HOCKEY SEASON TICKET THE ULTIMATE FAN GUIDE BY CHRIS PETERS
A champion at last Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque lifts the Stanley Cup in 2001
CHAPTER 1 THE STANLEY CUP The voice of ESPN announcer Gary Thorne boomed After 22 years Raymond Bourque As Thorne called the action Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic handed the Stanley Cup to Bourque Avalanche fans cheered but so did most National Hockey League NHL fans For 21 years Bourque had been a superstar defenseman for the Boston Bruins He was one of the best in the league for much of that time But after more than two decades in Boston Bourque had still not won the Stanley Cup In 2000 at age 39 Bourque knew his career was winding down And he knew the Bruins the only team he’d ever played for were struggling Making the playoffs much less winning a championship appeared unlikely
