A desert-tanned Bruce Cassidy arrived within the Glover Elementary School car parking zone in Milton along with his prized (albeit short-term) possession – the Stanley Cup – raised over his head and the Bruins’ aim tune “Kernkraft 400” enjoying over the loudspeakers.
“I didn’t script that,” stated a laughing Cassidy afterwards.
No, Cassidy didn’t come to Milton on Thursday to rub salt within the wounds of the B’s or their followers – there have been extra Bruin jerseys within the crowd than these of Cassidy’s new workforce, the Vegas Golden Knights – however moderately to assist out buddies who’re kicking off their new charity. And, after all, speak a bit of hockey.
The charity is the newly shaped basis within the identify of Cassidy Murray, who was killed in a water-tubing accident on the age of 13 in March 2022 and who was a detailed buddy of Bruce Cassidy’s daughter Shannon.
As they proceed to work by their very own grief, the Murrays have began the nonprofit devoted to increasing “educational opportunities and supporting the mental health needs of individuals navigating unthinkable tragedy.”
“(Bruce Cassidy’s wife) Julie and Linda (Murray) talked about doing something and I thought ‘What if I brought the Cup here and raised some awareness and people are able to donate to the Foundation, then we could get it going’,” stated the previous B’s coach, who stated that Cassidy Murray, Shannon and one other buddy Mary Murray grew to become a tight-knit trio at BB&N by gymnastics and hockey. “Obviously it was difficult for the Murray family, but the girls around her, too. They’ve had to go through an adjustment period, so it was tough on Shannon and Mary.”
While Bruce Cassidy now makes his residing in Las Vegas, this space will all the time be part of him and his household. They nonetheless summer time on Cape Cod, the place they have been headed for an additional Cup occasion later within the day. And although he gained the Cup with the Golden Knights only a 12 months after being fired by the B’s, sticking it to his former workforce was hardly chief amongst his feelings.
“It was sweet because I’m 58 and I’ve been trying to win the Cup since I turned pro, so that’s what made it the most sweet,” stated Cassidy. “You’ve got your family and it was at home. Vegas hasn’t been around for a long time but it’s a very, very solid hockey (environment), and I didn’t know that going out there, how passionate they’d be. And, yeah, to have it happen after you get let go, it’s a good feeling. But that’s down the list.”
Cassidy was oh-so-close to reaching his final hockey aim in 2019 when his B’s went to a Game 7 within the Cup finals however suffered a painful defeat. Winning now goes a good distance towards eradicating that sting for him.
“It heals the scar a little bit,” stated Cassidy. “It’ll never go away because you can’t get that back. But now at least, you’re in the club. I would have liked to have done it here. I’ve said that repeatedly, that this was my team growing up as a kid. I’ve loved the Bruins my whole life and I would have loved to do it here, but it didn’t work out that way.”
The B’s and Golden Knights had performed two nice video games in opposition to one another early within the season and the notion that the 2 groups would meet within the Cup ultimate was not far-fetched within the least. That in all probability had higher odds than what really occurred, the 65-win B’s workforce getting knocked out within the first spherical.
“I think it shocked everybody, right? It was a historic season and you kind of expected a long run. But it’s happened before. In the playoffs, once you’re in, anyone can win, especially once you get to a Game 7,” stated Cassidy.
The B’s are presently ready to listen to phrase on whether or not captain Patrice Bergeron will retire or return for an additional 12 months. Cassidy’s ideas on Bergeron weren’t stunning.
“Outstanding person, great professional, great captain and assistant captain. He’s a winner,” stated Cassidy. “To me, he’s a winner and whatever he decides to do, he’ll always be a guy that Boston sports fans will cherish the 19 years of watching him.”
And if Bergeron does resolve to retire, who would make a good selection for the following captain?
“That’s not for me to decide,” stated Cassidy. “I think there’s a lot of guys. The next core is coming. You’ve got (David Pastrnak), you’ve got Charlie McAvoy, you’ve got a number of guys. And you’ve got Brad Marchand, who’s probably part of the Bergy core, but he’s a guy that’s led on the ice and has really grown his game and his leadership. They’ve got a lot of choices there.”
But as Cassidy stated, that’s none of his concern now. He’s received a summer time to get pleasure from touchdown the hockey Holy Grail. And he’s discovered that some diehard Bruins’ followers are blissful for him.
“You can cheer for a person and a team at the same time and I think that’s what a lot of people have done around here,” stated Cassidy. “I know they want their Bruins to win. I don’t blame them. They’re lifelong Bruins fans. I tried to do it. That’s what I was here for. But I’ve had a lot of people who’ve reached out that are just happy for the Cassidy family.”
To donate to the Cassidy Murray Foundation, go to [email protected].
Source: www.bostonherald.com