Centennial Stories: Handwritten Memories of Boston Garden

Bruins, NHL legends remembered the old building on Causeway upon its closing

There were too many memories from the Boston Garden’s nearly 70-year existence when it closed its doors in 1995.

However, a number of media, NHL, and Bruins icons—many of whom have since departed—tried

their best, in handwritten and typewritten letters to the team’s public relations department, to

remember some of their favourites following the building’s closure.

Following the Bruins’ exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens on September 26, 1995, as

part of “The Last Hurrah” celebration, those memories were published in a special commemorative

programme.

Here are some of the letters that were included in the program:

WESTON ADAMS, JR., BOSTON BRUINS PRESIDENT (1969-75)

It’s hard to choose just one or two favourite recollections. My relatives delivered the

The NHL and the Bruins gave the building of the Garden the necessary rental assurances, as well as

to Boston and the United States. My family has owned the hockey team for three generations and

has an unbreakable bond with the Garden. For the Adams, the Garden represented family and a

way of life rather than a sequence of occasions and anniversaries.

JEAN BELIVEAU, MONTREAL CANADIENS FORWARD (1953-71)

“It was in the Boston Garden that I took over from Toe Blake during a game and coached the

Canadiens for two periods. I am so happy to have played in this great building against tremendous

hockey players where each game was hard-fought,” the author writes. “I have always thought that

the Boston fans have seen great hockey over all those years in the venerable Boston Garden.”

LEO BOVIN, BOSTON BRUINS DEFENSEMAN (1954-66)

“The audiences were merely mediocre the year I arrived from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1953–

1954, but by the end of the season, the Garden was packed with 13,909. We lost four games in a row

when we played Montreal in the Semi-Finals, but the crowd still gave us a standing ovation. That

absolutely jumps out to me. It felt like the crowds were very close to the rink, with the upper

balconies almost on top of us, so it was amazing to play in the Boston Garden. I cherished it.

DON CHERRY, BOSTON BRUINS HEAD COACH (1974-79)

The Boston Garden holds many special memories for me, but the one that sticks in my mind the

most is Bobby Orr’s goal against the Atlanta Flames in 1974. Bobby was playing that game of his

(never giving the puck to the other team) and killing penalties. When the team came after him, he

would move in front of his net and stand behind it. He would hide beneath his net if they pursued

him there. He was murdering the penalty in the meantime.

This evening, the Flames forced him along the boards rather than pursuing him. Bobby skated into

their end in the right corner and put it into high gear as he slowly made his way along the right side

of the boards. The Flames did not rush him because they were afraid he would go behind his net

again. The goalie, among others, fell in the corner as they all rushed at him. Bobby launched

himself behind their net, emerged ahead of it, and backhanded it into the vacant net. This was the

first and last time I have ever witnessed a crowd enthralled by a goal; we just sat there on the bench

for 10 seconds of quiet.

“With his head down and his stick resting on his pads, Bobby showed his embarrassment at having

embarrassed the Flames.” He was nearly saying, “Sorry, guys,” instead of hot dogging or bouncing

around. Bobby embodied class and was the greatest person to have ever lived or will ever live.”

FRED CUSICK, BOSTON BRUINS BROADCASTER (1957-97)

“When I was eleven years old and living in Brighton, Massachusetts, Mr. William Doherty, our

next-door neighbour, who had season tickets, invited me to a Bruins game against Chicago on

December 21, 1930. The Bruins prevailed 4-1, and the incomparable Eddie Shore scored a goal

when we were seated on the west end balcony. My debut broadcast came on October 12, 1952, when

the Bruins were playing Montreal. I had taken over for Frank Ryan, who had retired. Since the

score was tied at one, there was no opportunity to cry “Score!”

WOODY DUMART, BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD (1935-46; 1953-54)

“I have many memories throughout my career at Boston Garden, but a few of my favorites include

winning two Stanley Cups in 1939 (on Garden ice) and 1941 and being honored by the Boston fans

with Milt Schmidt [on March 18, 1952] and being reunited with Bobby Bauer (who had retired) for

the game.”

FERNY FLAMAN, BOSTON BRUINS DEFENSEMAN (1944-51; 1954-61)

“My recollections started when I played for three championships with the old Boston Olympics

when I moved here almost 50 years ago. Another memorable event I can still clearly recall is the

first Beanpot victory we had at Northeastern University—the first in 27 years in the Boston Garden.

Everyone stood up and cheered while the crowd remained in place. Nobody ever seemed to think

we could pull it off, but we did. Another is the night they gave me as an honour and gave me a car,

and my mother got out of it. I counted several handkerchiefs. The evening was quite emotional.

Additionally, Boston’s fans are amazing; in my opinion, they’re the finest in the league. Those

things stand out in my memory.

BEP GUIDOLIN, BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD (1942-44; 1945-46); HEAD COACH (1973-74)