Bruins’ Chris Kelly Laces Up Skates For Alumni Vs. Warrior For Life Fund

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins Alumni Association put together a stacked lineup for their Dec. 7 charity game against the Warrior For Life Fund at Warrior Ice Arena.

Current Bruins assistant coach Chris Kelly will join some of his 2011 Stanley Cup champion teammates — Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell, Adam McQuaid, Tuukka Rask, Andrew Ference and Tim Thomas — for the marquee matchup.

“It’ll be exciting,” Kelly told NESN.com at the Bruins practice facility on Nov. 20. “… It’s always a good event. Obviously, it’s something new for me, but I’m excited about the game.

“… It’s a special group. When you’re able to win with a group, it’s that much more special. I tell people, looking back on the group when you’re in the moment, you don’t realize how special the group is,” Kelly said. “I find it very fortunate we were able to win because we had a lot of character. A lot of big personalities. And, they’ve gone on to do great things either in sports or other things.”

The 44-year-old forward will have a busy day on Saturday. The Bruins host the Flyers at TD Garden with puck drop scheduled for 1 p.m. ET before Kelly heads over to Warrior for the Alumni game at 7 p.m. ET.

With Kelly playing in the game, Thomas will stay on the bench and coach the team instead of putting on the pads and manning the crease. Kelly said he doesn’t plan on giving his former teammate any tips on coaching.

“I do not. I will not give Timmy any tips,” Kelly laughed. “I’m sure he will be great. He was coaching us when he was a player. He would bark out orders (from the crease), which made it easier at times.”

Kelly made his Alumni debut last season when the Bruins were in Philadelphia to take on the Flyers.

The Broad Street Bullies were celebrating the 50th anniversary of their 1974 Stanley Cup victory over the Bruin during their Hall of Fame weekend last January. To kick off the celebration, the Bruins and Flyers alumni teams competed for bragging rights.

Retired NHL players who sported the Spoked-B during their career — Kevan Miller, Andrew Alberts, PJ Stock, Mark Mowers, Bryan Smolinski and Tim Schaller — will join Kelly and the other 2011 players on the bench.