The AHL season has been one of the best in recent memory thanks to locked out NHL players raising the level of competition, so it shouldnt come as a shock that the Worcester Sharks are once again raiding a nearby NHL club. The Sharks announced on Tuesday that Rene Rancourt has been signed to a one-game ATO (amateur tryout contract) and will sing the National Anthem on Dec. 16 prior to the Sharks-Portland Pirates game at the DCU Center.
Rancourt will perform the national anthem and sign autographs prior to the 3 p.m. game this weekend, and was simply looking for somewhere to sign after the Bruins first 22 home games of the season have already been cancelled.
Unfortunately the Sharks' release didnt reveal anything about Rancourt possibly singing Christmas carols as wella staple at the final Bruins home game prior to Christmas each yearbut a little Rene is better than no Rene at all.
I would like to thank the Worcester Sharks for the opportunity to stay in shape during the NHL work stoppage, said Rancourt. I look forward to getting my vocal cords back in game shape in the AHL and look forward to making my Sharks debut at the DCU Center on December 16.
Rancourt has been singing the anthem for home Bruins games for the last 35 years while belting out the Star-Spangled Banner and O Canada!, and has become synonymous with the TD Garden and the Boston Bruins organization. He began regularly singing the anthems for the Bruins in 1976 back at historic Boston Garden, and is the most recognizable anthem singer in Boston.
Its good to see thatjust like the playersRancourt is keeping himself in tip-top game shape should be the lockout finally end in the next two weeks, and will be ready if the NHL regular season begins in January.