Stanley Cup Champion Weighs In On Bruins Coaching Search

Andrew Ference discusses Boston candidate Marco Sturm

The Boston Bruins are reportedly in the home stretch in their search for the franchise’s next head coach.

Reports have begun circulating that Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and Ontario Reign head coach Marco Sturm are finalists for the vacancy in Boston.

Stanley Cup champion Andrew Ference discussed whether or not his former Bruins teammate Sturm would be a good fit at the helm in Boston on a recent episode of NESN’s “The Hockey Hub” podcast.

“I put an asterisk beside everything just because I haven’t been coached by these guys,” Ference told Sophia Jurksztowiz and Adam Pellerin. “But, I can definitely speak to Marco as a player, and as a person.

“He’s incredible in both categories and an absolute competitor. I think going back to guys that were it that era when I was there, there are a few guys that you’re like, ‘Damn, I wish that guy could have been on our team when we won, because he deserved it.’ And he’s at the top of that list.”

Ference added that the way Sturm prepared, trained and practiced all translated to his play on the ice, which meant the Bruins could always “count” on the retired forward.

“I think those are all qualities to me that are, of course, he’s a good coach,” Ference said. “Because those things transfer over into that world very well. I’ve never had him behind the bench. I’ve seen him and his progress over the years since he retired. He’s definitely one of those guys.”

What do you think?  Leave a comment.

You can hear more of Ference’s insight on the Bruins’ coaching search by catching the latest episode of “The Hockey Hub” on YouTube or Spotify.

About the Author

NESN Staff

NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins coverage. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere on any device on the NESN app and at NESN.com. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. For the past six years, Forbes Magazine has ranked NESN as one of the 10 Most Valuable Sports Business Brands in the World. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with a state-of-the-art HD studio dedicated to digital video productions. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in our communities. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).