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Boston Bruins’ Rene Rancourt to retire after the season

By Sean Torney

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 2: Anthem singer Rene Rancourt poses with a microphone that is part of the Idol Across America Tour in promotion for the FOX show American Idol before the game of the Boston Bruins against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the TD Garden on March 2, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 2: Anthem singer Rene Rancourt poses with a microphone that is part of the Idol Across America Tour in promotion for the FOX show American Idol before the game of the Boston Bruins against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the TD Garden on March 2, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins’ National Anthem singer Rene Rancourt is hanging up the microphone at the end of this season.  Rancourt has been with the B’s organization since the ’75-’76 season.

Rene Rancourt is a living legend in Boston.  He’s been the National Anthem singer of the Boston Bruins for 42 seasons now.  However, Wednesday the Bruins announced that Rancourt is retiring after this season.

It was a shocking announcement to hear.  Rene has been the only anthem singer for the Bruins in my lifetime and many others’ of the Boston fan base.  After he sang the National Anthem for  Wednesday night’s game against the Canadiens, Rene addressed the media about his decision.

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In the press conference video above, Rancourt states that he started thinking about retirement when he was 68.  Rene is now 78 and boy am I happy he didn’t retire ten years ago.  Rene’s best moments that I can recall have all been within the last ten years.  Let’s take a look at what I’m talking about.

My Favorite Rene Rancourt Moments

My third favorite memory of Rene in the past 10 years occurred in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  It was game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against none other than the Montreal Canadiens.  Unfortunately, the B’s lost this one, however check out the energy Rancourt brought to the TD Garden with four fist pumps.

Rene has always known how to get the Boston crowd going.  He did just that when the Bruins needed it the most in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.  In a do or die game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks, Rancourt nearly sent the TD Garden into a frenzy bringing out three fist pumps. This one gets the nod over the four fist pump night purely for the fact that the B’s won the game.

And now we get to my favorite Rene Rancourt moment.  Ironically, it was an anthem that he didn’t even fully sing.  It was the Boston Bruins’ first home game after the Boston Marathon bombing.  Instead of singing it himself, Rene started the anthem and let the Boston crowd take over.  He allowed a city to heal over the National Anthem after tragedy struck.

Next: Recapping the 2004 draft for the Bruins

Rene Rancourt will be missed after this year.  From his black and gold tuxedo to his classic post-anthem fist pumps, Rancourt will leave his legacy here in Boston.  He’s not done yet, however, and maybe, just maybe, he can sing in the Stanley Cup Finals once again.

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