The Boston Bruins will retire Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37 during a ceremony on Dec. 1 at TD Garden, making the former captain the 14th player in franchise history to receive the honor.
The ceremony will give the Bruins and their fans an opportunity to recognize Bergeron’s 19-year career with the team through celebrating his accomplishments both on and off the ice.
Bergeron, who retired following the 2022-23 season, spent his entire NHL career with Boston after the Bruins selected him in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. Bergeron finished his career with 427 goals and 1,040 points in 1,294 regular-season games.
His career also included six Selke Trophy wins, which are awarded annually to the NHL’s best defensive forward. Bergeron was also a finalist for the award in 12 consecutive seasons, setting an NHL record.
Bergeron helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup championship in 2011 after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in 39 years. Bergeron also helped the Bruins reach the finals again in 2013 and 2019, despite falling short of the cup both times.
The retirement of No. 37 comes shortly after the Bruins honored former captain, defenseman Zdeno Chara, whose No. 33 was retired by the organization this past January. Chara and Bergeron were teammates for more than a decade, and both had the honor of being captains of the Bruins.
Bergeron joins Bruins legends Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk and many others to have his number sent to the rafters at TD Garden.
“Every time I stepped onto the ice, I felt the privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing the Spoked-B, and I always tried to represent this organization and community the right way,” Bergeron said in an interview with NHL.com. “To know that No. 37 will forever be part of that history is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
For Bergeron, having his number retired represents another milestone in his career that already includes a Stanley Cup, six Selke Trophies and more than 1,000 NHL points.
Bergeron was also a recipient of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2021, which is awarded to “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.”
“He was a deftly skilled playmaker and the undeniable greatest defensive forward in the NHL’s history,” said Bruins owner and governor Jeremy Jacobs in the official press release published in June. “But it was the leadership he provided on the ice and in the locker room that made him truly stand apart and an all-time legend of the Boston Bruins.”
Puck drop for Bergeron’s special night is set for 8 p.m. on Dec. 1 when the Bruins face off against the Colorado Avalanche. Specific ceremony and warm-up details are set to be released at a later time. If Bruins’ fans are unable to make it in person, they can watch the game live on TNT or HBO Max.