Sam Berns had a positive and lasting impact on everyone he ever met, and the Boston Bruins are no exception.
Berns’ passing over the weekend saddened many throughout New England, including many members of the Bruins organization. Berns, 17, died of a very rare disease called progeria.
During Berns’ limited time on Earth, he spent time with some of the local pro sports teams he adored like the Bruins. The Foxboro, Mass., native was a guest of the club on more than one occasion, including earlier this season when he dropped the ceremonial first puck before a Bruins-Maple Leafs game as part of Progeria Night at TD Garden. Like he had done in recent years, Berns was serving as the face for fundraising efforts that night with an eventual cure being the goal.
The Bruins are back at the Garden for the first time Tuesday night — coincidentally, they will be playing the Maple Leafs. The team announced Tuesday afternoon that Berns will be remembered with a moment of silence prior to the game.
“It was always exciting to see him,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara told the team’s website. “I was always happy to see him, and he had this big smile on his face. It was always fun, and, I love him.”
Below is a video of Berns’ visit with Chara and the Bruins for Progeria Night.
