BOSTON- The Boston Bruins will show their appreciation for the men and women who serve as First Responders and their families during their First Responders Night on Tuesday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. during the Boston Bruins vs. Arizona Coyotes game at TD Garden.
First Responders and their families will take part in various Fan Experiences throughout the game including a ceremonial puck drop, the singing of the national anthem, sitting on the bench during pregame warmups, ice resurfacer rides and high fiving the players in between periods.
Bruins Host First Responders Night
The ceremonial puck drop will honor the life of fallen Massachusetts State Trooper Thomas Clardy, who was killed while on duty in March 2016 when his cruiser was struck from behind on the Massachusetts Turnpike. His wife and children will be dropping the puck in his honor.
The National Anthem will be performed by Massachusetts State Trooper Katy Downey. Participating in the color guard will be members of the Cambridge Police and Fire Departments.
Massachusetts State Troopers Brendan Cain and Joseph Merrick will ride the ice resurfacer during an intermission. On January 5, 2017 at 3:35 pm Massachusetts State Police and local law enforcement agencies where on the look-out for Fugitive from Justice James Morales, wanted for escaping from a Rhode Island detention facility while being held on stolen weapons charges from a military installation and an outstanding warrant. Troopers Joseph Merrick and Brendan Cain were in Somerville in the area of Mystic Ave. when Tpr. Merrick observed a subject walking that fit the description of wanted Morales. The subject did not stop and a foot pursuit ensued over two blocks when finally he was caught by Tprs. Merrick and Cain. Morales was positively identified and taken into custody for the outstanding offenses.
The ProShop powered by Reebok and all GameDay ProShop locations at TD Garden will offer First Responders 20% off their purchase on First Responders Night.
The ProShop powered by Reebok on Level 2 of TD Garden will be selling New Balance First Responder shirts with one shirt featuring the Boston Fire Hockey Club and the other featuring the Boston Police Hockey Club. Both shirts are exclusive to TD Garden and 100% of proceeds from the shirts will go to the hockey clubs' respective foundations: Boston Burn Foundation and Cops for Kids with Cancer.
The Boston Bruins Foundation will be hosting a First Responder 911 Jersey Raffle at their table behind Loge 4. The three jerseys being raffled are Fire, Police, and EMS. All proceeds benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation. The 50/50 raffle will also benefit The One Hundred Club of Massachusetts.
There will be a check presentation for the BFit First Responder Challenge presented by National Grid, which was held at TD Garden on Sunday, January 22. The $130,000 raised from the BFit Challenge presented by National Grid benefits The Hundred Club of Massachusetts, whose mission is to provide financial support to the families of fallen heroes. The following people will present the check: Boston Bruins CEO, Charlie Jacobs, President of National Grid, Marcy Reed, President of the Hundred Club of Massachusetts, John Lynch, Executive Director of the Boston Bruins Foundation, Bob Sweeney, and Boston Bruins Director of Health and Wellness, John Whitesides.
In addition, the BFit Cup was awarded to the highest fundraising Police and Fire/EMS teams as well as highest individual fundraiser. The highest fundraising Police team was the Massachusetts State Police who raised over $30,000. The highest fundraising Fire/EMS Team, was the Wilmington Fire Department who raised over $12,900 and the highest fundraising individual was Massachusetts State Trooper Leigh Genduso who raised $7,200.
