Could you imagine Boston hosting a championship celebration for a team or player that didn't play in the city at that specific time?
It's hard to believe now after the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins have combined to win 12 championships since 2001, but it actually happened on June 12, 2001.
That's when former Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque brought the Stanley Cup back to Boston after winning it that season with the Colorado Avalanche. Bourque was traded from the B's to the Avs during the 1999-00 season when it became clear that his dream of winning a title wasn't going to happen in Boston after spending 21 years with the franchise.
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NBC Sports Boston has created a mini-documentary of Bourque's celebration in Boston. It includes lots of interviews and a look at the state of the four major Boston teams at the time. For those old enough to remember, the city was often called "Loserville" at that point because its previous championship came in 1986.
You can watch “Before the Duckboats” in the video above, or on NBC Sports Boston on the following dates:
- Thursday, 6/10 at 8
- Saturday, 6/12 at 6
- Sunday, 6/13 at 8
You can also find the special on NBC Sports Boston’s YouTube channel, Facebook Watch, or by downloading the NBC Boston app on Roku or Apple TV.