Boston Bruins
“I definitely miss the competition and being with the boys. … But I’m definitely content and happy at home.”
Patrice Bergeron was in a familiar spot on Saturday afternoon.
In the same barn where his No. 37 will soon hover high above the ice, the Bruins legend glided toward the face-off circle.
The soon-to-be Hall of Famer, now 41, still looks like he could don the spoked-B and chip in on a promising 9-2-1 Bruins roster.
But Father Time is undefeated.
And on Saturday, Bergeron traded in black and gold for black-and-white stripes — dropping the puck as his son, Zach, lined up at the face-off dot.
These are the duties these days for Bergeron, who helped officiate for Newton Youth Hockey as part of a “Future Bruins” scrimmage on Causeway Street.
Bergeron, who last played for Boston in April 2023 after 19 seasons, is still a regular around the rink.
But these days, his hockey schedule revolves around coaching his sons’ teams in Newton and ferrying the family to and from several barns across New England.
“I’m still the driver,” Bergeron said of his new role as a stay-at-home dad. “Maybe even more so now because of all the activities and everything they’ve got going on. We’ve got four [kids], so obviously the weekends are very busy, but it’s fun. I’m enjoying my time with them. I’m enjoying being home more and being present — it’s been great.”
As part of Saturday’s event, Zach Bergeron — donning his father’s No. 37 — took the ice with his teammates for a 30-minute scrimmage ahead of Boston’s eventual 6-4 win over the Sharks.
Bergeron, who helped register Newton Youth Hockey for the “Future Bruins” event, mostly took in the action while skating along the boards, watching his son and his teammates trade rushes down the ice as family and friends cheered along the glass.
For the elder Bergeron — who logged nearly 1,300 games in the NHL — getting to see his own children find their footing on the ice is one of the more rewarding chapters of his post-playing career.
“Now my boys are in those shoes, and I think it’s an amazing experience for them,” Bergeron said of the “Future Bruins” event, which Boston has held for more than 20 years. “I think that’s what it’s all about. At this age, I think we’re so focused sometimes on everything else but having fun.
“Today, to see all the smiles and see what the sport really means and the values you learn from it, it’s amazing. I’m just glad to be a part of it and try to help those kids develop.”
After Saturday’s skate, Charlie McAvoy — Bergeron’s teammate for his final six years in the NHL — met with the kids for photos and a Q&A session.
When asked about his favorite part of being a hockey player, McAvoy pointed to the camaraderie and friendships forged in the locker room — especially on a Bruins team whose culture was cultivated by franchise fixtures like Zdeno Chara and Bergeron.
It’s a sentiment that still resonates with Bergeron, now more than three years removed from the last time he skated off the TD Garden ice in a Bruins sweater.
“I definitely miss the competition and being with the boys,” Bergeron acknowledged. “Chuck was talking about what he likes most about hockey — the locker room, the friendships, it’s so true. So I definitely miss that part.
“But I’m definitely content and happy at home. And yeah, [life] slows down on the traveling side. But as far as the schedule? It’s still very busy. My days are pretty full.”
Still, Bergeron has carved out time to watch the latest iteration of the Bruins — a retooling crew buoyed by the arrival of several young players like Fraser Minten and James Hagens.
Bergeron — who gave some face-off pointers to the 22-year-old Minten during a visit to Warrior Ice Arena last spring — likes what he sees from Boston’s next wave of talent.
“There’s been some players that have really taken a big step forward,” Bergeron said. “They’re playing some great hockey. And Fraser obviously is a kid who is improving from one year to the next, but also has shown a lot of intangibles, details in his game, and maturity. It’s great to see. You want to obviously encourage that to continue, let him grow and become his own player.”
Plenty has changed since the last time Bergeron captained the Bruins, with just six players remaining from that 2022-23 campaign.
But on an evolving roster, Bergeron is heartened by what he’s seen from a few familiar faces — including McAvoy and newly anointed captain David Pastrnak.
“I think I always saw leadership qualities in David and with McAvoy as well,” Bergeron said. “There’s a lot of guys in that locker room who are great leaders. I think Pasta has shown to be an elite player in this league, but he’s also leading the right way. I’m so happy for him.
“They’re off to an amazing start, and hopefully they keep it going. The leadership is by committee, and I believe in that as well. When I was there, I think we had a great group of guys and leaders, and I think they have that same luxury we had. … I’m happy for them and cheering them on.”
Bergeron’s already crammed schedule will get a lot more hectic over the next few months.
The six-time Selke Trophy winner will be formally inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Nov. 9. Less than a month later, he’ll be back on Causeway Street with his family, watching his No. 37 be raised to the rafters.
“It’s exciting,” Bergeron acknowledged. “It’s also, in a sense, I guess overwhelming in a way. It’s awesome, and I’m looking forward to it. But it’s definitely [back] in the spotlight a little bit. That’s where it’s going to be a little different.
“But definitely very appreciative and very humbling to be considered and to have the Hall of Fame celebration, but also the jersey retirement celebration. It’s very meaningful and something that I’m looking forward to enjoying with family, friends, but also with the fans, for sure.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
