Positive reinforcement works well in many circumstances.
For Jake DeBrusk, it was the reward of an Oreo cookie after scoring a goal when he was younger. That hunger helped the Boston Bruins left wing get to the NHL.
And for the third occasion now, a fan on the glass at TD Garden has helped him reminisce -- tossing over sleeves of the chocolate and cream cookies during warmups.
"I'll never say no to an Oreo," DeBrusk told Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan. "Even though it's a little bit hard to eat one before a game. But I do eat them after.
"That's one of those things that I've had since I've been a little kid and as a reward. I used to get those after I'd score goals. So it's kind of interesting how it's kind of going the other way around."
DeBrusk told BSJ his adoration for Oreos probably became public knowledge from a video game stream or the popular Barstool Sports podcast "Spittin' Chicklets."
The gifts from fans are a great reminder of why he missed interacting with fans so much during the pandemic.
"It makes the game fun," he said. "Even when things aren't necessarily going well and you're feeling not too hot coming into a game -- you're looking and you got a sign for Oreos? I mean, that's gonna make you feel way better. At least it makes me feel better. You go out, I went to the gas station and people were talking to me -- this city is passionate. It's nice to feel that again."
