Zdeno Chara Is Recruiting A Fan Favourite Back To Boston

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Austin Sabourin
November 21, 2023 (9:16 PM)

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For 14 seasons, Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron stood side by side as the backbone of the Bruins in Boston.

Now, with Bergeron having joined Chara in retirement, the question arises: could these two future Hall of Famers trade the ice for the pavement and tackle a grueling 26.2-mile journey from Hopkinton to Boylston Street together?

Chara, who bid farewell to his hockey career in September 2022, hasn't been one to put his feet up in leisure since hanging up his skates.

The towering 6-foot-9 defenseman has found a new passion in marathon running, completing an impressive five marathons in the last six months. His challenging schedule kicked off with a time of 3:38:23 in the 2023 Boston Marathon.

Far from slowing down, the former Bruins captain has already declared his intent to run in the 2024 Boston Marathon and has aspirations for other "major" marathons, including those in London, Tokyo, Berlin, and Chicago.

Meanwhile, Bergeron, now enjoying the retired life after 19 seasons with the Bruins and six Selke Trophy wins, revealed that Chara has been trying to recruit him for the demanding world of marathon training.

However, Bergeron, reflecting on his current hobbies like tennis and soccer, expressed reservations about the toll on his hips, knees, and back.

While acknowledging Chara's admirable feat, Bergeron expressed a desire to take on a challenge eventually, though he humorously referred to his current role as the "Uber driver for the family" during his retirement press conference in July.

Despite feeling the familiar urge to return to the ice after attending Boston's season-opening game, Bergeron, now 38, emphasized his peace with the decision to step away from the rigorous demands of professional hockey.

As for keeping tabs on his former team, Bergeron admitted a limited capacity, citing time constraints but expressing support for the Bruins' ongoing success, emphasizing that he'll be cheering them on throughout the year.