Feb 1, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman
Zdeno Chara(33) and Edmonton Oilers defenseman
Andrew Ference(21) during the first period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Ference was one of those players that made a lasting impression on the Boston Bruins franchise. He was one of those players that nearly did anything half-way. This was a guy who could get hundreds of people exercising in Boston at god-awful hours of the morning. He was respected for his philanthropic work and his commitment to keeping people healthy and making a positive impact on the environment. (You can still see Andrew Ference posters and billboards in Boston talking about renewable energy.)
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Ference was a fan favorite. When he got his day with the Stanley Cup back in 2011, he carried the Cup in a baby carriage all around the north end of Boston.
No, it’s safe to say that ‘mediocre’ is a word that is not in Ference’s vocabulary. He even introduced a ‘hard core’ level to the Edmonton Oilers’ prospects during their development camp. His attitude made him a natural leader in the Boston locker room, and it was a deep loss to the team when Ference and the Bruins parted ways after the 2012-13 season.
Puck Prose
Last season, he won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The King Clancy is given to NHL players who “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
When the Ice Bucket Challenge made its way through the Bruins organization, former Bruins like Rich Peverley and Tyler Seguin had their own take on it. (It’s not surprising that Peverley got his kids involved in it, and that Tyler Seguin was nearly naked in his.) When Ference (now captain of the Edmonton Oilers) got called to task, he just went full-on Ference as usual. He chose to dump a bucket on himself, and then get buried in snow dumped on him by a Zamboni.
It goes to show that while you can take Andrew Ference out of the Boston Bruins, you can’t take the black and gold out of Andrew Ference.