Andrew Ference became one of the most popular members of the Boston Bruins during his time as a defenseman with the B’s. That’s not just because of his play on the ice, which included a Stanley Cup win in 2011, but the things he did away from the rink were just as important.
Ference embraced playing and living in Boston and became wildly popular in his six-plus seasons wearing the Black and Gold. The veteran defenseman will return to the TD Garden ice for the first time Saturday since signing with the Edmonton Oilers in the offseason. When he does, it will be the culmination of a pretty emotional return for Ference, who has called Boston his home.
“I’m really lucky,” Ference said, according to the Oilers’ website. “The people here care so much about their sports, and when they see athletes embrace the city and do more outside their little bubble of sports, I think they’re really appreciative of that. We made a lot of close friends. It’s more about just coming to the city and playing a game. It’s about being part of the community and embracing the place you call home.”
Ference and the Oilers are already in town for Saturday’s tilt, and they practiced Friday in Cambridge. The D-man addressed the media and in addition to declaring himself ready to play after missing a few games with a head injury, Ference also talked about how special it was to be back in Boston.
See what he had to say in the video below.
