Watch: Bruins celebrate centennial anniversary with ceremony

Boston Bruins alumni are honored before a game against the Montreal Canadiens at the TD Garden. Natalie Reid-Imagn Images

Watch: Bruins celebrate centennial anniversary with pregame ceremony

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Dec 1, 2024 5:01 PM ET

The Boston Bruins celebrated the centennial anniversary of their first NHL game as an Original Six franchise and did so in the most appropriate way possible, with a game against their oldest and fiercest rival, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Bruins marked the occasion with a 30-minute pregame ceremony that featured several of the franchise's biggest stars and a ceremonial puck drop that covered three generations of Bruins and Canadiens hockey.

The greatest rivalry in sports history, 100 years in the making.

Generations joined to take this rivalry into the future during puck drop pic.twitter.com/kFYoROdXzh
— NESN (@NESN) December 1, 2024

The Bruins played their first-ever game on Dec, 1, 1924, and beat the Montreal Maroons by a 2-1 margin. They would then go on to lose the next 11 games on their way to a 6-24 season.

Over the next century the Bruins have been one of the NHL's biggest franchises winning six Stanley Cups. The most recent of those championships took place during the 2010-11 season, ending a 39-year drought.

Along with the championships, the Bruins have also produced some of the league's best all-time players including defensemen Bobby Orr (arguably one of the five best players ever) and Ray Bourque, as well as forwards Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyk and Patrice Bergeron.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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