If you were to try to list all of the star players in the NHL that you’d like to watch behind the scenes for 36 hours, Patrice Bergeron may be somewhere at the bottom of that list. That’s no knock on Bergeron so much as it is a testament to the way the 26-year-old carries himself as a constant professional.
Regardless, on Wednesday night, Bergeron starred on NHL 36, a show that followed him for the 36 hours leading up to and through the Bruins’ overtime win in Phoenix last week.
Some of the highlights included Brad Marchand accidentally telling the camera that Bergeron is their captain, teammates universally praising Bergeron’s work ethic and some action shots of Bergeron’s flashiest plays: backchecking and shot blocking.
What stood out the most, though, was Bergeron making this claim.
“I don’t have any superstitions,” he said, “but I do have some, I guess, routines.”
Immediately following that sentence, Bergeron listed all of the things he does before a game, including:
- Taping three sticks while standing directly in front of his locker stall
- Using black tape on the blade and white tape on the handle
- Arranging his water bottles the same way on his right side, in a line
Oh, and he’s been doing things the exact same way since he was 16.
It was a reminder that all athletes — even the most composed ones — have their little quirks. Just don’t call them superstitions.
Photo of the Day
Superstitious? No! Just make sure those water bottles are all lined up in perfect order, though. Just in case.
Screen shots from NBC Sports Network
Quote of the day
“I didn’t know you were a girl. I apologize.”
–West Virginia safety Darwin Cook, explaining what he said to Orange Bowl mascot Obie after a high-speed collision behind the end zone
