My Trip to TD Garden
There are a few traits that are synonymous with New England. Inevitably, you will absorb these characteristics during your time at Tufts. A desire for clam chowder and a Dunkin iced coffee. The ability to wear shorts in the snow. A penchant for getting stuck in traffic. And, of course, a love for hockey.
Slipping and sliding on frozen ponds is a way of life in New England. Naturally, then, the region adores its professional ice hockey franchise, the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. While I cannot say that I am a hockey aficionado, the Bruins are my favorite team, and I try to get to at least one home game during the regular season. So, on Thursday, October 24, I set out with three friends to make the pilgrimage to TD Garden to watch the Bruins clash with the Dallas Stars.
TD Garden is located directly above North Station, just eight stops away from Tufts on the Green Line. For the 7:00 puck drop, we set out at 5:45 to ensure that we would be in our seats on time. Our seats were perched in the Balcony 300s level, an eagle-eyed view of the ice. However, we made sure that they were located at center-ice so that we could see both ends of the rink equally.
The walk into TD Garden from North Station is always special, as legions of passionate Bruins fans pack together and rise up the escalators next to the statue of legendary defenceman Bobby Orr. After going through security, we picked up our gameday poster before ascending the seemingly endless stairs and escalators to reach the 300 level. The air was bustling with excitement, as the corridors overflowed with gold and black. Unlike Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, TD Garden looks brand new. Its interior looks modern and even the floors sparkle.
Hockey games are unlike any other professional sports event. The rowdiest, most passionate sect of fans, hockey fanatics always make their voices heard. Even though we took our seats 15 minutes before the puck dropped, the crowd was already buzzing. Minutes later, the Bruins emerged from the tunnel to raucous applause, with yellow spotlights highlighting the team as they skated onto the fresh ice. The baritone voice of Todd Angilly conveyed the national anthem throughout the arena, and, with that, the game was underway!
The Bruins jumped out to an early lead, with star forward David Pastrnak snapping one home halfway through the first period. Each Bruins goal is greeted by an emphatic “Woooo!” from the crowd, in the vein of Ric Flair.
However, the Stars came roaring back, scoring one goal in the first period and three in the second to wrap up the contest. Though the game would finish a disparate 5-2, there were still plenty of highlights for the home crowd. Between the “mites on ice,” the Zamboni rides, and, of course, the fantastic atmosphere, the Boston fans managed to stay engaged and passionate throughout the contest. It was also fun to see some of my favorite players, including Bruins legend Brad Marchand and newly re-signed goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman.
As we filed out of the Garden and back down into North Station, I could not keep the smile off of my face, despite the result. Here I was, surrounded by nearly 18,000 fans of a team I love, in an incredible city. One of the NHL’s most historic franchises, an incredible arena, and a first-class sports atmosphere were right down the road from my school.
The Green Line was packed, as usual, but we did not mind standing on the train for our eight-stop journey to Medford/Tufts. As we recounted the last few hours, my friends and I agreed that we would return to TD Garden again soon, hopefully to witness a Bruins victory.
So, whether you are a sports fanatic, want to get to know Boston better, or simply like wearing puffy coats inside and eating oversized pizza slices, TD Garden is the place for you.
Photo Credit: Max Druckman