I just thought of another connection I have with the Bruins. My first year out of college, I was teaching in Boston (Dorchester - The neighborhood I grew up in). I got a coaching job with Archbishop Williams,coaching the LBs, and the OL, and played with Quincy Giants in the old atlantic coast league.
At that time most of my HS games were on Sunday in the Catholic Conference. As the youngest coach I was usually sent on the road to scout next week's opponent. But on Monday I was given the job of being the HC of the JV team, which was made up of all the Sophs and Jrs who hadn't played much on Sunday. Needless to say, I barely knew what I was doing. Actually to say I "barely" knew what I was doing would be an exaggeration.
Well, it was either in my first of 2nd year, I had a young sophmore QB who was tough enough to also be a LB on Defense. His name was Mike O'Connell. Yes the Same Mike O'Connell who many years later would become the GM of the Bruins, and be responsible for drafting several of the key players on this Stanley Cup team.
Mike would have become a great football player. You could see it even then. But his old man was a ****. He took Mike out of school after his Sophmore year and sent him to Canada to play Jr. hockey. Maybe it was the right decision because he eventually had a decent career in the NHL with Chicago IIRC, and a decent career in management
He also provided me with one of my favorite memories in coaching. That first year we had taken the team to St Michael's College for a week of 3 a days. It was a tough camp, and St Michael become the Patron St of the team. Just before the KO the whole team would come together, there would be a quick Hail Mary, and then one of captains would yell out "St Michael" and the rest of the team would respond with "Pray for us!" and they would all run out to the field to begin the game.
Well the same tradition carried over the the JV game over which I presided. It should be noted that I was the token Jew in the Catholic Conference, so when it came time to do the Hail Mary, I would turn to one of the Captains that week and say "Jimmy", and he'd start the Hail Mary, then finish with, "St Michael", and the team would respond "pray for us" and then they'd run out on the field for the game just like the Varsity
It was the last game of the JV season, when OConnell, who was a true leader, even then, was one of the Captains. As usual we got together just before the KO. The hail Mary was said, as usual, the 'St Michael, pray for us' was said as usual....BUT this time they didn't run out to the field. Then OConnell yelled "Star of David" to which the team responded "Pray for us"....THEN they ran out of the field.
It was a nice gesture by the kids to a coach who was only a few years older than they were, and still learning. Whose major skill was was the ability to do head butts with them before games without a helmet. I never forgot it.
I know this has little to do with the tread, but thanks for indulging an old man with his memories.
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