History of Boston Bruins in Timeline
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Established in 1924, the Bruins are the third-oldest active team in the NHL and the oldest in the United States.
1909: Matthews Arena Construction
Construction of the Boston Arena, later renamed Matthews Arena, is completed. It is the world's oldest indoor ice hockey facility still in use for the sport.
1923: Thomas Duggan Acquires NHL Franchises
Sports promoter Thomas Duggan obtains options on three NHL franchises for the United States, setting the stage for the NHL's expansion into the U.S., including the establishment of the Boston Bruins.
December 1, 1924: First NHL Game in the U.S.
The Boston Bruins win the first NHL game played in the United States, defeating the Montreal Maroons 2-1 at Boston Arena. Smokey Harris scores the first-ever goal for the Bruins.
1924: Bruins Join the NHL
The Boston Bruins are established as one of the NHL's first expansion teams and the first NHL team based in the United States. Charles Adams becomes the owner and hires Art Ross as general manager.
1924: Boston Bruins Founded
The Boston Bruins were founded as a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, becoming the third-oldest active team in the NHL and the oldest in the United States.
1924: Team Foundation
The Boston Bruins were founded, marking the beginning of their journey in the NHL.
1924: Bruins Introduce Walking Bear Logo
The Bruins introduced an alternate logo featuring a walking bear surrounded by the full team name.
1928: Bruins Begin Playing at Boston Garden
The Boston Bruins begin playing their home games at the Boston Garden.
1928: First Season at Boston Garden
The Boston Bruins play their first season at the newly constructed Boston Garden.
1929: Bruins Set Record Winning Percentage
The Boston Bruins achieve the highest single-season winning percentage in NHL history (.875), setting numerous scoring records.
1929: Bruins Win First Stanley Cup
The Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup championship, defeating the New York Rangers in a two-game final series. Key players include Shore, Harry Oliver, Dit Clapper, Dutch Gainor, and Tiny Thompson.
1932: Bruins Update Logo and Uniform Design
The Bruins replaced their original walking bear logo with a simple block "B" logo. The team also updated their uniform design.
1932: Bruins Retire Walking Bear Logo
The Bruins stopped using their original walking bear logo.
1933: Marty Barry Serves as Captain
Marty Barry was appointed captain of the Bruins for the 1933-1934 season.
1934: Nels Stewart Serves as Captain
Nels Stewart was appointed as captain for the 1934-1935 season.
1934: Introduction of Gold Socks
The Bruins introduced gold socks, which would become a staple of their uniform and undergo various striping modifications throughout the years.
1935: Eddie Shore Serves as Captain
Eddie Shore took over as captain for the 1935-1936 season.
1935: Bruins Introduce Black and Gold Color Scheme
The Bruins replaced brown with black in their official team colors. They also updated their uniform design.
1936: Charles Adams Transfers Team Ownership
Charles Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins, transferred ownership of the team to his son Weston Adams, general manager and minority owner Art Ross, and minority owner Ralph Burkard.
1936: Red Beattie Serves as Captain
Red Beattie was named captain for the 1936-1937 season.
1939: Eddie Shore Traded to New York Americans
Star player Eddie Shore is traded from the Bruins to the New York Americans for his final NHL season.
1939: Bruins Win Second Stanley Cup and Frank Brimsek's Award-Winning Season
The Boston Bruins win their second Stanley Cup championship. Rookie goaltender Frank Brimsek has a standout season, winning the Vezina and Calder Trophies, earning the nickname "Mr. Zero," and becoming the first rookie named to the NHL First All-Star Team.
1940: Bruins Introduce Gold Uniform
The Bruins introduced a gold uniform featuring a script "Bruins" wordmark.
1941: Bruins Win Third Stanley Cup and Players Enlist in War Effort
The Boston Bruins win their third Stanley Cup, finishing first in the regular season with only eight losses. Following the win, key players, including Frank Brimsek and the "Krauts" (Milt Schmidt, Bobby Bauer, and Woody Dumart), enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force due to World War II.
1942: NHL Reduced to "Original Six" Teams
The NHL is reduced to six teams due to World War II. These teams would later become known as the "Original Six."
1944: Bill Cowley Serves as Captain
Bill Cowley was appointed as captain for the 1944-1945 season.
1944: Herb Cain Sets NHL Points Record
Bruins player Herb Cain sets a then-NHL record for points in a season with 82.
1944: Bruins Retire Gold Uniform
The Bruins retired their gold uniform with the script "Bruins" wordmark.
1945: Players Return From World War II
Key Bruins players return from their service in World War II for the 1945-46 season.
1946: Bobby Bauer Serves as Captain
Bobby Bauer served as captain for the 1946-1947 season.
1946: Dit Clapper's Retirement and Frank Brimsek's Decline
Dit Clapper retires as a player after leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals as player-coach. He becomes the first player to play 20 NHL seasons. Frank Brimsek's performance declines after his return from World War II, leading to his trade to the Blackhawks.
1947: Beginning of a Difficult Period
The Bruins embark on a challenging period with only four winning seasons over the next two decades.
1948: Introduction of the "Spoked-B" Logo
The Boston Bruins introduce the original form of the "spoked-B" logo on their home uniforms. The logo features the numbers "24" and "49" on either side of the "B" representing the year of the team's founding and the current year.
1948: 25th Anniversary Season with Modified "Spoked B" Logo
The Bruins celebrated their 25th anniversary season with a modified "Spoked B" logo, which would later inspire their alternate beige uniform in 2023.
1948: Brown and Gold Uniform Design
The Bruins introduced a brown and gold uniform design, which was later revisited for the 2010 Winter Classic.
1948: Bruins Introduce Spoked B Logo
The Bruins introduced their eight-spoked, black and gold "Spoked B" logo, a nod to Boston's nickname as "The Hub."
1949: Spoked B Logo Design Updated
The "B" on the "Spoked B" logo was changed to block lettering.
1949: Introduction of Original "Spoked B" Design
The Bruins introduced their first "Spoked B" logo, which would be used until 1995 and later serve as inspiration for their centennial season uniforms.
1949: Introduction of "Spoked B" Logo
The Bruins unveiled the "Spoked B" logo, which would later inspire the "BOSTON" wordmark on their 2023 Winter Classic uniform.
1949: Bruins Introduce New Uniform with Spoked B Logo
To commemorate their 25th anniversary, the Bruins released a new white uniform featuring the first iteration of the "Spoked B" logo. They also debuted a black uniform with the block "B" logo in front.
1951: Boston Garden-Arena Corporation Acquires Controlling Interest
The Boston Garden-Arena Corporation took over controlling interest in the Bruins, with Boston Celtics founder Walter A. Brown managing the team until his death in 1964.
1951: Charles Adams Sells Bruins
Weston Adams, son of Bruins founder Charles Adams, faces financial trouble and sells the team to Walter A. Brown, owner of the Boston Celtics and the Garden.
1953: Bruins Reach Stanley Cup Finals
The Bruins make it to the Stanley Cup Finals but lose to the Montreal Canadiens.
1955: Bruins Introduce Gold Jersey with Spoked B Logo
The Bruins released a gold jersey with the "Spoked B" in front.
1956: Bright-Landry Hockey Center Opens
The Bright-Landry Hockey Center in Allston, Massachusetts, was built and served as a training facility for the Bruins.
1957: Arrival of the "Uke Line"
Johnny Bucyk, Vic Stasiuk, and Bronco Horvath, known as the "Uke Line" due to their Ukrainian heritage, join the Bruins and begin a successful four-season run.
1957: Bruins Return to Stanley Cup Finals
The Bruins make their second appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, but again fall to the Montreal Canadiens.
January 18, 1958: Willie O'Ree Makes NHL History
Willie O'Ree becomes the first black player to play in the NHL, taking the ice for the Bruins.
1958: Bruins Experiment with Gold Pants
For a few games, the Bruins wore gold pants with their uniforms.
1958: Third Stanley Cup Finals Loss to Canadiens
The Bruins make their third Stanley Cup Finals appearance of the decade, once again losing to the Montreal Canadiens.
1960: Start of Playoff Drought
The Bruins begin an eight-year stretch without making the playoffs.
1960: Willie O'Ree Returns to Bruins
Willie O'Ree returns to the Bruins for a second stint with the team.
1964: Walter A. Brown's Death and Weston Adams' Return
Following the death of Walter A. Brown, Weston Adams returned to the position of team president.
1964: Weston Adams Returns as Owner
Weston Adams repurchases the Bruins following the death of Walter A. Brown.
1965: Bruins Stop Wearing Gold Pants
The Bruins stopped wearing gold pants with their uniforms.
1966: Bobby Orr Joins the Bruins
Future superstar defenseman Bobby Orr begins his NHL career with the Bruins, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year and a spot on the second NHL All-Star Team. Despite Orr's strong start, the Bruins miss the playoffs.
1967: Bruins Begin 29-Season Playoff Streak
The Boston Bruins began a streak of 29 consecutive seasons making the playoffs.
1967: End of a Challenging Era
The Bruins conclude a period marked by limited success, having only achieved four winning seasons in the past twenty years.
1967: Introduction of Uniforms with Gold Yoke
The Bruins introduced uniforms featuring a gold yoke, a design element that would be incorporated into their 2023 alternate beige uniform.
1967: Bruins Reinstated Black Uniforms
The Bruins retired their gold uniforms and brought back the black uniforms with gold numbers, marking the beginning of a design that would undergo various changes until 1995.
1967: "Nutty" Becomes Bruins' Theme Song
The Ventures' instrumental rock version of the Nutcracker's overture, "Nutty", was chosen as the opening theme song for Bruins' telecasts on WSBK-TV.
1968: Bruins Set Scoring Records
The Bruins set numerous offensive scoring records, with seven players in the league's top ten scorers. They also set a record for wins in a season and have four players score over 100 points, a feat never before accomplished in a league where no one had reached that mark before the 1968-69 season. All four players (Orr, Esposito, Bucyk, and Hodge) are named First Team All-Stars. Despite being favored to repeat as champions, the Bruins lose to the Canadiens in seven games.
1969: Return of Gold Socks
After a brief period of wearing white socks, the Bruins brought back the gold socks, pairing them with their black uniforms for the next 47 seasons.
1969: Weston Adams Jr. Succeeds as Team President
Weston Adams Jr. took over as team president, succeeding his father, Weston Adams.
1970: Harry Sinden Retires, Tom Johnson Takes Over
Head Coach Harry Sinden temporarily steps away from hockey to pursue business interests, and former Bruins and Canadiens defenseman Tom Johnson becomes the new head coach.
1970: Bruins End Stanley Cup Drought
The Bruins defeat the St. Louis Blues to win their first Stanley Cup in 29 years. Bobby Orr scores the game-winning goal in overtime.
1972: Sinden Returns as General Manager
Harry Sinden returns to the Bruins as general manager.
December 7, 1973: Storer Broadcasting Acquires Bruins
Storer Broadcasting, the owner of WSBK-TV, merged with the Garden-Arena Corporation, resulting in Storer gaining complete ownership of the Bruins. Weston Adams remained as team president.
1973: Upheaval and Ownership Change
The Bruins experience major changes as players Gerry Cheevers, Derek Sanderson, Johnny McKenzie, and Ted Green leave to join the World Hockey Association. Coach Tom Johnson is fired mid-season and replaced by Bep Guidolin. The Adams family sells the team to Storer Broadcasting. The Bruins' season ends with a first-round playoff loss to the New York Rangers.
1974: Don Cherry Takes the Helm
Don Cherry becomes the Bruins' new coach.
1974: First Place Finish and Playoff Loss
The Bruins reclaim first place in the regular season, with three players (Esposito, Orr, and Hodge) scoring over 100 points. However, they suffer an upset loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1974: Retirement of Uniforms with Gold Yoke
The Bruins retired their uniforms with the gold yoke design, which was introduced in 1967.
August 1975: Jeremy Jacobs Acquires Bruins
Storer Broadcasting sold the Bruins to an ownership group led by Jeremy Jacobs. A condition of the purchase was for Jacobs to promise to retain Bobby Orr.
1975: Jacobs Takes Ownership of Bruins
Jeremy Jacobs took over as owner of the Boston Bruins.
1975: Cherry's "Lunch Pail A.C." Era Begins
Under Cherry's leadership, the Bruins adopt a more physical style of play, with a focus on enforcers and grinders like Gregg Sheppard, Terry O'Reilly, Stan Jonathan, and Peter McNab. This season marks Bobby Orr's last full season in the league due to worsening knee injuries. It is also the final time Orr and Esposito finish first and second in regular season scoring. The Bruins finish second in the Adams Division and lose to the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.
1977: Cheevers Returns, Bruins Fall to Canadiens
Gerry Cheevers returns to the Bruins. The team advances past the Philadelphia Flyers in the semifinals but loses to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1977: Bruins Face Canadiens in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins faced off against their arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1977: Bruins Add Primitive Bear Head Logo
The Bruins added the primitive bear head logo to their uniforms.
1977: Introduction of Throwback Uniform Design
The Bruins debuted a new uniform design that would later inspire the team's "Reverse Retro" uniform in 2020.
1977: Introduction of Bear Head Logo
The Bruins introduced a bear head logo, which was later incorporated into their 2023 Winter Classic uniform.
1978: Bruins Face Canadiens in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins once again faced the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1978: Another Stanley Cup Finals Loss to Canadiens
The Bruins, with a balanced attack featuring 11 players scoring 20 or more goals (an NHL record), reach the Stanley Cup Finals but lose to the Montreal Canadiens in six games. John Bucyk retires after the series, holding nearly every Bruins' career longevity and scoring record at the time.
1979: New Coach and Ray Bourque Arrives
Fred Creighton takes over as head coach. The Bruins trade goaltender Ron Grahame to the Los Angeles Kings for a first-round draft pick, which they use to select Ray Bourque, who would become one of the greatest defensemen of all time and the face of the franchise for over two decades.
1979: Cherry's Departure
The Bruins lose a crucial Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals after being penalized for having too many men on the ice late in the third period. Montreal capitalizes on the power play to tie the game and win in overtime. Don Cherry is subsequently dismissed as head coach.
1982: Bruins Record Best Season
Led by stars like Park, Bourque, and Rick Middleton, the Bruins make the playoffs throughout the 1980s. They achieve the league's best record in the 1982-83 season, aided by a Vezina Trophy-winning performance from former Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters, but they fall short of reaching the Finals.
1986: Ristuccia Ice Arena Opens
The Ristuccia Ice Arena in Wilmington, Massachusetts, was completed and used as a training facility for the Bruins.
1988: Stanley Cup Finals Loss to Oilers
Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, and Keith Crowder lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lose to the Edmonton Oilers in a four-game sweep.
1988: Bruins Face Oilers in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins met the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1990: Bruins Face Oilers in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins had a rematch against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
1990: Another Stanley Cup Finals Loss to Oilers
The Bruins, with a roster featuring Neely, Bourque, Craig Janney, Bobby Carpenter, rookie Don Sweeney, and goaltenders Andy Moog and Reggie Lemelin, return to the Stanley Cup Finals but lose to the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in five games.
1995: Cosmetic Changes to Black Uniforms Conclude
After several modifications since their reinstatement in 1967, the Bruins finalized the design of their black uniforms, concluding a period of cosmetic changes.
1995: Spoked B Logo Design Updated
Black borders and a gold outer circle were added to the "Spoked B" logo.
1995: Bruins' Playoff Streak Ends
The Boston Bruins 29-year streak of consecutive playoff appearances ended.
1995: Bruins Move to TD Garden
The Boston Bruins move from Boston Garden to their current home arena, TD Garden.
1995: Bruins Overhaul Uniform Design
The Bruins made several cosmetic changes to their uniforms.
1995: New Uniform Set with "Spoked B" Logo
The Bruins released a new uniform set featuring an updated "Spoked B" logo, with the main uniforms incorporating a thick contrasting stripe running from sleeve to sleeve.
1995: Retirement of Bear Head Logo
The Bruins retired the bear head logo that was first introduced in 1977.
1995: Retirement of Throwback Uniform Design
The Bruins retired the uniform design that was introduced in 1977 and would later serve as inspiration for the team's "Reverse Retro" uniform.
1995: Retirement of Original "Spoked B" Design
The Bruins retired their original "Spoked B" logo, which was introduced in 1949.
1998: Bruins Change Goal Song
The Bruins replaced their long-standing goal song, "Paree", with "Kernkraft 400 (Sport Chant Stadium Remix)" by Zombie Nation.
2000: Ray Bourque Traded
Longtime Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque was traded, reportedly due to the team's unwillingness to spend on top players.
2005: NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement Signed
A new Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed in the NHL.
2005: Jacobs Improves Public Image
Jeremy Jacobs' public image began to improve as he invested in the team and rebuilt the front office.
2006: Retirement of "Pooh Bear" Alternates
The Bruins retired their "Pooh Bear" alternate uniforms, a design that would later inspire their second "Reverse Retro" uniform in 2022.
2006: Retirement of Gold Third Jerseys
The Bruins retired their gold third jerseys featuring the "Pooh Bear" logo and began wearing throwback black uniforms inspired by the 1970s design.
June 2007: Jacobs Elected Chairman of NHL Board of Governors
Jeremy Jacobs was elected as the Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors, replacing Harley Hotchkiss.
2007: New Uniforms with Reebok Edge Template
Adopting the Reebok Edge template, the Bruins revealed new uniforms with the current "Spoked B" logo. The designs incorporated elements from the 1970s uniforms and reintroduced the original walking bear logo on the shoulders.
2007: Spoked B Logo Design Finalized
Serifs were added to the "B" on the "Spoked B" logo, finalizing its current form.
2007: Bruins Reintroduce Walking Bear Logo
The Bruins reintroduced a modernized version of the original walking bear logo as the team's secondary logo.
2008: Bruins Achieve High Ranking
The Boston Bruins became the second highest-ranked team in the NHL for the 2008-2009 season.
2010: Winter Classic Uniform
For the 2010 Winter Classic, the Bruins sported a brown and gold version of the 1948–49 uniform design.
2011: Bruins Win Stanley Cup
The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup for the first time under Jeremy Jacobs' ownership.
2013: Bruins Lose to Blackhawks in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.
May 20, 2015: Don Sweeney Hired as General Manager
Don Sweeney was hired as the new general manager of the Bruins, succeeding Peter Chiarelli.
September 2016: Bruins Move to Warrior Ice Arena
The Bruins completed their move to the newly constructed Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Boston, for their training.
2016: Winter Classic Uniform
The Bruins donned a black and gold interpretation of their original brown uniforms for the 2016 Winter Classic, a design they continued using as an alternate uniform in the following season.
February 7, 2017: Claude Julien Fired, Bruce Cassidy Named Interim Coach
Claude Julien was fired as head coach of the Bruins, and Bruce Cassidy was named interim head coach.
April 26, 2017: Bruce Cassidy Becomes Permanent Head Coach
Bruce Cassidy's interim tag was removed, and he became the permanent head coach of the Boston Bruins.
2017: Adidas AdiZero Template Adoption
With the shift to Adidas' AdiZero template, the Bruins preserved most of their existing design, except for the black uniforms which were now matched with black socks, a feature previously exclusive to the alternate black uniforms.
2019: Bruins Lose to Blues in Stanley Cup Finals
The Boston Bruins were defeated by the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals.
2019: Winter Classic and New Alternate Uniform
The Bruins sported white uniforms with brown and gold stripes and the "B" logo on the front for the 2019 Winter Classic, paying homage to the mid-1930s uniforms. The "B" logo was also featured on their new black alternate uniform, which honored the team's 1950s uniforms.
March 12, 2020: NHL Season Paused Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The NHL season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the pause, the Bruins were first overall in the league, with 100 points.
2020: Release of "Reverse Retro" Uniform Series
Adidas launched the "Reverse Retro" series, offering alternate color schemes of classic uniform designs. The Bruins' edition was based on their 1977-1995 design, featuring a gold base with black accents.
June 30, 2022: Jim Montgomery Named Head Coach
Jim Montgomery was appointed as the head coach of the Bruins, replacing Bruce Cassidy.
2022: Bruins Set NHL Record with 135 Points
The Boston Bruins achieved a record-breaking 135 points in the 2022-23 season, marking the highest single-season point total in NHL history.
2022: Second "Reverse Retro" Uniform Release
The Bruins released their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, a white rendition of the "Pooh Bear" alternates used between 1995 and 2006.
March 2, 2023: Bruins Achieve Fastest 100 Points in NHL History
The Bruins recorded their 100th standings point of the season in their 61st game, becoming the fastest team to 100 points in NHL history, surpassing the previous record held by the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens.
April 9, 2023: Bruins Set New Record for Most Wins in a Season
The Bruins set a new all-time record for most games won in a season (63) when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers.
September 20, 2023: Bruins Acknowledge Past Captains
The Boston Bruins officially acknowledged previously unconfirmed captaincies from the 1930s and 1940s, increasing the total number of recognized captains in franchise history to 27.
2023: Franchise record for wins updated
The Boston Bruins updated their franchise record for wins at the end of the 2023-24 NHL season.
2023: New Uniform Set and Commemorative Logo for Centennial Season
The Bruins debuted a new set of uniforms and a commemorative logo for their centennial season. The logo featured a modified version of the "Spoked B", resembling the original design from 1949 to 1995. The white uniform displayed this logo, while the black uniform had an inverted version.
2023: Winter Classic Uniform with Mixed Styles
The Bruins' Winter Classic uniform combined elements from various periods in the team's uniform history. This black uniform featured gold stripes, vintage white lettering, a "BOSTON" wordmark influenced by the 1949 "Spoked B" logo, and the bear head logo from 1977-1995 positioned underneath.
May 13, 2024: Information Updated
The information provided in the text was updated.
