B's Big Fans of Patriots Success
Several players attended AFC Championship win over Jaguars
by Eric Russo @NHLBruins / BostonBruins.com
BOSTON - Matt Grzelcyk knows perhaps better than anyone in the Bruins dressing room what the New England Patriots mean to the region. The 24-year-old blue liner grew up in Charlestown as a Patriots fan and has watched firsthand the team's dominant run of five Super Bowl titles over the last 17 seasons.
"I can remember when they won their first Super Bowl," said Grzelcyk. "Obviously they've been unbelievable, this stretch they've gone on is insane. There's a reason why they're so good, you can see how they are on the sidelines with each other, how passionate they are.
"It gives us a little bit of motivation to try to keep up with them. It's awesome to see and it's been great to be a part of it and see it firsthand growing up in Boston."
Grzelcyk was one of several Bruins who attended the Pats' thrilling 24-20, comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Also in attendance were Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Riley Nash, David Pastrnak, Paul Postma, and Tuukka Rask.
"It's nice to be a Patriots fan the last few years, a great day yesterday," said David Krejci. "A few guys went to the game so I'm sure they had a blast. We do have lots of Americans on the team, they have their own team, but playing here I think you have to become a Patriots fan, they always win. It's good to be a Boston fan."
Video: Cassidy speaks to the media
The Pats' victory clinched a spot in their eighth Super Bowl of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era, an unprecedented run of success that has highlighted the golden age of Boston sports.
"You can't help but get caught up in it. I've been in New England 10 years…you can see how teams continually can't put the Patriots way…they're in people's heads," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who visited Patriots training camp this past summer and met with owner Robert Kraft.
"It's an amazing quality that this team has, the culture that they've created, their identity. We'd love to be that, where we're coming at you, we're coming at you and it doesn't matter what happens right until the bitter end. We'll see where that goes.
"You've got to be champions to do that, there's guys in this locker room that were and would like to again. The younger guys that haven't hopefully that's one of the things that they embrace."
Grzelcyk, one of the Bruins' five rookies, believes the Patriots provide plenty of lessons he and his fellow youngsters can draw from.
"I think they're just really good at not overcomplicating things," said Grzelcyk. "The motto is do your job, just very simple, just go out there and do what's asked of you. I think that's something that's stuck with us. We're trying to take it one game at a time right now and apply that to our game."
One of the other special things about Boston sports is the camaraderie between all the teams in town. Last spring, Patriots safety Patrick Chung joined the B's for a skate at the end of practice and earlier this month Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, Rex Burkhead, Jordan Richards, Shea McClellin, and Geneo Grissom attended the B's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Cooks, who purchased a Patrice Bergeron jersey before the game, then joined his teammates for a visit with Boston's alternate captain following his four-goal outburst in the 7-1 win over the 'Canes.
In addition to Cassidy's visit to training camp, a group of Bruins, which included Rask, Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Nash, Brandon Carlo, and Tim Schaller, took in a Patriots practice earlier this fall.
"Year after year, they've been really good. Obviously Tom Brady has been around a long time and they have a good coach. It's fun to watch," said Krejci. "I picked good years to be playing for Boston and becoming a Patriots fan…once our games are done we try to support the other teams as well."