Bernard ’14
We all know that times have been tough lately with the economy, there are lots of people still unemployed, prices are going up for almost everything, especially entrainment. We all know that the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins tickets are very expensive. College sports are fun to go to, however the environment can be a little too much for small children. But there is professional hockey in Springfield that is a great time and affordable too. Read the rest of this entry »
Bernard ’14
When someone mentions a college that produces a lot of professional athletes, LSU, Texas, Duke, Notre Dame or UCLA might come to mind. How about UMASS Amherst? UMASS athletics has struggled over the last few years in football, hockey, basketball, and baseball, especially in the 2010-2011 season. But over the last few years, UMASS has produced an impressive list of professional hockey players, some in football, and basketball too. Among the players is an Olympic Silver Medalist for the 2010 U.S.A. Olympic Hockey Team. Read the rest of this entry »
Bruins Forward Tyler Seguin Handles the puck behind the Toronto net in a 6-3 Boston win.
Bernard ’14
As most can remember, the Boston Bruins shocked the hockey world by winning the Stanley Cup in Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks. But the 82 games before the playoffs defined the team that accomplished so much. The Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens in a thilling seven game series. Game 7 was won in overtime by Boston. The Bruins then would move on to face the Philadelphia Flyers, who shocked the Bruins by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 2011 was a different story as the Bruins swept the Flyers in four games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bruins faced the Tampa Bay Lightning and won the series in another Game 7 in Boston. The Bruins were on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1990. The Bruins lost the first two games of the series, but won Games 3 and 4. Vancouver won Game 5. The Bruins won Game 6 in Boston, then made the long flight to Vancouver for Game 7, which Boston won 4-0. The Bruins were not expected to make it this far in the playoffs, but defied the odds and kept on winning.
Despite a dreaded Stanley Cup hangover in October, which resulted in a 3-7 record and at the time put the Bruins in last place in the Eastern Conference, things turned around in November and Early December. The Bruins lost 1 game in the month of November in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings, one of the best teams in the NHL. Even though the Bruins lost their last two games, one to Winnipeg Jets and a nerve racking game against the second place Florida Panthers, the Bruins have the NHL’s highest goal differential with +35. The Bruins have arguably the best duo of goaltenders in the NHL, veteran Tim Thomas and young star Tuukka Rask. The Bruins also have a strong defense and some of the best rising stars on offense, Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin. At their current pace the Bruins will finish the season with 130 points. This is highly unlikely but anything can happen, as the Bruins proved last year.
The Hawk's Claw 