"You kind of thought about what it was going to be like, but I don't think you can ever really imagine or picture what it's going to be like in front of the fans," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. "It was pretty cool to see them all enjoy it. Every team wants to lift it on home ice and it was a great feeling to be able to do that."
Before the banner could be raised, the Bruins first got to raise the Cup one more time. This time it was even more special, because it came on home ice in front of the Boston fans. Only a handful of diehards made it out to Vancouver to see the Bruins do it for real after Game 7, but there was a full house on hand to see the reenactment.
"Obviously we were all pretty happy to be able to lift that thing over our head on home ice," Bruins forward Shawn Thornton said. "I thought that was pretty cool that they thought to do that. I really did. Our fans were pretty intense and have been behind us the whole time I've been here, so for us to be able to do that in front of them I think is pretty special."
After a montage of highlights on the jumbotron was shown above the ice, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara skated onto the ice with the Cup. The first person he passed it to was an extra special surprise, as retired forward Mark Recchi returned for one final appearance on the ice in a Bruins uniform.
"It was great to get that last opportunity to go on the ice with the guys and go on the ice, period, as an NHL player," Recchi said. "When you do it at the end [of the series], I wasn't really thinking about it and [knowing] this was going to be it. These last couple days have been hard. It was an exciting day, but it was a sad day, too, at the same time. But it was so great to be out there with the guys. I had no idea that was coming, the jacket thing, so it got me pretty choked up. I love the guys, and they mean the world to me, and it was a great experience, to be here with them for that."
Shane Hnidy also returned to participate, and after the Cup was hoisted one more time, the 2011 champs were joined on the ice by members of the last team to bring the Cup to Boston. Bobby Orr, Derek Sanderson, Johnny Bucyk and Milt Schmidt were among the players from the 1972 team on hand to celebrate with the new champions.
"That's incredible, knowing Chief [Bucyk] and Bobby [Orr] personally and what great guys they are and how much they wanted to see us win as well," Recchi said. "It's been a long time, and I think they're glad to share the Stanley Cup with some other people and excited about it. They were our biggest supporters all year, and it's great to have all those guys out there and come and pass it on to the '11 team."
Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference was also touched by the way the ceremony linked two generations of Bruins champions.
"It was special," Ference said. "I mean that's part of the sports history in Boston. Just to even be up close to it is a real honor. To be on the ice with the guys from '72, to be in their company and put one up beside them, it's a really, really special thing."
Ference helped make the night even more special when he presented the vintage Bruins jacket to Recchi. Ference had purchased on eBay in March and it had been passed on to a new Bruins player after each playoff victory. Reechi won't keep it for long, as he plans to leave it behind in Boston to inspire future Bruins teams.
"Actually, it's going to stay here," Recchi said. "We're going to put it in a case here and put it where it belongs, right in the dressing room, somewhere in the dressing room. That's where it belongs, and I want to keep it here. Every time I come into the dressing room, I'll see it, and the guys will see it and know what it's all about."
The Bruins know they have to turn the page on their historic 2010-11 season now that the new campaign is under way, but Thursday's pre-game festivities provided the perfect cap to celebrate what they had accomplished together last spring.
"That was a special moment," Bruins goalie Tim Thomas said. "It was another one to add to the memory bank that you'll remember forever. While it was happening I was picturing myself coming back and visiting for a game thirty years from now and looking and that banner and saying, 'we helped raised that banner.'"
