Edelman, Raisman, Fist Bump Kid hype Boston crowd for Game 7
Bruins invited inspirational fan, Patriots receiver, Olympic champion gymnast for pregame spot
by Pat Pickens @Pat_Pickens / NHL.com Staff Writer
The Boston Bruins brought back some familiar faces to get the crowd going for Game 7.
Facing the biggest game of their season, the Bruins invited New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman and six-time Olympic medal-winning gymnast Aly Raisman to join Liam Fitzgerald as fan banner captains before Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
Raisman, a native of the Boston suburb of Needham, Massachusetts, and Edelman donned David Ortiz jerseys, honoring the legendary Boston Red Sox player who is recovering after being shot on Sunday.
They joined Fitzgerald, the 13-year-old Bruins fan who rose to prominence in 2014 during a viral video where he gave Bruins players fist bumps before a game. Fitzgerald was born with Down syndrome and beat leukemia as a 7-year-old, making him an inspiration for the Bruins and the city of Boston.
Fitzgerald was the fan banner captain during a Bruins Stanley Cup Playoff game in 2017, and this also was neither Edelman nor Raisman's first appearance as banner captain.
Edelman, a staunch supporter of the Bruins throughout their postseason run, pumped up the crowd and team at Boston's other Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference First Round.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, the Blues rained on the parade by winning 4-1 and clinching their first NHL championship in their 51st season.