Three-time NHL all-star Rick Middleton moved up the ice, sensing the presence of teammate Joe Mullen in his periphery. He passed to Mullen who took the puck on his stick, crossed the blue line, weaved through two awestruck defensemen and launched a wrister just above the goalie’s glove. The horn rang. The crowd went wild. One-nothing, Bruins.
Sounds like the Boston Garden in 1982, right? Try Martha’s Vineyard in 2019.
On Saturday, the Martha’s Vineyard Arena hosted the Bruins Alumni Team to raise money for the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard and its affiliated ice facility. Former greats like Middleton and Mullen played alongside lesser known, but equally impressive one-time Bruins like Reggie Lemelin, Tom Songin, Jay Miller and Bruce Shoebottom. They challenged a Vineyard team that consisted of Island legends, not of the NHL, but the EHL, with household names like Gale and Kent and Coogan gracing the backs of the Vineyard Mariner’s jerseys.
It was a star-studded affair which raised $50,000 for the YMCA and Ice Arena. And the level of competition was high, even with the Bruins promising not to take it too it easy on the Islanders — the Martha’s Vineyard Islanders, that is.
“We don’t go to blow anyone out,” Mr. Middleton said in the Vineyard’s high school locker room before the game. “But we don’t look to lose either.”
The Vineyard Mariners were confident before play began. Coach Greg Coogan, standing tall on the home bench, expressed optimism about his squad’s chances.
“I think we have an excellent chance of not getting hurt,” Mr. Coogan said. “And I think we have an even better chance of having a lot of fun.”
After high schooler Skylar Hall sang the national anthem, and the entire packed arena booed official Dan Garcia, Joe Mullen approached center ice to take the opening faceoff. He gave Islander Bart Kent a friendly shin-tap, and then immediately won the puck. It took about four minutes for former Bruin Paul Mara to put it in the back of the net.
The Mariners quickly answered, with Sandy King scoring to make it 1-1. Mr. King had a big fan section in the stands.
“Sandy lives and breathes hockey,” Heather Hunt said. “When’s he’s not reffing, he’s coaching. When he’s not coaching, he’s playing.”
The tie didn’t last long, as former Bruin Bruce Shoebottom found a gap in the goal almost as big as the one between his two front teeth. Vineyarder Jason Schwab answered with a low wrister to make it 2-2.
“I remember a lot of these guys,” fan Jim Wallen said as he looked on from the grandstand. “A few of them were big time stars. They’ve still got it at age 70, and it’s pretty impressive that they are willing to come all this way to help with the arena.”
The scoring continued until five minutes left in the first period when the Vineyard, down 9-4, brought on their fifth line.
“And now, we’d like to welcome the Vineyard Mites,” announcer John Horigan said. A horde of six-year-olds rushed the ice, bamboozling the Bruins with low-centers of gravity and dizzying cuteness.
“They’re like lemmings!” one fan shouted. Eileen Moriarty couldn’t contain her excitement, watching her son Jack slide around with former Bruins by his side.
“Oh my God, he’s so thrilled,” Ms. Moriarty said. “He’s been saying all week how he hopes the Bruins will take it easy on them.”
Although the final score was 13-6 Bruins it was clear by the huffs and puffs on both sides that no one had taken taken it easy.
“It was awesome. This is a great arena,” Mr. Middleton said. “And it was a fast skate. A lot faster than we wanted it to be, that’s for sure.”
Every kid who didn’t play lined up for autographs and photos, mainly with the Bruins, but occasionally with the Mariners, too. Twelve-year-old Westley Wlodyka had about 10 signatures on his goalie glove by the time he got through with the alumni team.
“This can never be used again,” he said.
Longtime Bruins fans Don Lambert and Tom Taylor, both of whom were instrumental in the original construction of the arena nearly 40 years ago, became emotional when the latter presented the former with an autographed jersey.
“It brings a tear to my eye,” Mr. Taylor said.
The two quickly wiped away the tears and regained their focus. They had another Bruins game to watch. And this one was a playoff game.
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