BOSTON - The Boston Bruins, in partnership with O.R.G. Packaging and O.R.G Packaging Chairman Mr. Zhou Yunjie, will make the organization's third official visit to China to continue growing the sport of hockey, strengthen the connection between the Bruins and the local Chinese community in New England, and educate North American residents about the growth of hockey in China. "Bruins Global: China 2018" will take place from July 15 to July 24 and will feature current Bruins players Danton Heinen and Sean Kuraly,along with Providence Bruins Head Coach Jay Leach, Bruins Alumni P.J. Stock, and members of the Boston Bruins Corporate Partnership and Youth Hockey Development Teams. The Bruins will visit Beijing, China from July 15 through July 22, and will then travel to Shenzhen, China. The trip will culminate with a press conference in Shenzhen on July 23, involving Heinen, Kuraly, and representatives from the Calgary Flames to discuss the upcoming preseason games that will take place between the Bruins and Flames in Shenzhen in September.
Bruins to Embark on Third Official Visit to China
The Boston Bruins organization has been heavily involved in growing the game of hockey in China for the past three years after partnering with O.R.G. Packaging in 2015. The Bruins became the first NHL team and first North American professional sports organization to partner with O.R.G. Packaging, which is based in Beijing.
In early 2016, the Bruins hosted Chinese Cultural Night presented by O.R.G. Packaging at TD Garden where the Bruins welcomed nearly 30 Chinese Youth Hockey Players from the Beijing Hockey Association. Those players participated in numerous activities during Chinese Cultural Night including Future Bruins, Three Minutes of Fame and the pregame high-five line where they had the opportunity to fist bump the B's players before they took the ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Later in July of 2016, the Bruins organization embarked on its first-ever official visit to China, where over 200 Chinese children attended the various clinics hosted by the Bruins and players Matt Beleskey and David Pastrnak, as well as Bruins alumni Andrew Raycroft and Bob Sweeney. In addition to hosting the youth hockey clinics, the Bruins players were able to explore Beijing and Shanghai, where they experienced the local Chinese culture. Beleskey and Pastrnak were each treated to custom made Chinese suits which they wore during the trip and later wore to the Bruins Chinese Cultural Night hosted at TD Garden in Boston on February 12, 2017. Chinese Cultural Night coincided with a new group of Chinese youth players who visited Boston and included a ceremonial puck drop by O.R.G. Packaging Chairman Mr. Zhou Yunjie and the Chinese youth players. Other highlights of Chinese Cultural Night included sampling of Want Want Milk, a Chinese drink, and Chinese "Go Bruins" signs that were given to fans throughout the game. While Mr. Zhou Yunjie was in town for Chinese cultural night, he and Pastrnak engaged the local Boston Chinese community and visited the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, where the pair helped children with arts and crafts, and gave out gift bags and tickets and to Bruins' Chinese Cultural Night game against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Bruins embarked on their second official visit to China in July 2017, with current Bruins players Torey Krug, David Pastrnak, and Tuukka Rask, along with Bruins Alumni Hal Gill and members of the Boston Bruins Corporate Partnership and Youth Hockey Development Teams in participation. The trip's festivities kicked-off with the grand opening of a brand new state-of-the-art hockey rink in Beijing built by Mr. Zhou of O.R.G. Packaging where hundreds of fans and youth hockey players attended. Over the course of the trip, Krug, Pastrnak, Rask, and Gill assisted with on ice and off ice sessions of youth hockey clinics held by the Bruins organization. They also had a once in a lifetime experience of climbing the Great Wall of China and partook in sightseeing in Beijing and Shanghai.
The Bruins hosted their annual Chinese Cultural Night on Saturday, February 10 during their game against the Buffalo Sabres. Mr. Zhou was on hand to participate in the ceremonial puck drop. In conjunction with Chinese Cultural Night, the Bruins welcomed over 30 Chinese youth hockey players from the A.Z. Ice Sport Hockey Club from Beijing. The group of Chinese youth hockey players were in attendance for the game and participated in several in-game experiences such as Three Minutes of Fame, high five line, bench assistants and ice resurfacer rides. Over the course of the week, the Chinese youth players participated in on-ice and off-ice clinics and training sessions led by Boston Bruins coaches, players, and alumni as well as the Bruins Youth Hockey Staff. They also played games against local youth teams, explored the city of Boston, and attended the Beanpot, a Celtics game, and a Bruins game.
Since the partnership with O.R.G. Packaging was consummated, the Bruins have hosted over 100 Chinese youth hockey players from 2015 to 2017. Throughout their visits, the Chinese youth hockey players participated in clinics led by the Bruins Youth Hockey Development Team, played games against local New England youth hockey teams, explored the city of Boston and watched Bruins hockey games at TD Garden. The Bruins will continue to host a different group of Chinese youth hockey players in Boston each year, as part of their five-year partnership with O.R.G. Packaging. Since the partnership began in 2015, over 450 Chinese youth hockey players have participated in the various clinics held by the Bruins.
