Celebrating With Stanley: Ference, Julien Await Banner-Raising Ceremony
BOSTON (CBS) - An emotional night is expected at the Garden Thursday night when the 2011 Championship Banner is raised to the rafters.
Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference can't wait.
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"We raised a banner in Calgary when we lost, you know, we raised a Western Conference Champions banner, and that was the most bittersweet moment I've ever had. I'm really going to enjoy this one," said Ference.
Bruins head coach Claude Julien has said the enormity of last season's victory is likely to hit him during the banner raising ceremony. Like most hockey players, Julien had dreams of winning the Stanley Cup as a child.
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"While you don't dream of winning the Cup as a coach, at our age now, you'll say- I'll take it anyway I can," said Julien.
Self-deprecating humor is just one facet of Coach Julien's personality.
With a smile, he talked about his first trip on the MBTA. It was his first year in Boston, and after morning practice he had gone home to get his suit for the game that night. It was snowing heavily, and he knew that he would never make it back to the Garden in time, given the traffic gridlock.
"I was fortunate enough to meet a real nice gentleman who took me under his wing and escorted me. As we got closer to the Garden, the train got more and more full and everybody was kind of wishing me good luck, so, where I tried to go unnoticed, by the time I got off, everybody knew I was on that train. So, it was kind of a funny experience, but a great experience that I still talk about to this day," said Julien.
Julien said he still keeps in touch with the man who helped him.
On the subject of the media negativity he faced last season, Julien said:
"A lot of people would like me to say it was sweet revenge. I don't look at it that way. My job is to do what I have to do and believe in what I think is going to give us some success.
On the subject of fame, Julien said:
"I see myself as just the other guy, and that's the way I want to stay, winning a Stanley Cup or not."
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