I thought this was a nice touch and an emotional moment for the Boston Bruins and their loyal fans. This past summer was a roller coaster ride as the Boston Bruins took three game sevens to bring home the Stanley Cup. Fast forward to last night, it was a great banner raising ceremony, however, the game was kind of a buzz kill. It's too bad that the Boston Bruins followed up the ceremony by losing the opening game of the 2011-12 season. I would be willing to bet that it's probably not the way that the Boston Bruins wanted to start the 2011-12 season, but I think most Bruins fans will let it slide for now.
James Murphy; ESPN.COM --- The ritual started late last season and continued throughout the playoffs. Recchi had been given the jacket after Game 7, when he registered an assist in what would be his last NHL game.It was a really nice touch to see Andrew Ference give Mark Recchi the "Jacket" one more time and it's only fitting that the last one to wear the "Jacket" was Recchi the grizzled veteran of 22 NHL seasons who retired right after his team had won the Stanley Cup. I don't think Hollywood could have drawn it up any better.
“It meant a lot to our team. It was a very proud thing for the guys after games, and we were very proud of it,” Recchi said. “When Andrew brought it in and we started it, it was a special thing, and to be able to get it last in Vancouver and then get it repeated tonight, in front of your home crowd, is something I’ll never forget.”
For Ference it was an easy move to make since Recchi was such an inspirational leader to him and his teammates over the last two-plus seasons. As Ference pointed out, Recchi defined what the jacket symbolized and deserved to be the last one to wear it.
