FOXBORO, Mass. — Perhaps the truest words spoken at Gillette Stadium on the eve of the NHL Winter Classic were those uttered by Patrice Bergeron.
“Every team in Boston,” the Bruins winger said, “the fans have been spoiled.”
Bergeron should know. He’s seen it firsthand.
Since the 30-year-old joined the Bruins in 2003, Boston’s four major professional sports teams have combined to win eight championships, more than any other city in the United States.
And of those teams, none has won more over the last decade-and-a-half than the New England Patriots, who have allowed the Bruins to take over their home stadium this week ahead of the B’s New Year’s Day matchup with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Patriots, who won their first championship 17 months before the Bruins drafted Bergeron, have been the toast of the NFL during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era, reaching six Super Bowls and winning 13 of a possible 15 division titles.
That run of success is not lost on the Bruins, despite the fact that just two players on their current roster (wingers Frank Vatrano and Jimmy Hayes) were raised in New England.
“It’s the best sports city in the world,” said defenseman Torey Krug, a Michigan native. “Every team here is expected to win championships, and obviously, every year, there’s a team that contends and wins a championship. … It holds a special place in the people’s hearts here, and we’re trying to represent them well.”
Goalie Tuukka Rask, who grew up in Finland, concurred.
“I think it’s special to be here,” Rask said. “(The Patriots are) definitely an organization that we respect a lot. Just with the success that they’ve had over the years, year after year. So it’s a special moment. I mean, especially here at Gillette Stadium with 60,000-plus fans, that’s something we don’t get to experience at all. So we’re going to try to take everything in and enjoy the moment.”
Several members of the Patriots, including Belichick and tight end Rob Gronkowski, were similarly complimentary of the Bruins, who are seeking a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after their first no-show since 2007.
Belichick, who joined Claude Julien for a skate before Boston’s Thursday morning practice, said he greatly respects and has “a lot in common” with the Bruins head coach.
“That’s why I like him better than you (reporters), because he gives me compliments,” Julien joked. “No, it’s always great, always great to catch up with Bill. I was fortunate enough to be a guest of his (Wednesday) at his practice, and we walked through it, and it was nice to see him work with his team. I’ve admired him for a long time for how he handles his team, how he coaches, how prepared he is.
“We play different sports, but as coaches, I think there’s a lot of things we can learn from each other and admire from each other. And that’s the one thing I have learned from Bill: His preparation is second to none.”
Julien had to make some extra preparations of his own this week after losing center David Krejci to injury and winger Brad Marchand to suspension. He’ll find out Friday how well his team responds on the NHL’s biggest regular-season stage.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
