BOSTON – The players from the 2010-11 Boston Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup – the franchise’s first title in 39 years – have a special bond that will last a lifetime.
Those Bruins players persevered through plenty of adversity, including several painful playoff setbacks, before finally putting it all together in a memorable run to a championship.
The 2011 squad was featured prominently Thursday night at TD Garden when its captain, Zdeno Chara, had his No. 33 retired to the rafters at TD Garden during a special ceremony before the Bruins played the Seattle Kraken.
Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Mark Recchi, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask, Dennis Seidenberg, Adam McQuaid and Andrew Ference (who also hosted the ceremony) were among Chara’s 2011 teammates in attendance for his historic night.
Five of them – Bergeron, Krejci, Rask, Recchi and Seidenberg – brought Chara’s No. 33 banner onto the ice.
Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg and Patrice Bergeron carry out the banner during the ceremony for Zdeno Chara’s number retirement before the game against the Seattle Kraken at the TD Garden.
Chara accomplished so much in his career, especially during his 14 seasons with the Bruins from 2006-07 through 2019-20, but no accolade compares to winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Chara gave his 2011 teammates a shoutout during his speech.
Why was it important to Chara to acknowledge his teammates from that special season?
“They deserve to and it’s just — without championships, you are not going to be successful,” Chara said. “You are not going to be recognized. The championships, that’s what they do. They raise everyone, they extend careers for everyone. Everybody does better with the championships. You create dynasties, you create stories, you create memories, you create what we are experiencing tonight.
“It’s very simple. Once you win a championship, everything gets so much better and greater and better, for everyone, and the most beautiful things about it. You create extended families with each other. It’s true, you have bonds, you have friendships that are now sealed forever. We see each other. It’s amazing. It’s like you’ve seen your brother for real, and you can trust the person, you know everything about him, and anytime anybody needs something, you’re there for him.”
There are many memorable moments and images from Chara’s career, but nothing compares to him lifting the Stanley Cup in Vancouver on the night of June 15, 2011.
It’s the highest the legendary trophy has ever been hoisted. And it was the culmination of many years of hard work and never giving up when so many people doubted him.
