photo via ESPN
“…We have a lot of respect for what [the Army Rangers are] doing,” Ference told the Boston Herald. “We know that we provide entertainment for them and a lighter part of some of their days. I think most guys feel pretty honored to get [the Army Ranger jacket] after the game.”
For the sake of the Army Rangers, the lives that were lost on April 15, and the entire city of Boston, let’s hope the Boston Bruins can battle for two more wins and have the rangers lead the way down Boylston St. with the Stanley Cup in hand.
