Shaun Connolly 

We are just at the beginning of the 2024-2025 NHL Regular Season. With every sport, it is a fresh start, a new beginning with hope still in the air. Even so, it is sometimes a monumental task to pick yourself up for some organizations. It is one thing to be a bad team, that consistently misses the playoffs, that disappoints year after year and seemingly won’t change course from the mediocrity they exude every winter. It is another to cheer on a team that is so good for 82 games, that handily wins over for 7 months straight only to fold under the pressure of being the best team in the Eastern Conference. To do the latter, is to be a recent Bruins fan. This season should be like the past two, a good all around team with all kinds of different lines to throw out at their opponents. Consistent defense, more than competent goalkeeping, scorers up the wazoo, and grit to keep coming out on the ice each and every game.

The Bruins are ready to come right back up and contend again this season. They have a couple of additions, lost a couple of pieces, and no longer have Jeremy Swayman minding the net. But for intents and purposes this team looks like it should be the same dominating force in not just the Atlantic Division, the Eastern Conference, but the entire National Hockey League. 

I reached out to some Bruins fans about why they will continue to root for this team, despite these last two heartbreaking seasons. Here are some unbelievable responses:

“Beginning of every season there’s always that hope, that excitement that this could be the year. Then the first period ends and you ask yourself why you put yourself through the torture.” – Chris

“Bruins fans are insane. I cheer on the same team every year expecting different results, only to be heartbroken. But on the off chance they do great, it’s party time baby.” -Archie 

“I would have to say pain is a crucial part of the bruins experience.” -Maura

“Why do I still watch this Bruins team? I feel that as Massachusetts residents, it is our sacred duty to suffer and the Bruins provide 82 chances a year to achieve suffering in a relaxed environment. 

Sure, Swayman hasn’t re-signed after we threw Vezina trophy-winning Ullmark to the wolves, leaving us with no leverage and completely exposed to implosion. Yeah, we traded away a combined 60 goals this offseason while indicating to the young talent that they should be focusing on their defensive skills adding more weight to Marchand’s aging shoulders. 

But, fuck it baby! Six beers later and I’m shouting LET’S GOOOO at the TV like a Neanderthal. I’m not worried about how I’m going to pay my bills or whether someone’s going to bomb a hospital because it’s woke, or how many ounces of microplastics are weighing down my testicles. This Bruins team means that we only truly have to figure out how to suffer 283 days and I just think that’s so great.” – Josh

“Self hatred, Breen’s cheesesteaks and beer buckets.” -Pat

There you have it. Pain, cheesesteaks and hope. This is the fuel of the Bruins. Here’s to another disappointing season.