Bruins Bergeron Joins Triple Gold Club
VANCOUVER (AP) - Boston forward Patrice Bergeron is the 25th person to reach an elite level of hockey success.
And did he ever join the Triple Gold Club in style.
Bergeron scored two goals, including the game-winner and a short-handed tally, in the Bruins' 4-0 victory to earn his first Stanley Cup championship.
Bergeron already had gold medals from the Olympics and the world championships. A Stanley Cup ring is the third qualification for the mythical Triple Gold Club.
"It's a great feeling that we've accomplished this as a team," Bergeron said. "The future looks bright with all the guys that we have, but to be honest with you, I'm (just) worrying about the celebration right now."
Read: Marchand Breaks Bruins Rookie Record
Chicago's Jonathan Toews joined the club last year with the Blackhawks' triumph, a few months before Eric Staal became the 23rd member with Canada's win at the Vancouver Olympics. There are eight Canadians in the club, including Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, along with nine Swedes, including Nicklas Lidstrom, two Czechs, including Jaromir Jagr, and six Russians, including Igor Larionov.
Bergeron wasn't particularly productive in the finals until Game 7. Although his second line played solid defense against the Sedin twins and Alex Burrows, Bergeron hadn't scored a goal in the first six games, managing just three assists.
Photos: Bruins With The Cup
While Marchand did most of the second line's scoring, Bergeron also leaned on Recchi to learn how to handle the tension that's approached only by the gold medal match a year ago.
"I talked to Recchi last night, and I was feeling nervous, and I asked him to give me some advice," Bergeron said. "He told me to relax and go out there and play the game, and to do it for him. Obviously it could be his last game, and I've learned so much from him on and off the ice."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
