Established
1924
City
Boston
League History
1924 – Present / National Hockey League
Team History
1924 – Present / Boston Bruins
Nickname
Bruins – You probably know about the Boston Bruins if you're a sports fan. The Bruins have been part of the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1924, becoming one of hockey's most iconic teams. But do you know where their nickname came from? Let’s examine some interesting facts about how the Boston Bruins got their name!
The team's original owner was Charles Adams, who wanted to honor his hometown by giving them an appropriate nickname. In 1925 he chose “Bruins” as it is derived from an old English word meaning "brown bear." This symbolized strength and courage - which Adams wanted his team to embody on and off the ice.
Adams also thought having a mascot would help promote interest in his new franchise, so he named them after another animal native to New England, namely, black bears or bruins, in this case! He even had artist Phil Bissell create artwork featuring these animals, which were used on various promotional materials throughout its early years, such as tickets, programs, and pennants, among other things.
As time passed, the logo changed slightly but still featured one or two black bears with crossed sticks behind them- representing both power & gracefulness. Today, this same imagery can be seen everywhere, including jerseys, flags & banners around the TD Garden arena during home games!
So there it is – now when watching your favorite NHL team play next time, remember they owe their name all thanks to Mr. Charles Adams' love for not just hockey but also nature!
Championship
Stanley Cup 6
2011, 1972, 1970, 1941, 1939, 1929
Arena
2010 – Present / TD Garden
2005 – 2009 / TD Banknorth Garden
1995 – 2005 / FleetCenter
1928 – 1995 / Boston Garden
Owner
1975 – Present / Jeremy Jacobs
1973 – 1975 / Storer Broadcasting
1951 – 1973 / Boston Garden-Arena Corporation
1947 – 1951 / Weston Adams, Sr.
1924 – 1947 / Charles Adams
- 1924
- 1929
- 1941
- 1970
- 1972
- 2011
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Boston Bruins Team Formation
In 1924, at the convincing of Boston grocery tycoon Charles Adams, the National Hockey League decided to expand to the United States. Adams had fallen in love with hockey while watching the 1924 Stanley Cup Finals between the NHL champion Montreal Canadiens and the WCHL champion Calgary Tigers. He persuaded the NHL to grant him a franchise for Boston, which ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1929
The 1929 Stanley Cup Finals NHL championship series was played by the defending champion New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins. This was the first time in Stanley Cup history that two American-based teams met in the Final. Boston won the series to win its first championship. -
Stanley Cup Winner 1941
The 1941 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings. Boston would win the series 4–0 to win their third Stanley Cup. -
Stanley Cup Winner 1970
The 1970 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues, appearing in their third straight finals. The Bruins were making their first appearance in the final since 1958. The Bruins would win the series 4–0, their first Stanley Cup victory in 29 years. Bobby Orr scored the Cup-winning goal on Glenn ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 1972
The 1972 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. It was the Rangers’ first appearance in the championship final series since 1950. The Bruins were making their first appearance since their victory in the 1970 Finals. It was the second Boston-New York Final series, the other being the 1929 Finals. ... -
Stanley Cup Winner 2011
The 2011 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL) 2010–11 season, and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was the 118th year of the Stanley Cup’s presentation. The Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks four games to three. The Bruins ended a 39-year Stanley Cup ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1924 as an expansion franchise, the Bruins have been one of the most successful teams in NHL history. With six Stanley Cup championships and 24 division titles to their credit, they are one of the Original Six franchises that make up today’s National Hockey League. The team has also had its share of great players, including Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque, who helped lead them to four Stanley Cups between 1970-72 and 2011, respectively. The Bruins share a storied rivalry with the New York Rangers, which adds to the excitement of their matchups.
The success of this storied franchise began with legendary coach Art Ross joining forces with general manager Cecil Thompson to form what is now known as “the big bad Bruins” during their first decade from 1925-35 when they won three Stanley Cups (1929–30, 1939–40 & 1941–42). During this period, some key players included Eddie Shore on defense along with forwards Dit Clapper and Bill Cowley, among others, who provided solid offensive production, while goaltender Tiny Thompson was often credited for his ability to keep pucks out of his net despite facing heavy shots each game night at old Boston Garden arena where he still holds numerous records today such as wins (252) shutouts (74) & goals against average(2.08).
After winning two more cups during the 1970s under head coaches Tom Johnson & Harry Sinden, it wasn't until 2011 that another championship banner hung inside TD Garden after beating Vancouver Canucks 4 games 2 series-clinching victory by Patrice Bergeron's overtime goal, which marked the end of a long 39-year drought without Lord Stanly cup. This feat was possible due to strong leadership from captain Zdeno Chara, Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, contributions from other veteran stars like Marc Savard and Mark Recchi, and young guns Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin. Since then, B's have remained competitive, making playoffs every season except 2016 but unfortunately falling short of reaching finals again thus far since the last triumph 8 years ago.
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The Shocking Truth About Boston Bruins Team History
Discover the untold stories in our latest video, The Shocking Truth About Boston Bruins Team History! We delve deep into the Bruins' remarkable journey, exploring pivotal moments, legendary players, and unexpected twists that have shaped this iconic franchise.
Retired Number
2 / Eddie Shore
3 / Lionel Hitchman
4 / Bobby Orr
5 / Aubrey “Dit” Clapper
7 / Phil Esposito
8 / Cam Neely
9 / Johnny Bucyk
15 / Milt Schmidt
16 / Rick Middleton
24 / Terry O’Reilly
77 / Ray Bourque
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history