Ray Bourque Works to Establish Rink at Endicott College
By Duncan Day
Mar 24, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Brian Gionta (21) shakes the hand of former Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque as part of pre-game ceremonies at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Ray Bourque’s Rink
Donning No. 77 for the Black and Gold, Ray Bourque is one of the most impactful Boston Bruins of all-time, and over time, he’s grown an affinity to the city of Boston and its surrounding area, regular engaging in charity and community events.
His most recent development includes the effort to build a hockey rink at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., with the goal of serving the college’s hockey teams, as well as high school, youth and other local interests.
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“This arena will affect the lives of many individuals, starting with the youth of the North Shore, which is the motivating factor for me to not only accept the honor of having the arena named after me but to actively assist in the construction fundraising,” said Bourque, per CSNNE.com. “I am passionate about the funding of scholarships and the continuing education of our youth with regards to the value of teamwork, leadership, dedication and a strong sense of community.”
The rink will be called “Raymond J. Bourque Ice Arena,” named after the former NHL star. The general timeline of its construction has the building being complete ready by the start Endicott’s 2015-16 school year.
“When we began speaking with Ray about the naming of the arena in his honor, our thought was that we wanted to inspire our youth, our students, and our community to emulate the qualities that he has as an athlete and as a man,” said Endicott president Richard E. Wylie. “In true Bourque fashion, he was most appreciative about being honored but far more interested about what impact this would have on the kids and the community.”