BHN Daily
BHN Daily: Boston Bruins’ Voice, Player Peirson Passes Away
It’s a sad day in Boston Bruins Nation with the news that former B’s player and legendary broadcaster Johnny Peirson has passed away at 95 years old.
The Boston Bruins send their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former Bruin and longtime broadcaster Johnny Peirson. pic.twitter.com/YMHYoMMqQr
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2021
Peirson was most well-known for his 20-year run broadcasting Bruins games with Fred Cusick on WSBK-38 when getting good reception for Boston Bruins games meant fiddling with antennae rabbit ears and keeping the lookout for Peirson’s Pointers prior to puck drop. For this humble hockey writer, Cusick and Peirson were the first two voices that I heard describing the hockey I was watching. They were a fantastic, welcoming introduction to the game for generations of Boston Bruins fans.
It was the same experience for so many other young hockey fans around the Boston area during Cusick and Peirson’s time together that spanned pretty much the entirety of the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Peirson could play a little bit in his day too, of course.
The right wing finished with 153 goals and 326 points in 545 games that ran its entirety in Black and Gold and he played in two NHL All-Star games at the prime of his career in 1950 and 1951. Like so many other ex-Bruins players, Peirson settled in the Boston area and lived out the rest of his life as a member of the local community while bringing plenty of personality to the rinks and golf courses whenever he was there.
Our condolences to Peirson’s friends and family as he will be greatly missed, but also an appreciative stick tap for a hockey life well-lived to Johnny Peirson.
Now on to the BHN Puck Links:
*As EMF would say, Bruins rookie netminder Jeremy Swayman was “unbelievable” while collecting his first career NHL shutout with 25 saves against the Islanders on Friday night. (Boston Hockey Now)
*Speaking of Bruins goalies, congratulations to Rask on reaching 300 careers wins this week. What a huge milestone for the best regular season goalie in Bruins franchise history.
Milestone man. @GEICO | #BundlingStats pic.twitter.com/ExQjKcS3P5
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2021
*Good stuff about Pittsburgh Penguins equipment guy Jon Taglianetti, who had a big assist on a Sidney Crosby goal this week. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
*FOH (Friend of Haggs) Megan Duggan and Jamal Mayers joined Anson Carter for this week’s Hockey Culture podcast, and the subject matter, as always, was of keen importance.
Olympic champion @mduggan10 and #StanleyCup champion @jamalmayers joined @AnsonCarterLA on #HockeyCulture to discuss what role hockey players can play in the fight for justice.https://t.co/22XPpBIUpG
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) April 17, 2021
*Things are starting to get serious with the Colorado Avalanche as they are battling through some positive COVID tests this week. FOH Adrian Dater has the details. (Colorado Hockey Now)
*For something completely different: I had no idea that Wyatt Russell, the troubled new Captain America on the Falcon and Winter Soldier, was Kurt Russell’s son. Did you also know that he was a lifelong hockey player that suited up for the Chicago Steel and Coquitlam Express among other teams. I am stunned. (HockeyDB)