Hartford, CT … Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today the current Boston Bruins legends roster for the Hartford Whalers legends vs. Boston Bruins legends game February 19, 2011 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. More Bruins are expected to be announced this week.
The legends game is part of the “Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl,” the featured event of the two-week outdoor Whalers Hockey Fest spectacular at Rentschler Field that will include numerous collegiate, high school, prep school and youth hockey games. The legends game will face off at 4:00 PM on February 19 and will be followed by the outdoor AHL game between the Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM.
Highlighting the group of featured Bruins legends are Hall of Fame defenseman Brad Park, along with all-time great forwards Rick Middleton, Ken Hodge and Ken Linseman.
Park, who was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, was a seven-time NHL All-Star and scored 213 goals and added 683 assists (an NHL record for defensemen at the time of his retirement in 1985) for 896 points in 1,113 career NHL games over 17 seasons. Eight of those years were spent with the Bruins, and Park is fourth all-time in franchise history in points among defensemen. His 417 Bruin points included 100 goals 317 assists, in 501 total games. In addition to his time with Boston, Park also saw NHL action with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
Middleton, who earned the nickname “Nifty” for his deft puckhandling touch, played 12 seasons in a Bruin uniform from 1976-77 through 1987-88, and is the fourth-leading all-time scorer in franchise history, with 402 goals and 496 assists for 898 points in 881 games. Prior to being acquired by Boston via trade in May of 1976, Middleton played two seasons with the New York Rangers. In 1005 career NHL games, the Toronto native scored 448 goals and added 540 assists for 988 points.
Hodge was a Bruin for nine seasons, from 1967-68 through 1975-76, and won Stanley Cups with Boston in 1970 and 1972. A two-time First-Team All-Star selection, Hodge’s tenure with the Bruins was highlighted by 105-point seasons in 1970-71 and 1973-74. He also hit the 50-goal mark, a career high, in ’73-’74 and is sixth all-time in Bruin franchise history in goals (289), and seventh all-time in points (674), in 652 games in a Boston uniform. Hodge’s NHL career also included stints with the Rangers and the Chicago Blackhawks, and totaled 881 games, with 328 goals and 472 assists for 800 points.
Linseman, whose smallish stature belied his feisty nature, spent six years with the Bruins during a 14-year NHL career that spanned from 1978-79 through 1991-92. After going to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1980 and winning a Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984, Linseman was acquired by Boston in June of 1984. He would go on to play 389 games with the Bruins, scoring 125 goals and adding 247 assists for 372 points and amassing 746 penalty minutes. He would help lead the Bruins to the Cup Finals in 1988 and was the team leader in playoff points and goals that year, with 11-14-25 in 23 games. Following his departure from Boston in January of 1990, Linseman would have second stints with both Philadelphia and Edmonton, and also play two games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His overall career NHL totals show 860 games, with 256 goals and 551 assists for 807 points, as well as 1,727 PIM.
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Additional members of the Bruins Legends team for the Whale Bowl include:
Don Marcotte – spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Bruins, winning Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972. His games-played total of 868 ranks seventh all-time in franchise history, and he scored 230 goals and 254 assists for 484 points with the Bruins.
Rick Smith – defenseman who had two separate stints with the Bruins, and won a Stanley Cup with the club in 1970. NHL career totaled 687 games, 513 of which were with Boston.
Reggie Lemelin – goaltender, who ranks tenth all-time in Bruin franchise history in wins (92) and games-played (183) and played a total of 507 career NHL games over 15 seasons, also seeing time with Atlanta/Calgary.
Bob Sweeney – former Boston College Eagle who had a pair of 20-goal seasons among six years in a Bruin uniform in the late ‘80s. Totaled 639 games in his NHL career, with Boston, Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Quebec.
Jay Miller – Wellesley, MA-born University of New Hampshire product who was one of the NHL’s most respected tough guys during a 446-game NHL tenure. Had 33 points and 858 PIM in 216 games with the Bruins from 1985-89.
Bob Miller – Billerica, MA native who played 263 games with the Bruins over four seasons, part of a 404-game NHL career.
Cleon Daskalakis – Boston-born goaltender who played 12 games with the Bruins over three seasons from 1984-87, as part of a five-year pro career out of Boston University.
Tickets for the February 19 Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl, which include admission to both the AHL game and the legends game, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com., as well as at the Bushnell box office from Monday through Friday, 12 noon-5:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $20 to $85 and can also be purchased by calling the Connecticut Whale at 860-728-3366. Tickets purchased online can be printed immediately (via Ticketmaster).
