Bobby Orr won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins, but he never played a game in his NHL career in Fenway Park.
Mike Eruzione won Beanpots in the old Garden and a Gold Medal at the Olympics, but he too, never played on the ice at Fenway Park.
So this Saturday, when the Winthrop High hockey team takes to the ice that has been laid down over the frozen Fenway infield, it will be something that hockey players of all ages would only dream about, a once in a lifetime opportunity that every player will be telling his grandchildren about.
Thanks to the efforts of Captain Mike (whose 30th anniversary of the fabled Olympic gold medal is approaching), a fortunate group of Viking skaters will face off at 5:15, under the lights no less, with the landmark Citgo sign blazing in the background, against an equally fortunate group of boys from Northeastern Conference rival Marblehead.
“This is just an amazing experience that we’re really looking forward to,†said WHS head coach Dale Dunbar. “The team has been psyched about it since we first learned of it, and now that the day is getting closer, it seems a bit unreal.â€
Fans should be aware that the start time has been moved from the original announced slot of 1:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and that admission is free. The Viking Pride Foundation is chartering some buses to make it easy for local fans to attend.
The lone caveat is that the contest is subject to the game between Boston University and Boston College taking place the night before on Friday. If that game for some reason is postponed, they will take Winthrop’s time slot on Saturday.
So, let’s all pray to the snow gods for playable weather on Friday. And if they answer our pleas, take the whole family into Beantown for a game that will be as memorable for the fans as it will be for the players.