Members of the Bruins coaching staff and front office arecarrying on the tradition of Christmas toy donations to local hospitals despitethe NHL lockout thats wiped out the first three months of the season.
BruinsPresident Cam Neely, general manager Peter Chiarelli, head coach Claude Julienand Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque led a contingent of Bruinsorganization members to make toy deliveries to six local hospitals on Wednesdaymorning.
The toys were purchased last week at the Target in Woburn asthe part of the Boston Bruins Holiday Toy Delivery presented by AT&T andwill include groups visiting the following hospitals: Boston Children'sHospital, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, FranciscanHospital for Children, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Shriners Hospitalsfor Children - Boston, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
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An estimated total amount of 22,500 was donated by theBoston Bruins Foundation,
Delaware North Companies and Garden Neighborhood Charities so the staff to shop for toys last week. The toys will be packed and delivered tothe hospitals courtesy of Gentle Giant Moving Company.
Bruins Hall of Famer Ray Bourque started the holiday toyshopping and delivery tradition in the early 1990s when he was captain of theBlack and Gold, and the event has continued through the years with Zdeno Charamost recently picking up the tradition over the last few years.
The hospital toy deliveries broke down as follows:
Boston Children's Hospital (300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA
02115) Staff & Media Participating: Head Coach Claude Julien, GeneralManager
Peter Chiarelli, Assistant Coach Geoff Ward, Equipment Manager Keith
Robinson, Assistant Equipment Manager Matt Falconer, Bruins alumnus and
NESN analyst Gord Kluzak, NESN anchor Adam Pellerin
Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center (755 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111) Staff Participating: Bruins President Cam Neely,Assistant General Manager Don Sweeney, Assistant Coach Doug Houda, Strength and Conditioning Coach John Whitesides
Franciscan Hospital for Children (30 Warren Street, Brighton, MA 02135) Staff Participating: Assistant General Manager Jim Benning, Assistant Coach Doug Jarvis, Bruins alumni Rick Middleton and Tommy Songin
MassGeneral Hospital for Children (55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114) Staff & Media Participating: Bruins alumni Ray Bourque and Jay Miller, Bruins alumnus and current Executive Director of the Boston Bruins FoundationBob Sweeney, NESN reporter Naoko Funayama
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston (51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114) Staff & Media Participating: 98.5 The Sports Hubs Bob Beers andDave Goucher, Bruins Athletic Trainer Don DelNegro, Assistant Equipment Manager Jim Beets Johnson
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114) Staff & Media Participating: Bruins alumnus John Chief Bucyk, NHL Networks Kathryn Tappen, NESN personality Dale Arnold, Bruins Video Analyst Jeremy Rogalski