Ray Bourque Reveals the Best Surprise in Bruins History

Ray Bourque Reveals the Best Surprise in Bruins History

It was the best cuz the only people that knew was my wife the trainers you know management and the coaches uh and nobody else we didn’t know nobody in the dress room know nobody in the dressing room know yeah I didn’t know uh they kept a pretty good Secret I got a call I believe it was from Harry telling me that they wanted to retire in the number and I says well what about borky I was asked many times by reporters what do you think about Phil’s number being retired I’m like it should be I mean

He’s an amazing Legend he did amazing things here he won two cups everything he’s accomplished here and he’s bigger than life and they said well we’re going to do both of you we’ll put your’s name and when Raymond retires we’ll put his name so that’s fine that’s fine with me

Ray Bor one of the class guys in ever played and one of the better greatest players that ever played it was fine with me I was thinking about just what you were saying how we what are we going to do here so I got home it was late at night

About midnight I called Ray I said what do you think about this idea you know I wouldn’t do it without talking to him and I told him he said that’s a great idea we just go through with it that’s how it happened the idea of doing it was

Like the day before I think Harry just got the idea and called Ray and said would it be cool with so they got the Jersey made up pretty quickly and because of that it never leaked out it was the best cuz the only people that knew was my wife the trainers you know

Management and the coaches uh and nobody else we didn’t know nobody in the dress room knew nobody in the dress room knew I didn’t know uh they kept a pretty good secret I mean uh obviously the the equip equipment trainers knew Ray knew Harry knew I’m not sure who else knew I think

We were all surprised I don’t think there was anybody that really knew what Ray was was doing or going to do well a year and awe of you know like here’s phis pacito and you know Bobby walked out and you know just it’s uh it was it

Was a a real special night Ray bour the captain of the Bruins will make a present so decided to go out you know for warm up with number seven come back in the room go in the back room put 77 under seven go out call up Phil and then I

Take seven off and reveal 77s like those moments and memories that you never ever forget and then you know he pulls the Jersey off and you know shows his new number and Phil’s just you know overtaken and overwhelmed when he took the Jersey off and he said to to me and he handed

It to me he says this is yours big fellow and it’s always should have been yours and nobody else’s I was taken back and if you could lip read you saw what I said and I I was in shock ladies and gentlemen what you see

Is what rort will wear from now on rort has find to wear 77 as number seven is retired and it’s just like everybody’s drop you know draw just dropped and uh and fell seen his face uh automatic it was like I I I don’t think he expected I don’t know

What he thought was going to happen but um it was just an amazing night you know when you’re given a number like he was given with the history of that number and who wore it um you know probably not some something you you take lightly I

Know Ray didn’t and he wore it with pride and it came as a shock and it was very emotional for Phil first time I think him I’ve seen him with tears in his eye a little bit cuz it was very emotional night for him out of anything

I’ve ever done in hockey you know I mean uh the stuff on the ice the the teams the cup the finals whatever the first thing that comes up with everybody I’d say 90% of the time is that night his career didn’t change by changing his number but it it certainly it certainly

Made a difference in Phil Espo’s life that’s for sure what this what this young man did tonight is is something that I’ll never ever ever forget no matter what happens in my life Rond never

Every Bruins fan remembers the special connection between legends Ray Bourque and Phil Esposito. Hear from Ray, Phil and other Bruins greats about the night Boston retired #7 in iconic fashion.

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