The couple was on a shuttle back to the airport when they noticed a familiar face jump on board.
"My wife said to me, 'Look who just got on,'" Burgoyne recalled. "I looked and saw Ray Bourque. While we were riding over on the terminal, I didn't say anything. I just knew he was there."
Much to Burgoyne's surprise - and delight - it was Bourque who initiated a conversation upon noticing that the Bruins fleece pullover that Burgoyne was wearing.
"He goes, 'Hey, I like that shirt of yours.' I said, 'Well, you're my second all-time favorite Bruin,'" said Burgoyne. "And he was with a buddy of his, they were down golfing for the weekend…his buddy said, 'Who's your favorite?' I said, 'Bobby Orr.' They said, 'Well, we can't argue with that.'"
We'd call that a solid top two, to say the least.
As the passengers exited the shuttle and headed to the JetBlue terminal, Burgoyne and Bourque struck up a conversation, discussing No. 77's weekend on the links and all things Black & Gold. When they reached the gate, Burgoyne decided to ask for a photo.
"I went up to him and just asked him if he wouldn't mind me getting a picture with him," said the New Hampshire native. "He said, 'No, not at all.' We took a picture together and then we got on the flight. More than accommodating…it's kind of like the first time I met Bobby Orr, he's just a typical good guy."
What still stands outs to Burgoyne all these years later is Bourque's willingness to engage a fan, as opposed to the other way around - a trait that he believes is quite unique among professional athletes.
"I knew he was back there, but I didn't know [an interaction] was going to happen when I stood up to get out of the shuttle bus," said Burgoyne, whose seats are located in Section 302. "It was a small van, but there were just six of us on board. He interacted with me first which I thought was pretty great.
"He's just a real down to earth guy. We chatted at the counter. He asked how long we've been fans, told him we've been Season Ticket Holders for almost 40 years. It was just very, very nice to see. It was a pleasant experience."
In addition to his chance encounter with Bourque and a meet-and-greet with Orr at the old Boston Garden in the 1980s, Borgoyne has also run into Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Zdeno Chara in Boston's North End.
"They're really down to earth. When I met Bobby Orr, it was the same thing," said Burgoyne. "I think that means an awful lot. Just out and about in the community…they're just really humble. Their parents have to get up early and get them to hockey practice…I think that's the way they were brought up."
