Last year, the Bruins distributed $2.5 million worth of youth hockey equipment through the Bruins Academy Learn to Play program presented by Pure Hockey, contributing to the overall growth of youth hockey in the area. The total number of youth hockey players in Massachusetts under the age of 8 grew by 3 percent last season to 12,889 players, while girls under the age of 8 increased by 7.7 percent to 3,173 players.
Last summer, more than 15,000 Bruins fans attended Fan Fest Tour stops in Portland, ME, Manchester, NH, Burlington, VT, Weymouth, MA, Springfield, MA, Hartford, CT, and Providence, RI, while more than 14,000 fans attended the inaugural Fan Fest Tour in 2017.
This year, the seventh city added to the Boston Bruins Fan Fest Tour was awarded to Leominster thanks to George Marchetti, the winner of the Spoked-B logo contest. Children entered to win a Fan Fest in their town by submitting their own hand-drawn Spoked-B's. George will also receive the Kid's VIP Experience, including tickets to one game during the 2019-2020 season.
Once again, current Bruins players, coaches, executives and NESN personalities are expected to be on hand throughout the tour to play games and mingle with fans, sign autographs, take photos, participate in Q&A sessions and much more. Fans will be able to participate in skills and drills on synthetic ice rinks, pose for photos in a mock Bruins locker room, and have the opportunity to partake in NESN virtual reality experiences. Boston Bruins BFit will also be on hand to lead kid-friendly fitness activities at each stop. Kids can visit the Bruins Academy Zone for face painting, poster making, and Bruins trivia. Please note that player, coach, executive and NESN personality appearances will vary at each location and are subject to change.
Gifford's Famous Ice Cream will once again be on hand at each stop scooping their Bruins-themed ice cream, Power Play Fudge, for $1 donations to the Boston Bruins Foundation.
Admission to each tour stop is FREE, and fans are welcome and encouraged to participate in all of the event's festivities. Fans are also encouraged to pre-register for Fan Fest to expedite entry. To register, and for more information, fans can visit
BostonBruins.com/FanFest
.
Below is the full schedule for the tour (please note dates and locations are subject to change):
Friday, August 16 (Portland, ME)
Edward Payson Park, Catafalque Drive
2 pm - 6 pm
Saturday, August 17 (Manchester, NH)
Arms Park, 10 Arms St.
11 am - 4 pm
Sunday, August 18 (Burlington, VT)
Jeffords Hall Lot, 63 Carrigan Dr.
11 am - 3 pm
Thursday, August 22 (Leominster, MA)
Doyle Field, 100 Priest St.
12 pm - 4 pm
Friday, August 23 (Springfield, MA)
Forest Park, 200 Trafton Rd.
12 pm - 4 pm
Saturday, August 24 (Hartford, CT)
Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Ave.
12 pm - 4 pm
Sunday, August 25 (Providence, RI)
Alex and Ani Center, 2 Kennedy Plaza
12 pm - 4 pm
