As expected, the pregame ceremony at TD Garden before the Boston Bruins took on the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night was incredibly emotional. One of the highlights of the ceremony was when Bruins National Anthem singer Rene Rancourt, who is as much a legend in Boston as Bobby Orr, got things started with the National Anthem before letting the packed house of 18,000 fans take over.
A video montage shown on the arena videoboard before the puck dropped paid tribute to those who lost their lives or were affected by the tragic events that took place at the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Outside of TD Garden, a fan hung a No. 8 T-shirt on the team’s famous statue of Bobby Orr that read “Richard Martin” across the back. Martin is the 8-year-old boy who was one of three people killed in the bombings on Monday. His family said he was an avid Bruins fan, and Brad Marchand has set up a raffle that will benefit the Martin family.
On a night where the outcome of a sporting event seems to matter very little, the Bruins have become a symbol of resilience for the entire nation. Many people feel that the best way to stand up to terrorism is to refuse to be shaken by it. Win or lose, the Bruins helped the city of Boston and the entire country show just that on Wednesday night.
Photo via @BobbyJames11
