The Boston Bruins had just suffered a heartbreaking elimination on April 30, when each player on the team hugged captain Patrice Bergeron before leaving the TD Garden rink.
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The scene was touching. It was possible to imagine that Bergeron, then 37 years old, had just played his last career game in the National Hockey League.
After collecting 135 points in the standings during the regular season, the Bruins lost the seventh and decisive game of the first round series against the Florida Panthers following a Carter Verhaeghe.
Through the great disappointment among the Boston representatives, everyone wanted to show their respect for Bergeron. The Quebecer wanted to thank each of them.
Bergeron formalized his sports retirement on Tuesday, the day after his 38e birthday.