The “Little Ball of Hate” Receives Love in Boston
Brad Marchand, known for his intensity on the ice, experienced an emotional return to the TD Garden, where he was cheered by the Boston fans in his first game as a rival of the Bruins. The crowd gave him a warm welcome, showing their appreciation for the player who was a fundamental part of the Stanley Cup champion team in 2011. Marchand, visibly moved, thanked the fans for their gesture, who showed him their affection despite now defending the colors of the Panthers. During the ceremony, the player put his hand on his heart, wiped his face, and greeted the fans, while both teams and the referees joined in the tribute. The forward, who was transferred to the Panthers last season, was looking for a new opportunity to win a championship. The Boston crowd gave him a touching farewell during the pre-game warm-up, with a special song, and Marchand responded with a salute. The fans, with Marchand of the Bruins and Panthers jerseys, celebrated again during the former captain’s introductions.Although there were boos when he received a penalty and a mixed reaction when the Panthers scored a goal in the game, the excitement reached its peak during an intermission when a video with highlights of Marchand in Boston was projected.
The video included images of Marchand lifting the Stanley Cup and posing with the “C” for captain, a symbol he wore for a full season. Marchand, with 422 goals and 554 assists in 16 seasons in Boston, is in the top 10 of the Bruins in several statistical categories. His 1,090 games played place him in fourth place in team history. Marchand played at TD Garden as a visitor in February, representing Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he was booed by Boston fans. A few weeks later, he was traded to Florida, marking the beginning of Boston’s reconstruction.
