Bruins Legend Johnny Bucyk Recalls Thrill Of Skating With Cup

It’s a moment that everyone dreams of but very few live out. Johnny Bucyk, Boston Bruins legend, is one of those few people. Bucyk helped lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup twice during his Hall of Fame career. 50 years ago, Johnny Bucyk and the Bruins won the 1970 Stanley Cup. They repeated the feat two years later.

On Wednesday, Bucyk discussed that with the Boston media via Zoom. The memories may have been from long ago, but they are fresh in the mind of Bucyk. He still can recall the Cup victories vividly.

“Skating with the Cup was a big thrill,” Bucyk said when asked what it meant to him. “I did it then (1970) and I did it in New York and I think it was the last time the individual captain would take the Cup and skate around with it. Now they do it as a group. I was honored and very happy to do that.”

When the Bruins did win the Stanley Cup in 1970, it was a pretty big deal. Prior to that, they hadn’t tasted glory since 1941. It was a moment that was a longtime coming not just for the city of Boston and the Bruins, but for Bucyk too. He first joined the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in 1956.

“The Cup weighs 35 pounds, but in that moment it probably weighed like five pounds,” Bucyk said. “It was a great, great thrill and I was honored to do it.”

Bucyk will be part of a group that will discuss the ‘Big Bad Bruins’ this weekend. NHL Network will honor the 1970 Bruins team on the 50th Anniversary of their victory.

Bucyk, former General Manager and head coach Harry Sinden and Ken Hodge will be part of the panel. The documentary will air at 8 PM ET on Sunday night.