Bruins will open 2020-21 season in Czech Republic
Oct 14, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Bruins will begin next season far from home, as the team will participate in the NHL Global Series and begin their 2020-21 schedule with a head-to-head with the Nashville Predators in Prague, Czech Republic.
“We have kicked off our season with international games twice in the past decade and both times the trips have proved valuable for our team building, so we feel that this trip to Germany and the Czech Republic will be beneficial for our team,” Bruins president Cam Neely said. “We are also looking forward to working with the NHL and the Nashville Predators to continue our collective efforts to grow the game of hockey in international markets.”
To Neely’s point, the Bruins began the 2010-11 season with a regular-season series against the Coyotes and went on to win the 2011 Stanley Cup, and the team started the 2018 preseason in China and advanced to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final this past June.
The trip will be extra special for the two Czech talents on their NHL roster right now in David Krejci and David Pastrnak.
“I was very excited to learn that the Boston Bruins would be heading back to my home country to play in the 2020 NHL Global Series in Prague,” Pastrnak said. “I remember driving to O2 Arena as a kid to go see the Bruins play the Coyotes back in 2010 for the NHL Premiere games. The passionate fans and atmosphere were something I’ll never forget – I can’t wait to feel that energy again from the ice in Prague and Mannheim.”
“Opening the season in Prague and Northern Ireland back in 2010 was a very special experience to share with my family, friends and teammates,” said Krejci. “It was the start of a year I’ll always remember. Growing up in Czech, it was my dream to play in the NHL so to be able to play in more NHL games in Europe means a lot to me personally. I think it’s great the League continues to grow the game and bring hockey to different countries all over the world.”
The Bruins have a couple more Czechs in the pipeline, too, with forward Jakub Lauko and defenseman Jakub Zboril.
