It’s a story about history and success — two things the Boston Bruins and Matthews Arena are very familiar with.
Bruins’ icon and captain Brad Marchand hit the ice at Matthews Arena, previously known as Boston Arena, to commemorate the first-ever National Hockey League game played in the United States — and at the iconic arena — 100 years ago. On Dec. 1, 1924, Boston beat the Montreal Maroons, 2-1, and the two teams will uncoincidentally face off again this Dec. 1 for the Centennial Game — in Boston, of course.
A historic jersey for a historic celebration. pic.twitter.com/MzUjwxFoAZ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 17, 2024
In the Bruins’ video, posted Oct. 17, Marchand enters Matthews Arena, laces up his skates and steps onto Northeastern University’s empty rink. With the jumbotron’s play clock stopped at 19:24 and the score reading Boston 2, Montreal 1, the video is a clear dedication to the historic matchup in 1924.
At the video’s conclusion, Marchand reveals the Bruins’ uniform for December’s long-awaited game against the Canadiens. The special-edition jerseys honor the club’s origin, while bringing a fresh, modern-day look to the threads. It pulls clear inspiration from the 1980s Bruins’ design, but also features gold running to the bottom of the sleeves and socks with both gold and black, instead of just one primary color.
The uniform includes the anniversary patch worn for the Centennial year all of last season, but this time showcasing Boston’s black and gold color scheme. The sweater also features the anniversary crest, reminiscent of the spoked-B repped by Bruins icons like Ray Bourque and Bobby Orr.
A few more frames of the fits 🔥
📸 ➡️ https://t.co/WhdesPv7PT pic.twitter.com/cV2w45brVT
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 17, 2024
The 1924 Bruins — along with the 1946 Celtics — both got their iconic starts at Matthews Arena. Built in 1909 before the teams debuted, Matthews Arena’s history is as rich as it comes, predating the NHL entirely. With the impending demolition of the arena due to concerns about the building’s structural stability, this year marks a special occasion during the twilight years of the beloved barn.
Limited tickets remain for the Boston Bruins Centennial Game, and its special-edition jerseys are available for purchase online at a “historic” price of $600. December 1 will be a special celebration for Boston fans, and all roads lead back to Matthews Arena.
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