PJ Stock Livens Up Bruins Global Trip to China

BEIJING - P.J. Stock played 130 NHL games for the Bruins over the course of three NHL seasons from 2001-04. Despite the short stint with the team, the impact he made on Bruins fans is still felt to this day. With five career goals and 523 career penalty minutes, his blue-collar style quickly endeared him to the Boston faithful. In addition to his rough-and-tumble flair on the ice, his off-ice shenanigans kept teammates, coaches and fans alike entertained.

Fifteen years after his NHL career ended, Stock was along for another team trip with the Bruins. This time, he joined Providence Bruins head coach Jay Leach, Bruins forwards Sean Kuraly and Danton Heinen, and the players' brothers for Bruins Global: China 2018, hosted by O.R.G. Packaging. Throughout the trip, the Heinens and Kuralys learned that Stock is always quick to throw some playful jabs around.

"The Stock Exchange," 18-year-old Nick Kuraly said with a smile when asked about Stock. "He's a character. We're on the ice all the time, so sometimes we're a little tired or we wake up early and we're a little tired, and on the bus ride over he's just firing stuff off and it's hilarious.
"He's good about it though. He's a character, but it's all good humor."
As the youngest member of the group, Nick was often a playful target for Stock, and accumulated a number of nicknames.
"The nicest one was Junior," said the younger Kuraly. "'N Sync. Timberlake. One Direction."
Sean Kuraly also noted how quick Stock was with names.
"Nick Jonas. Backstreet Boys," said Sean. "It's a new one every half-day. It's new every time. It's fresh. [We're] on our toes."
Stock took advantage of the opportunity to be back in a team environment.
"Now my jokes are a little more relevant," said Stock. "I've been holding them for 15 years…In our little group of people, I'm happy to be around a couple guys that are just as dumb as me when it comes to the simple small talk back and forth. We're just making jokes about silly stuff. That's kind of the vibe that I really miss."
On the ice, Stock did not miss a chance to blame his fellow coaches for anything.
"If the kids aren't doing the drill right," said Cody Heinen, "he's going to be blaming you for not keeping it in control. He'll be on you for that. He just finds anything to bug you."
The friendly chirping extended beyond nicknames and into everyday activities.
"He keeps it light with the coaches and all of us when we're going and seeing the sights and everything," said Danton Heinen. "If you're two minutes late, you're going to hear about it."
Stock was joined by Leach as the elder-members of the group.
"I think the fun part is we're with young guys," said Stock. "Seeing how they are from Day 1, hockey guys are always a little - you kind of say your jokes but you're holding back because the guys are older. Jay and I are almost double some of their ages so they're a little quiet on Day 1."
Leach, who played professionally in the ECHL, AHL and NHL from 2001-2013, noted how Stock's upbeat and fun-loving nature helped the group coalesce.
"I think P.J. was the ringer on that trip," said Leach. "He was the glue that kept us all together right from the get go - an infectious personality…He loves to be around people, good people, and laugh and have a good time. In a foreign country that's a 12-hour time difference away from all of our homes that gets you going each and every morning - he was a lifesaver."
The 38-year-old Leach is close in age to the 43-year-old Stock, and he enjoyed when Stock gave the younger guys a tough time.
"I think P.J. still thought we were playing," said Leach. "We were still on the ice, and he was the captain, and we had a couple rookies in the room…The ribbing, him going after some of the rookies and a certain someone [Sean Kuraly] signing a new contract, trying to get a little piece of that pie was fun to listen to as well."
Over the course of the trip, the younger guys began to fire back at Stock.
"A few days in and the jokes are all off," said Stock. "It's put your hands up and guard yourself because they're coming from everywhere. It's a fun group and everyone kind of - it's a good successful locker room and everyone understands their niche and their role. I think that's why it's been moving pretty smoothly."
Leach noticed how Stock's personality off the ice is consistent from his days as a player.
"I was fortunate to have played with P.J. really briefly in my career," said Leach. "He hasn't changed much since his playing days in that he is always the guy to get the room going, to get everybody excited. And he clearly loves, really life. I'm sure he loves hockey, but I think he just loves life."
Stock relished his time as part of the team in China and reminisced about the things he misses about hockey.
"I miss hockey, going on the ice before the coaches get out there and we're fooling around," said Stock. "I miss practice after practice and we're fooling around and doing stuff. I miss getting my equipment off and sitting in the locker room for an hour and a half with your shoulder pads off, maybe your skates are still on. You're still just sitting there talking with the guys for hours.
"The camaraderie of a group and finding your niche or your role in that group is something that I miss. It's probably the biggest part about the Bruins, because of how great the group was."
Leach echoed Stock's sentiment, discussing how much he enjoys the team environment.
"It's really why I'm involved in the game," said Leach. "It was really nice to be on a trip like that with some players and some former players and still build as though you can be part of that team… When you go somewhere foreign and there's - I don't know how many - eight of us, and it's nice to have a group like that, and act like a team. It was fun, lots of fun."
Stock's time playing for the Bruins may have been short. After 15 years apart from the organization, the trip to China made one thing certain. The Stock Exchange will always be a part of the team.