Andrew Ference Denies Intending to Make Obscene Gesture, Apologizes for How His Celebration Appeared

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Apr 21, 2011

MONTREAL — Andrew Ference had waited a decade to score another playoff goal. After all that time he certainly didn't want his tally to make news like this.

Ference scored a slap shot from the point midway through the second period. The goal cut Montreal's lead to 3-2 and was part of a rally that eventually provided the Bruins with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 4 at the Bell Centre, evening the opening-round playoff series at two game apiece.

"I haven't scored too many goals," Ference said. "Of course I was excited. My last playoff goal was 10 years ago or something. That's extremely exciting to score in the playoffs.

"It was rolling and I just whacked it," Ference added of his first postseason goal since scoring three with Pittsburgh in 2001. "Ninety percent of the time, they just go somewhere off the glass, but I just got lucky."

Ference's luck may have run out after the goal, as he appeared to get a little too excited in his post-goal celebration. Ference made an apparent obscene gesture to the Montreal crowd, as the middle finger of his glove was extended as he pumped his fist.

Ference admitted it looked horrible but denied that he intentionally made the gesture.

"Coach just showed me and it looks awful," Ference said. "I just saw it and I can assure you that's not part of my repertoire. I don't know if my glove got caught up, but I can assure you that's not part of who I am or what I ever have been. It looks awful, I admit it and I completely apologize for how it looks. I was putting my fist in the air. I'm sorry, I just saw it and it does look awful. I don't know what else to say."

Bruins coach Claude Julien said earlier that he had not seen the gesture yet, but also believes it would not be in Ference's character to deliberately do such a thing.

"I didn't see it, so I can't comment," Julien said. "I've heard about it, but I didn't see at all and I haven't had a chance to talk to Andrew. If you ask me, I'm surprised because that's not Andrew at all. I'm shocked and I don't know whether it happened or what. But I'd be very surprised. That's not his style at all." 

At least one of Ference's teammates had a little fun with the controversy. When asked for his reaction to Ference's goal celebration, Chris Kelly replied, "I didn't [see it], was it a good one?" Kelly asked.

When he was then informed of the apparent gesture, Kelly said "Oh, I don't know. I didn't see it," then deadpanned, "I don't know what that means. Hi? Maybe he had family in the crowd or something."

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