How well do you really know your Boston Bruins? Put your knowledge to the test with this trivia deep dive into the history and recent happenings of the Black and Gold.
First, let's rewind to the very beginning. The Boston Bruins were founded on November 1, 1924, becoming the first American franchise in the NHL and the third of the Original Six. This makes them one of the oldest and most storied teams in the league.
Who was the first Black player to break the color barrier in the NHL by playing for the Bruins? That would be Willie O'Ree, who took to the ice on January 18, 1958, against the Montreal Canadiens. O'Ree's NHL career was brief, but he played professional hockey for 22 seasons, mostly in the Western Hockey League.
Moving into the realm of individual achievements, can you name the player nicknamed "Chief?" That honor belongs to Hockey Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bucyk, who captained the Bruins from 1969 to 1972. Bucyk was a Bruins legend, wearing the number 9 with pride and amassing impressive stats, including 556 regular season goals throughout his NHL career.
Who holds the franchise record for most goals scored as a Bruin? The answer is John Bucyk with 545 goals. And for assists? That record belongs to Ray Bourque, who tallied a staggering 1,111 assists during his time in Boston. Terry O'Reilly holds the record for the most penalty minutes in Bruins history, with a whopping 2095 PIMS.
In more recent history, can you recall who led the Bruins in points during the 2002-03 regular season? It was Joe Thornton, with an impressive 101 points. This marked the first time a Bruins player had reached the 100-point mark since Adam Oates in 1992. Speaking of point milestones, David Pastrnak has consistently been a top performer for the Bruins, achieving at least 100 points in the last three seasons. In the 2024-25 season, Pastrnak tied for third in the NHL with 106 points.
What major NHL award did Bobby Orr not win in the 1969-70 season? While Orr won the Norris, Art Ross, Conn Smythe, and Hart trophies, he did not win the Lady Byng Trophy that year. He remains the only player to have won all four of those awards in the same season.
The Bruins have won six Stanley Cup championships throughout their history. One of the most memorable was in 1970, when they defeated the St. Louis Blues, with Bobby Orr scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the Cup.
The Bruins' mascot is Blades the Bruin. According to the team, Blades developed an interest in hockey after watching Johnny Bucyk play pond hockey and was snuck into the Boston Garden.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the Bruins are embracing a different approach to leadership. It has been over 20 years since the team entered a season without a designated captain. Instead, they are expected to start the season with a committee approach, with David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy leading the way. The team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024-25 season, where they finished last in the Atlantic Division. New coach Marco Sturm, hired on June 5, 2025, is aiming to get the Bruins back into playoff contention.
