"He just has that larger than life persona. I was just wide-eyed. You look up to him, obviously, and I was just blown away by how much of a gentleman he was and how kind he was to me."
"At that point, I was just a 19-year-old kid and it was just amazing how welcoming he was and that was really part of the culture that he created here."
"I just learned so much for him, so much. He really helped me grow as a pro and to find the game, the consistency and what I wanted to become as a professional. I credit so much of that to Z, I really do."
Charlie McAvoy recalls meeting Zdeno Chara as a 19-year-old rookie and being struck by Chara’s welcoming, gentlemanly demeanor. Chara’s leadership and larger-than-life presence helped define a team culture that supported player growth and consistency. McAvoy credits Chara with teaching him professionalism, finding his game, and shaping his approach as an NHL defenseman. Chara’s role in stabilizing the Bruins and helping lead to the franchise’s 2011 Stanley Cup is noted. Chara’s No. 33 jersey will be raised to the TD Garden rafters as recognition of his Hall of Fame career and impact.
Read at Boston.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]