Former Boston Bruins Hockey Player Ray Bourque

By KJ Paseka

Introduction

Northfield Mount Hermon student KJ Paseka has competed in varsity hockey in Massachusetts and with teams that travel throughout Canada. As both a hockey player and spectator of this sport, K.J. Paseka cites Ray Bourque as one of his top inspirations.

Considered one of the best players ever to play the game, Ray Bourque was respected for his talents as a player and as a human being. An NHL legend, he played from 1979 to 2001 and set records for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. Only Wayne Gretzky exceeds his lifetime total of 1,169 assists.

Boston Bruins

After spending 21 years with the Boston Bruins, Bourque was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for his final year in professional hockey (the 2000-2001 season). Led by captain Joe Sakic, the team reached the Stanley Cup finals against the New Jersey Devils. The final 30 seconds of Game 7 came down to a faceoff with Bourque taking the final shots and successfully winning the Stanley Cup for his team.

Conclusion

Tradition states that the first player to skate around the rink with the Stanley Cup is the captain. Instead, Sakic passed it over to Bourque, a respected veteran who had never received the Cup throughout his extensive career. ESPN ranked this event in its list of 100 most memorable moments of the past 25 years.