During the tour, the Bruins expect to outfit over 5,000 kids (ages 4-9), who have signed up for the Bruins Academy Learn to Play program, in brand new CCM hockey gear valued at $500 (retail value) per player for a total of $2.5 million (retail value) worth of equipment dispersed to local communities. Last year, the Bruins distributed $2 million worth of youth hockey equipment through the Bruins Academy Learn to Play program, contributing to the overall growth of youth hockey in the area. The number of youth hockey players in Massachusetts under the age of 8 grew by 10 percent last season.
Last summer, over 14,000 Bruins fans attended the inaugural Fan Fest Tour stops in Portland, ME, Manchester, NH, Burlington, VT, Springfield, MA, Hartford, CT, and Providence, RI.
Once again, current Bruins players, coaches, executives and NESN personalities are expected to be on hand throughout the tour to play games and mingle with fans, sign autographs, take photos, participate in Q&A sessions and much more. Fans will be able to participate in skills and drills on synthetic ice rinks, pose for photos in a mock Bruins locker room, and have the opportunity to partake in NESN virtual reality experiences. Boston Bruins BFit will also be on hand to lead kid-friendly fitness activities at each stop. Kids can visit the Bruins Academy Zone for face painting, poster making, and Bruins trivia. Please note that player, coach, executive and NESN personality appearances will vary at each location and are subject to change.
Gifford's Famous Ice Cream will once again be on hand at each stop scooping their Bruins-themed ice cream, Power Play Fudge, for $1 donations to the Boston Bruins Foundation.
Admission to each tour stop is FREE, and fans are welcome and encouraged to participate in all of the event's festivities. For more information, fans can visit
BostonBruins.com/FanFest
.
Below is the full schedule for the tour (please note dates and locations are subject to change):
Friday, August 17
Portland, ME
Saturday, August 18
Manchester, NH
Sunday, August 19
Burlington, VT
Monday, August 20
Springfield, MA
Friday, August 24
Weymouth, MA
Saturday, August 25
Hartford, CT
Sunday, August 26
Providence, RI
