Episode 2: Chris Kelly

Former Bruins forward Chris Kelly joins Cue the Memories to look back on Boston's 2011 championship run, including his strong performance against Montreal and the helmet cage he donned during that series.

Transcript

Cue the Memories Podcast Episode 2 

Introduction (0:00) 

Russo: Cue the Memories presented by Bud Light 

Russo: What's up everyone and welcome into another episode of cue the memories presented by Bud Light as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the 2011 Stanley Cup champion, Boston Bruins. I am Eric Russo alongside Andrew Ference.  Andy another episode. We're getting rolling here 

Ference: Eric Russo and we've moved up in the world we have real microphones, so this episode is going to sound really good because of that. And even extra good because we have a pretty, amazing guy coming up here. 

Russo: Absolutely. Yes. You sound like the voice of God, which is good. And yes, we'll have another voice of God coming in as we welcome in a crucial veteran piece of the 2011 Stanley Cup champs, a mid-season acquisition who became a staple of the Bruins third line that season. Mr. Chris Kelly, so Fer, what can you tell us about Chris before we get started here.

Ference: So Kells came in and I didn't really know much about him. All I knew really about Kells was that we beat them every time we played against them. He was up you know, unfortunately with a team that didn't do so well against us right but anyway, so we trade for Kells and he comes in and I don't know if anybody else watch this. We're recording this a couple days after NESN put out that contenders to champion’s piece. I loved it like I just ate it up. I was watching it just was like reliving old times. And there was a part in there where you know, Kells said “man these guys practice so hard”, but like Kells is one of those guys that like he's the one that practice hard like he drove he was a driver right and he was the guy that like would ramp it up and be super competitive and then like be totally cool with it after and that was like why Cal's fit in so good with our group is because it was like an understanding of right like we're on the ice we're pushing each other we all like are here for the same reasons and then afterwards like there's like no hard feelings nothing like that but just going like be ultra-competitive so it actually kind of surprised me when I saw him like say like “oh my god I couldn't believe how hard these guys practice” because man this guy came in fit right in he was a perfect you know perfect acquisition for us to make a long long you know run in the playoffs super reliable, like the kind of guy that goes out there and penalty kills and you know, you're not worried about anything takes a face off you're not worried about anything you just like Mr. reliable. And so I know that's not the most exciting story like that, but he's just a solid dude. And I don't know I don't really have anything like to say they make fun of him or anything like that. Or like Haha, because if you'd come back and like carve me 10 times as deep because he's got a sharp wit. He's got a dry humor. He keeps everybody in line. And if you try to like be BS him or something like that, he'll be the first one to call you out on it. So he keeps he keeps guys honest, you know, on and off the ice. 

Russo: All right, yeah, wise choice to keep the chirping to a minimum here. I've gotten the chance to work with Chris a little bit here. Now that he's back with the Bruins and a player development role. But what I remember most about Chris during that run in 2011 that Montreal series some big goals, the third line was huge. And he had that cage going I don't know there was something about it. I don't know it was kind of bad ass. I don't know it was it was like you know we're not going to take it from these guys the Habs you like we're giving it right back to them no matter what they bring it us and I don't know there is something about it that still sticks in my mind from that series so I'm sure we'll talk more about that as we welcome in. Chris coming up here on this latest episode of cue the memories presented by Bud Light. 

Russo: Cue the memories brought to you by Bud Light score exclusive merch and more at Bud Light legends.com

Russo: and we're back on the latest episode of cue the memories presented by Bud Light and joining us now we will come in Mr. Chris Kelly. Hello Kells thanks for joining us. 

Kelly: Thanks for having me guys. 

Ference: Hey Kells. 

Kelly: Fer How are you? 

Ference: Nice to see a pal I forgot about the cage. Russo just like that's all he remembered about you from a whole Stanley Cup run like you know you've lived out your childhood dream and Russo just remembers you were in a cage against Montreal but

Russo: It's that iconic image. 

Ference: Why are you wearing that thing? Would you like beat your tongue or something? 

Kelly: Yeah, yeah, no, I think Claude was trying to muzzle me a little bit but actually I got my face got rammed into the post and I think it was game three in Montreal. Yeah, and I actually broke a couple bones in my face. The worst part about that whole thing like a little on the cage and everything. I had to fly back to Boston to get it checked out in between because you guys went to Lake Placid, and I did jump on this puddle jumper. That was terrifying. And that was the worst hole. The worst part about that whole experience but maybe I should have went to college ended up going into Junior, but you know. 

(5:00)

Kelly: Maybe we should have went to college would had more success because I even debated about keeping it on longer than I should have. But since came to me and Sens came to me and said I gotta rip this thing off. 

Ference: Yeah, but that's seriously impressive. I love like the start, I kind of give my like recollection like, oh, who's Chris Kelly. Like, you actually kind of just did it yourself. Like, oh, you know, a couple of broken bones in my face. It is just like, 

Russo: No big deal. 

Ference: The dude is like; the dude is rock. Like, he's just rock solid. And he would like, block a shot. Yeah, like, it's a little break in my leg or something like that. Like, I mean, like, soupy like Gregory Campbell takes all the credit for like playing because he you know, broke his leg or something and finish shift. I bet you Kells probably played like a whole series with a broken leg and just didn't tell anybody. That's the kind of guy he is. 

Kelly: That was the environment. That was that's, you know, when I came to you guys, that was, that was the environment it was it was so refreshing to be part of something, you know, bigger than, than myself. You know, you know, when I was in Ottawa, and I loved Ottawa, Ottawa was, you know, a team that drafted me, you know, I had success there. We went to the finals, and, you know, seven, but when when I got drafted or traded, we hadn't won a game that month in January, that that was, that was a long month, and I come to Boston, and I'm like, wow, this is, this is just refreshing. Oh, these guys actually get it. And it's about winning. And it was so much fun. 

Ference: Yeah, no doubt. I mean, it's weird getting traded, for sure. And especially against, you know, to a team that just kicked your ass all year. We beat you guys a lot, like for like, multiple years to like, not to, it doesn't like to rip on Ottawa or anything like that. But, but like if you're on the receiving end of that, too. Like, when you get traded to a team, like were you walking in, like with preconceived notions of like, Oh, this guy must be like that, or this guy must be like that. Like, was there any surprises of like, somebody that caught you off guard that you kind of had this image made up of who they must be based on, you know, playing against them and the rivalry or if you want to call it that. 

Kelly: I was surprised. Like how high in the skill was on the team? Like, you know, we always lost you guys had a number for a lot of years. But like, the skill level of the certain players, Kretch and Bergy,  Looch, and Horty you know, you don't you don't truly appreciate how skilled these guys are, when you just play them, you know, periodically and you know, they make a quick playing and like all those was pretty nice, but never great coming into a new team mid-season. Like you're trying to find your way just trying to blend in and not ruin anything to be honest. And my first game with Boston was in Ottawa, I pushed my shopping cart over and here I am. And I was like, yeah, it's so weird. Hey, guys, how's it going? You know, thanks. And I'm playing my friends on the other side. And they're trying to get like, they're cracking jokes. And finally, I said, Listen, stop it. I can't crack a joke. I didn't talk to one guy in that team. I'm like, I got a job to do. And like, I'm not you people are gonna see right through me. So, you know, that was probably a weird experience. But we ended up winning. So I was happy. 

Ference: Yeah, I think that part gets kind of like glossed over. It's like, Oh, you know, Peter picked up a great couple great acquisitions. They just like, were perfect for the team. And then like, that's it, like, then the conversation kind of moves on. But I don't think people understand like, yeah, we had a good atmosphere, but it's hard to be the new kid. Like, that's like, going to a new school and like trying to crack in with like, tight group of friends sitting at the lunch table. Like, that's, that's a hard thing. And like, kudos to you guys. Like for just, honestly, you do it, I guess through action, right, like how you play how you practice and, you know, you're the right type of personality. But that is challenging, especially to a team that has bonded has had success in the past that had a really tight nucleolus I think, you know, if you're sitting at the lunch table, you always think that you're friendly, and this and that, but like, you know, it takes a lot for the personality to come in mid-year, like you said, and not only contribute, but just fit in and not, you know, make it awkward. 

Kelly: Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, I came into the, in my mind was perfect, because I got traded, and then that, you know, shortly after we acquired Peverley. And then shortly after that, like right at the deadline, we acquired Kaberle, and he was he was like the player, you know, people were trying to trade for and to me, I just was able to blend in I'm like, this is awesome. All the attention is on Kaberle  and here me and Peverley just get to slide in and you know go about our business. And it was it was a perfect, perfect storm. For us. 

Ference: What do you do now? What do you so you're a coordinator of player development? Now in Boston. This is the this is the where are they now section of the podcast, or I'm a podcaster apparently, and you're a coordinator of player development. So, like What does that even mean? 

(10:00)

Ference: Cause I know like, there's a few guys that are like, on player development. I'm like, ah, like, what do you do? Do you like go around like tell kids like how to play I'd be intimidated if you were my developer. When I was coming through, I didn't have a developer like is that what people have now when they're young, 

Kelly: I guess we never had it Fer,  but you know, every team has one or two or multiple, depending on the organization. And I'm living in Boston now. I live in back in the north end. So whenever I go to the barber shop, I see your famous picture, which I get a chuckle out of all the time. 

Ference: I still call my boys and the North ends; I know what you guys do. Still goes in. 

Kelly: But yeah, so I am fortunate to go to the Bruins games and watch as guys get called up from Providence and see how they're coming along. And then I'm down in Providence, they're playing in Marlborough this this year, obviously, because of the circumstances, but I'm at, you know, every home game, there's I watch every game, there's actually watched one today, they play at one o'clock every game this year. So it's actually been quite nice, and normally, I'm, you know, on the road, keeping an eye on the players, we've drafted and interacting with them and really Fer, I try to stay as positive as I can with them. Because it's difficult because I'm not in a fight with them day in and day out. So it'd be really hard for me to come in and, you know, strong on arm them and, you know, be overly critical of them. Because I'm not there day in and day out. And I want to build these kids up. And, you know, Boston's done a great job of drafting, you know, good quality people, and they're all, you know, great guys to deal with. So it's been really enjoyable. The staff down in Providence has been fantastic, you know, with me coming, being around and, and helping me, you know, interact with all these guys. And, you know, it's been really good. 

Ference: It's honestly, it is brilliant, like, so like, Here, you have like a guy who had an unbelievable career, you know, want a cup, like, made a like job for himself for like, a ton of years in the NHL, right? And so, you know, it's easy, like being the old guy looking back and saying, like, Damn, like, that's so valuable. Like, if I had growing up, you know, or like when you're trying to crack in, and you're kind of making all these mistakes and learning on your own. And, you know, some guys figure it out. And some guys just drop off the face of the earth, right. But, you know, here you are, as a young guy now and whether you're in junior and just drafted or in the in the minor leagues, like you have this, like, wealth of knowledge, just like give feeding your tips and feeding the ideas of how to build out a career for yourself. So like, that's easy for me to see, like how valuable it is like, did the young guys get it? Do they pick up on that? Or is it like, a fairly receptive? You probably have to give the stock answer like I yeah, they drafted all great guys, you know. But I imagine there's like, there's a give and take there. 

Kelly: Absolutely. Some, some pick it up better than others. Some, you know, the biggest messaging is like you got it, you got to meet me halfway in your development, like I, I can't hold your hand, like, you gotta want to be a player to a certain degree. And, you know, I try to help these guys any way I can. But you got to help yourself a little bit, too. And I'm just trying to give you an opportunity to have what we had. And, you know, I feel extremely fortunate to have that opportunity to play in the NHL, like, you know, looking back, even my parents did or you never thought you'd play in the NHL? And I said, Yeah, you and you and everyone else. So it's just like helping these guys, you know, find not everyone's going to be the goal scorer. So how do you affect and how do you make a living at doing other things? You're really really well. 

Russo: Is it strange for you at all to be trying to develop guys to play with the Marshy’s and the Bergy’s and the Ketches that you played with? With 10 years ago? What's that kind of dynamic like?

Kelly: You know what it's actually I think it's extremely beneficial that I played with these guys, because I know what their mindset is, I know their work ethic, and you know, their expectation. So, it's like, well, if you want to play with these guys, well, these are the standards that you need to meet in order to have that opportunity because they're super competitive. They're the hardest working guys on the team. And there's a reason this organization has been at the top for so long. It's not just by luck or chance, it's that their best players are their hardest working players. So, you have to come in and you know, blend in and be part of that working culture. You know, I think being part of that in seeing these guys firsthand, I think they  kind of realize that I'm not just talking about the side of my mouth, like I experienced it. 

Ference: So, I watched Did you watch that NESN thing? 

Kelly: I did. 

 Ference: Do you like I'm This is how it works just for people that listen like Looch usually sends out like links, you know, so it's like a YouTube link or whatever. Yeah, so Looch sent me the link to you know, the NESN and thing because I can't get NESN in Edmonton. So I watched it andI just like I eat it up. I love it. 

(15:00)

Ference: I totally love it. But like, you know, not everybody is like that, right? But like, I don't remember a lot of stuff. Like when I was playing, like I'm in a game and I'm just like, you know, it's all noise, right? And then I usually have to actually watch the game to remember like, what the hell happened or like what somebody else did. So I actually really enjoy it because I didn't realize like, the stuff you did, like No offense, but like, I wasn't paying attention to you during the game, like, and so then you go back and watch like, Damn, like, he had a good series, because he really scored so much. You're like, you know, the different things you can pick up on. But anyways, kudos to you. You played well, man. Congrats. That was a good run. 

Kelly: No, no. You know what I actually I didn't see it. It's funny because I do get NESN and it was advertised at nine o'clock Sunday night. And for whatever reason, like Monday rolls around, I was like, ah, I tried finding it. It's not until next Saturday, so I'm gonna watch it Saturday.

Ference: I’ll get Looch to text you. 

Kelly: Yeah, he's got more important things. He's got 1000 games coming up. But that's a side note that he's going to.

 Russo: Take me back. You mentioned a little bit about this earlier when you first came into the team and the things that stood out to you about the Bruins. But did you know when you came in like this is a Stanley Cup contender when the trade went down? And then when you got to the team? Did you say yes, yes, I'm getting it. I'm understanding why this this team has potential.

Kelly: Obviously, I knew the team was, you know, really good. To be honest. I I never thought Boston would be a team that I would go to. Yeah, no one not knowing like their situation like, you know, looking from the outside and you see they have Bergeron on Krejci,  Savard, Campbell on like, Well, I'm not, they're not looking for a centerman. And then, you know, to find out that Mark Savard had the injury had and then you know, I come in, you know, I met Blake Wheeler and Mark Stewart for about a cup of coffee morning skate. And then they were trading Peverley came in. And then like I said, Kaberle came in. And then I think we were on the on the road for Western Canada swing when we started in Ottawa, and then went out west. And right away, you kind of had a feeling like, wow, this is, you know, there's something different about the group. You know, like I said, it was kind of somewhat of the perfect storm to come into a new team. You know, we happen to have rookie party on that trip, which is 

Ference: Oh, good timing. 

Kelly: Oh, awesome timing, which is, you know, 

Ference: Once a rookie, Yeah and that being said, we're so nice to them. You know, we treated them well was marshy, and Quaider you know, so, you know, 

Kelly: Exactly, exactly. So you know, get to see the guys in a different light. Outside the rink was was nice. There was one instance I remember in in Calgary. We went into Calgary and Calgary, you know is a hard rink to play in the plan and we ended up, you know, it's a tight game, we ended up winning. And I remember looking, you know, you look at you get a sheet of all the stats after the game, like how many minutes you played, and every hockey player is right there looking at their stats. And sure now, you know, obviously, it was, you know, it was Krejci, Bergeron, one, A, one, B, and then, you know, myself and soupy. And I remember looking at the stat in soupy nine played more than Kretch and Bergy that game, and not a word was said not, you know, not no complaining, no nothing. And I just kind of came from, you know, a different environment where, if the team's not having success, you know, the players hoping, you know, now I got to have success. And I remember thinking, like, wow, that this is a pretty special group early on that it's just about winning. And, you know, that that's all it is. And we went on to win, you know, seven in a row when, you know, right after that trade deadline, and you quickly realized that there was a making of a good team. 

Ference: I've never been able to quite explain that to people because it's almost like you're contradicting yourself, because we had an incredibly competitive team, right? Like, you practice hard against each other. Everybody wants to, like, be the best line that night. But you're genuinely pulling for the other guy, right? Like, and it's not like yeah, I hope he does. Well, like and kind of saying out the side of your mouth. Like, I think like for the most part, unless I'm like, unless I had my rose colored glasses on like, the guys on the team. Like they're genuinely happy for each other. Like if some, you know, the other guy was plus three and you were minus two it's like you weren't like pissed off like that and I think you said like some teams have that right? But it wasn't all just like buddy buddy you know, happy feel good. Like we went hard against each other in practices and we challenge each other and like demanded a lot of each other. 

(20:00)

Kelly: Absolutely. I think, you know, back to the Fers point like when a Claudes like staples for practice was a three on three down low. And I think you're going up against Fer, Seidenberg, Boychuck, McQuaid. Chara, you know, it's going to be a battle and they're competing in, you know, you're competing back. But as soon as the whistle was blown to end the drill, like, there was no hard feelings, because we were just trying to make each other better. Like if we could survive in practice, the games are generally much easier. And I think it just made us all better.

Ference: And these are and you know, to, I mean, from the other job practice that comes first to mind, for me would be penalty kill, like, as a group of penalty killers, like we'd go out there and be like, you know, these guys, there's no chance of scoring against us, it'd be like a game, you'd be like, fired up to like, there's no way we're letting Marshy score on us is like a penalty killing group or like, you know, like, hey, go was full out, it was it was full out. And if you stop the PP you’d chirp them, like, let them know that like, we got their number, whatever, alright, but like, in a good way, like you're pushing them to, to hold up their end of the bargain, right? So everything had to be earned. It wasn't like, Oh, you know, we don't want to upset the stars. Because like, No, we want to actually like kick them and make them like stronger. 

Russo: Well, I want to know why the third line worked. So well. Obviously, it was revamped there at the deadline with you and Peverley coming in, and then adding Michael Ryder on the other wing there. What, what clicked? Why did you guys gel, so well. 

Kelly: Obviously, love to look back and say, Oh, yeah, it just instantly clicked. But I don't think it instantly clicked, you know, we, we went out there. And you know, I don't think the production came quickly. Like we'd hoped. But I think there was, you know, playing with Pev’s and Rydes, their two elite players, I was super excited to have be playing with those guys. And Rydes got through the neutral zone better than most, which was, he was so underrated at that issue. Everyone talks about, you know, Ryde’s shot, and which was incredible. And but, you know, his ability to get through the neutral zone and separate from people and playing with Rich, it was, you know, we both played center, it was like, you know, a rotating center position, you know, I'd go to the wing when he was low, he would go to the wing, and we both take faceoffs on our strong side, you know, added that speed element, you know, they were both just a lot, a lot of fun to play with. 

Ference: And I know we had like, depth that demon. But I think the big thing you see over and over and over in playoffs, right? Is how important like a good third line is. Because the third lines out there against you know, third pair. D right. And so that's your chance to, like, really beat up on a team with your depth. And I think that's what you know, was so unbelievable that year. It's just, I mean, I felt you feel sorry for some of the other teams, you know, third pair D sometimes because they were at sucks, you know, to go against like veteran guys that knew how to play hard. Like, like you said, Ryde’s shot, like that's like, elite goal scoring shot, right. And so to have to compete against that as a third pair D. You guys are absolutely critical. And it was like a, you know, it was like a superpower of our team. The game's up in Montreal, you guys saved our team, like things are blowing up if we don't win that series. I know you guys had a great game was that like your highlight for 2011. I mean, other than winning the cup, 

Kelly: I think that series was are line played well. But it's funny, because I remember, you know, peeling it back, like the first two games we lose at home against Montreal. And I remember coming back home after that second loss thinking, Oh, my goodness, like, this might be old before it even starts. And I was brought in here to help and I just felt sick to my stomach. You know, thinking about it. And then we go, we go up to Montreal and Reech’s had a speech. I don't know if it was right before the game or you know, the day before or whatever it was. But, you know, he talked about how he'd been been in the exact same position, you know, with with Carolina in Montreal down, you know, two games going in there instead. You know what, we did it we went in there, we won game three, we won game four. And, you know, to be honest, we went on to win the Stanley Cup and just having someone that had been through it and actually, you know, had success, I thought was huge. We end up winning, you know, game three. And then game four. The funny thing is, it started game four Claude, couldn't play our line. At the end of the period ended the first period, because we were weren't very good. And I remember he skipped us over. And I wasn't mad at Claude I was mad at like, myself, I was mad at Pev’s I was mad, Rydes, like I was like, I think I said something in the room. We should be embarrassed as a line that our coach can't even play us like, let alone like rely on us. 

(25:00)

Kelly: And you know Rydes end up scoring in the in the second period with you know, with going down his strong side and you know, between just over the blue line and I think just a laser and I happen to tie it up in the third and then you know Rydes scores in OT but it's funny how like, the highs and lows of the game. When you look back and think wow, like could have been really close to going the other way. 

Ference: Claude was mad at you guys. He was just disappointed.

Kelly: Almost worse. wasn't mad he was just disappointed.

Russo: And then game seven. Did you think that was the winner when you scored with about 10 minutes to play in the third period that big goal from from the top of the crease? I mean, you must the Garden erupts. You must think hey, this is I just scored the winning goal. 

Kelly: In game seven. Yeah, I scored and I'm like, well, that's great. And I remember Bergy got a penalty and offensive zone penalty. I think that's like one like you could count them as and it wasn't even a mistake. I don't even know if it was a call. But like, say your that'd be like, oh, that might be like, you can count how many mistakes is guys made, On one hand and his whole career and I'd be like, Oh, my goodness. And then Subban scores to add insult to injury as I come on. But then it's set up perfectly because you know, I think everyone's favorite player on the Bruins scored the game winner. So it was great. 

Ference: Alright, so playoffs boom, like we're winning. Things are great. I mean, you kind of get into a blur, right? I mean, for almost like a month and a half, you're just kind of going through it. But so I know there's a lot of highlights in there and whatnot. But we're here to talk about the Cup. So, you know, we talked about with Quaider too in our last podcast and for me, I rewatch it and I just like and like feel it now just like live it. I wish I could like replay it over and over in my mind. But like, for me, you know, I remember the last couple minutes in the game. That was my highlight of just feeling like this euphoria. Like what if you like what, like what was going on? Who was in the rink? Who did you celebrate with? Like, do your parents come with your wife, there. 

Kelly: What I truly remember is like, the morning of the game, then they're always at five o'clock out west. like trying to choke down chicken for like, the 127th time at when I just had breakfast, but I'm like, Okay, I gotta eat my chicken and pasta like.

Ference: That's why I go with the salmon. 

Kelly: You know, you know player, like there's so like routine. I was like, I gotta I gotta eat my chicken and then go into the game and I think just I remember you  cracked a joke. I thought that really helped like before game seven, like kind of Fer cracks and joke kind of calms everything. 

Ference: Oh yeah and  it was kind of a rude joke. I think too, I don’t think I could tell it. But I know exactly what you're talking about, too. 

Kelly: It was so appropriate for the moment like you know, game seven everything's on the line to win the cup. You're in Vancouver where you hadn't had success you're just like, Oh my goodness. I remember not thinking like we're gonna win. Until Marshy scored that empty neck on I was like, Oh, I think we have a chance like we're up by four goals and like we're pretty stingy team in the oh my goodness. Like I like my one regret was I didn't have anyone at the game. So my wife was pregnant and like she was on that like border of like could fly couldn't fly and then like Air Canada went on strike or something. So would have been like for my parents to get out there whatever it was in like the pessimist in me. I was thinking like, what if they come all the way out there and then we don't win, you know, like. 

Ference: My parents weren't there either. Don't feel bad.

Kelly: And I would just say like so I called everyone you know, on the ice actually, I got caught and then that was another thing I get caught on the ice talking to like, family and friends and everyone celebrating in the room. I was like, what am I doing out here so that was honestly the probably my the one regret I had in hockey but yeah, it makes up for because we won the cup. 

Ference: So what do you do with your day then? Because obviously you had to like make amends. 

Kelly: Oh, yes. Yes. 

Ference: What was your day with a cup like?

Kelly: So I like the day with the cup is like my wife said it's worse than a wedding because not everyone wants to come to your wedding. Like everyone wants to come to the cup party. Like there's something about like, I want to come to your like, so I pretty much like pass that pass the buck on and being like, Yeah, can you take care of this? So I kind of knew what I wanted to do like I was living in, you know, obviously Ottawa at the time. So I went, I went to Children's Hospital in Ottawa in the morning, brought it back there and you know, I spent some time there which was awesome. 

(30:00)

Kelly: And then I brought it to a you know a golf course close to my house and I had like a barbecue there had a bunch of things set up for kids so it was more of a family thing that you know people could come and take pictures very casual and then I took back to my house with just close family and friends and actually you know, was able to just relax for a little bit and then at night it was more of an adult only type of event and to be honest, I lost my voice and I was happy to see it go It's so stressful to be constantly on and worried about it. You know? guys that win multiple cups I'm sure just say go home it's no big deal but I tried to cram every last second into that day. 

Ference: Hopefully get another one do coordinators get a day with a cup? 

Kelly: I don't think so. I don't know I really nice to see these guys win again but. 

Ference: You got to position yourself for that. 

Kelly: Yeah. negotiating 

Ference: You missed the first time around? 

Kelly: Yeah, yeah.

Ference: I had so much fun I was lucky because I got it. I think it was last guy to get it I felt bad for the guys that got it like right away because the Cup  a soon you when you have a couple of good days with it as a team. And then like the next week it's like starting his journey right so I always feel bad for those guys. Russo What do we got rapid fire is that we have to rapid fire.

Russo:  I think so. I mean, I think that's our favorite part of the show. No? 

Ference: Kells, I have high expectations. Okay. I even described you as very witty. So this is this is your time to shine. 

Russo: All right, I'll start it off here. Our favorite question. The night at Foxwoods. Who was drinking all of those bud lights? 

Kelly: But lights? Well, wasn't Seides definitely wasn't Seidenberg. I'll tell you that. Um drinking the Bud Light. I would say probably Johnny Boychuck. 

Ference: What were you drinking? 

Kelly: I was crushing bud lights too, but not as many as Boychuck.

Ference: You were a trigger for the ace of spades bottle. I saw you. Yeah, it's actually probably.

Kelly: I love that thing. It was bigger than me.

Ference: It's outrageous. People ask what that is, you know, like the famous like Bill and stuff like that. For the record. We didn't pay for that. Like we're way too cheap to pay for that. 

Kelly: Absolutely. kind of made like, it was kind of a blue collar team. And that did not help our image because that did not come across as very blue color. 

Ference: No like, like for the record. Like I would go to like Whole Foods for dinner on the road. Yeah, we weren't buying ace of spades. But I tried it. 

Kelly: I didn't even know what Ace of Spades was. They just showed I was like, Oh, look at this big thing. 

Ference: Tasted like champagne to me. Superstitions. You were you kind of a weird guy like that?

Kelly: Superstitions on the run. I had to drink a bottle of Fiji water night before every game. So I go to the like a convenience store if I didn't have whatever every night I did drink like a liter of Fiji water.

Ference: That is the ace of spades of water. 

Kelly: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Ace of Spades. I don't know. Maybe I found it in like one of the fancy hotels we stayed at I drank and thought they played well. So here I was seeking it out wherever it was. And that wasn't fun in Philly. When we played them trying to find a place to find Fiji water. I think I ended up in the wrong part of town trying to find a bottle of Fiji water.

Ference: That's actually kind of a messed-up superstition, man.

Kelly: Yes, yes.

Russo: Go to spot in Boston. Obviously, you're back in Boston. Now. What's the spot for you? Where do you like to go? Where do you like to hang out? 

Kelly: Um, I don't get out nearly as much as obviously I'd like even you know, without COVID with three kids. It's seems like a lot of work to go out for dinner. But obviously, the normal one Monica's and you know, Aria, you know, there. There's so many great restaurants in the north end. There's great restaurants in the southend . Like if you tried the hammer out, every restaurant in Boston, I don't think you could do it in a year. If you went out every day. 

Ference: What's your most satisfying victory? 

Kelly: To be honest, probably that first. That first game against Ottawa, like you're playing your old team. You just got treated. There have been terrible. If you lose like it's you. It's not the team. Like you. You just went to a good team. They've been winning and then you go there and the team that wasn't winning like they win like. 

Ference: Did you put any money on the board or said money on the board?

(35:00)

Kelly: Oh of course I had money on the board, that's just a unwritten rule. If you put money on the board What that means is like you literally take like a not a sharpie, but a wet erase marker, and you go up to like the game board and put like money on the board. So like Kells just got traded from Ottawa, he would have went up there and probably put up like $100. And like, after we if we win, if we win, Kells has to put 100 bucks into the team pot, right? And so the next time you go out and have like a team party or team dinner or something like that, you know, Kells 100 bucks would go alongside my 50 from when we played against the flames or whatever, right? So that's money on the board. But you only get it if you win so if you ever watching like you know somebody that's been with a team for a long time and they're playing their old team for the first time you guarantee they have money on the board, unless the cheapest person in the whole league. 

Kelly: And that doesn't exist, like you get you get, it wouldn't work, it wouldn't work. And it definitely wouldn't work with that group we had like there's no chance you would ever get away with that didn't matter who it was. 

Russo: Alright, well that that feels like a good place to wrap it up with some good behind the scenes memories from from 2011 Chris Kelly, thanks so much for joining us and looking back on that that magical run 10 years ago. Hard to believe so thanks for thanks for recollecting. 

Kelly: No, I appreciate you having me on I can't believe it's been 10 years time flies, I guess. 

Ference: And for all those prospects down in the minor leagues, listen to this guy. We want a long, nice long career. He knows what he's talking about. So perk up. 

Russo: Absolutely, wise words from the Stanley Cup champ. Thanks Kells. Appreciate it. 

Kelly: Thanks, guys.

Russo: And we're back to wrap up another episode of cue the memories presented by Bud Light, Fer, Chris Kelly, that was great. It was it was nice to hear. You know, when someone comes in from another team, the impact that you know, that first day has on them, like to be able to tell like this team's different. That stands out to me like that, that team had that kind of a feeling like we can do something special just from someone coming in, you know that quickly. I think that says a lot about that team. 

Ference: Well in it. Like I referred to it's hard. like yeah, it's like it's great that the environments great, you know, good and there's good players and you have a good team and you know this and that but like like I said like honestly kudos to him and the other guys that kind of came in midseason because I think you know, you could try to be what you think a Boston Bruin is and like, try to fit in, I guess, you know, but the best thing he could have done and what he did do, he's just himself. And that's who he is right? Like he you know, he I think he's about as straight up as the guys you'll ever meet. He's just honest, you know, tells the way it is you he's a real straight shooter, but he just came in and was himself and that's why he fits so perfectly. He wasn't trying to be, you know, what he thought we needed or whatever it was, he was just Chris Kelly. And for us. I mean, like I said, I just watched the highlights I saw I saw, I saw the recap of our run and guy like, the dude was so important to us. And like, Yeah, he would be like, Oh, yeah, you know, a couple broken bones my face like, he was a warrior. Like when he was killing penalties like, you didn't care, you put his body on the line, you take a hit to make a play, he would block 1000 shots if he had to, like he was just the kind of guy that you see him on the ice and you had no worries that you didn't ever have to think like, is this guy gonna do the right play or do the right thing for the team like he just every single time and you know, we had a lot a lot of guys like that. But he definitely stands out amongst even those guys. 

Russo: And everybody from that team had a moment along the way like that people remember and you know he has that big goal in game seven against Montreal and that series in general, but that's another thing about that team is just how every single person throughout the lineup hadn't had a signature moment throughout that run and that's why you guys want it all so we'll have plenty more of those guys coming up as we go along. on cue the memories another episode in the books Fer. We'll see you next time. 

Ference: Thanks, brother.

Russo: Boom.