Neely Named Bruins Team President
Boston Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs and Principal Charlie Jacobs announced today that Cam Neely has been named President of the Boston Bruins. Neely becomes the eighth president in club history and will now oversee all hockey and business operations of the Boston Bruins. Neely will join Felger & Massarotti today at 4pm.
"I have known Cam since he was a player and have watched him grow and develop as a true leader with this team and the community," said Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs. "Along with Harry Sinden, he is one of the most passionate men I have ever met when it comes to the Bruins. The President has the responsibility for carrying the torch of the team. I can't think of a more ideal person to pass the torch to than Cam Neely, the eighth President of the Boston Bruins."
"I view Cam's promotion to President of the Bruins as the next step in the development of the franchise," said Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs. "His knowledge of the game, his understanding of what it takes to win and his passion for the fans of New England will help guide our organization and our approach to all matters both on and off the ice."
"I am honored and proud to be named the eighth team President in Boston Bruins history today," said Bruins President Cam Neely. "The last three seasons working in the Bruins front office has been an experience that I have truly enjoyed each and every day. We have made great strides as an organization in recent years both on and off the ice. But having said that, we understand much more progress can be made, and much more progress needs to be made if we are able to meet our ultimate objectives. As President, I embrace these challenges that lie ahead and look forward to taking this organization to new heights."
The 2009-10 season was Neely's third in the Bruins front office, as he returned to the organization in September, 2007 as a Vice President.
In that capacity, he served as an advisor to General Manager Peter Chiarelli on player development and other hockey operations issues and worked with Principal Charlie Jacobs on the club's business and hockey operations.
Originally a 1983 first round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, Neely came to Boston in a June, 1986 trade. His potent blend of offensive talent and a punishing physical presence quickly endeared him to Bruins fans and he became one of the most revered players in team history. He earned four NHL second team all-star berths in Boston, led the team in goals for seven seasons and in points twice, he still ranks fifth overall on the club's all-time goal ledger (344) and ninth overall on the team's all-time scoring list (590). He is the club's all-time leader in playoff goals (55) and ranks seventh overall in team history with 87 career playoff points.
He became just the fifth Bruin in team history to record a 50-goal season when he set a club record for goals by a right wing with 55 in 1989-90. He was just the second player in team history to record consecutive 50-goal campaigns when he followed that with 51 tallies in 1990-91. His 50 goals in only 44 games in 1993-94 tied as the second fastest such feat in NHL history and was all the more remarkable because he had missed most of the previous season with thigh and knee injuries.
The 1993-94 winner of the Bill Masterton Trophy was forced into retirement by those injuries in September, 1996. The Bruins retired his number 8 on January 12, 2004 and he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.
His impact on the city of Boston was not confined to the ice, as he has been actively involved in many charitable efforts. Along with his brother and sisters, he established the Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care in 1995 in memory of his parents Mike and Marlene. In addition to the Neely House, which provides housing and support for families of patients undergoing cancer treatments, the Foundation supports the Neely Cancer Fund, whose initiatives include the Neely Center for Clinical Cancer Research, the Neely Cell Therapy and Collection Center and the Neely Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in its mission to fund treatment and research efforts.
This past February, along with the Boston Bruins Foundation, he launched the first annual "Neely Sk8 Challenge," a five-week long fundraising event that took place at 23 hockey rinks throughout Massachusetts. The initiative raised a total of $130,000 for children battling cancer and their families.
Neely and his wife Paulina have two children, son Jack and daughter Ava.
TEAM PRESIDENTS IN CLUB HISTORY:
Charles F. Adams, November 1, 1924 – 1936 Weston W. Adams, Sr. 1936 – 1951 Walter A. Brown, 1951 – September 1964 Weston W. Adams, Sr. September 1964 – March 30, 1969 Weston W. Adams, Jr. March 31, 1969 – September 30, 1975 Paul A. Mooney, October 1, 1975 – March 24, 1987 William D. Hassett, Jr. March 24, 1987 – December 1, 1988 Harry Sinden, December 1, 1988 – August 9, 2006 Cam Neely, June 16, 2010 – Present
