Bruins make return of ‘Pooh’ official, unveil new Reverse Retro jersey
The Bruins’ new ‘Reverse Retro’ jerseys are here. And they are Pooh.
24 Mar 1997: Center Anson Carter of the Boston Bruins looks on during a game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The Canadiens won the game, 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport
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The leaks regarding the Bruins' new 'Reverse Retro' jersey were indeed the truth, as the Bruins have finally confirmed the return of 'Pooh' with their newest alternate sweater.
One of the most polarizing logos in the history of Boston sports, the mild-mannered looking bear was worn on the Bruins' sleeves on their primary jerseys from the mid-90s through the 2005-06, and was featured front and center on a gold jersey donned for the final time in April 2006.
And it's officially back from the dead, though with a primary color tweak, as these 'Reverse Retro' sweaters, which were first introduced during the pandemic-delayed 2021 season, have been known to do.
With this reanimated corpse of a logo, gold is out, and white is in.
Honestly? It's not the worst look. I still think that a black base with gold 'scratches' on the sleeves would've popped, but I do hear those out there who believed a brown bear on a black backdrop would not have properly highlighted the qualities of that ol' sleepy bear that they all fell in love with some 25 years ago.
What's getting me about this logo and jersey coming back is it just reminds me of a conversation I had with Bruins president Cam Neely a few years ago where I asked about the 'Pooh Bear' jersey and he outright told me that he had no interest in bringing it back. He haaaaaated it. I remember asking Patrice Bergeron, the last active NHL player to wear the original 'Pooh Bear' sweater, his thoughts on it and I remember this look growing over his face and him asking, "Are they bringing it back?" To this day, I have no idea if he was asking that our of excitement or fear. Perhaps a bit of both.
This will be the Black and Gold's second 'Reverse Retro' sweater, and a follow-up to the gold sweater that was a nod to the Ray Bourque-Cam Neely era of Bruins hockey.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 15: Taylor Hall #71 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the first period against the New York Islanders at TD Garden on April 15, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Now considered your fourth starter in the mix, the Bruins will wear these new Reverse Retro jerseys six times in 2022-23, and they will only be worn for home games at TD Garden.
According to the team, the full schedule of 'RR' dates goes as follows...
Monday, Nov. 7 – St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19 – Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 25 – Carolina Hurricanes, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 – Colorado Avalanche, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 31 – Buffalo Sabres, 1 p.m.
11 Apr 1998: Goaltender Mike Dunham of the New Jersey Devils and center Jason Allison of the Boston Bruins in action during a game at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Devils defeated the Bruins 3-2. (Steve Babineau /Allspo)
This will be one of two jerseys unveiled by the Bruins in 2022, as the team still has to reveal its jersey for the 2023 Winter Classic, which will be played at Fenway Park. For what it's worth, I've tried getting my hands on these jerseys — or a picture of what they will look, at the very least — but these things have been guarded like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. The NHL is running a tight ship on that front.
