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Wednesday 26 July 2023

Boston Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron announces retirement after 19 seasons

By JIMMY GOLEN He added 50 more goals
AP Sports Writer and 78 points in the play-
BOSTON (AP) — Patrice offs, leading the Bruins to
Bergeron, who led the Bos- the Stanley Cup Final three
ton Bruins to the 2011 cham- times, and scoring twice —
pionship and two other trips one of them shorthanded
to the Stanley Cup Final in the Game 7 clincher
over two decades in which against Vancouver. The
he established himself as French-speaking native of
the NHL’s dominant two- the Quebec City suburbs
way forward and one of also won two Olympic gold
the most respected players medals with Canada.
in the game, announced He is third all-time for the
Tuesday “with a full heart 100-year-old franchise in
and a lot of gratitude” that goals, points (1,040) and
he was retiring. games played (1,294), and
“I have given the game fourth in assists behind only
everything that I have Hall of Famers Ray Bourque,
physically and emotion- Johnny Bucyk and Bobby
ally, and the game has Orr. With Bergeron’s retire-
given me back more than ment, Brad Marchand be-
I could have ever imag- comes the only remaining
ined,” the Bruins captain member of the 2011 cham-
said in a statement posted pionship team, though Mi-
on social media. “As I step lan Lucic re-signed with
away today, I have no re- the team this summer after
grets. I have only gratitude Boston Bruins NHL hockey forward Patrice Bergeron displays his Stanley Cup Championship ring to eight seasons away.
that I lived my dream, and members of the media outside the Boston Harbor Hotel, in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, following To his teammates, Bergeron
excitement for what is next the unveiling of the rings during ceremonies for the hockey team. Associated Press wrote: “I have tried to learn
for my family and I. I left something from each and
everything out there and ple of what Boston Bruins four games of the playoffs “It wasn’t a decision that every one of you and I al-
I’m humbled and honored hockey is all about,” said with a herniated disk, and I came to lightly,” he said. ways tried to be the best
it was representing this in- team president Cam Neely, the Presidents Trophy win- “But after listening to my teammate that I could
credible city and for the himself a Hall of Fame play- ners lost in the first round of body, and talking with my be. I will never forget your
Boston Bruins fans.” er whose number has been the playoffs to the Florida family, I know in my heart trust, the laughs, the end-
The Bruins are expected retired by the Original Six Panthers. that this is the right time to less memories, the ups and
to retire Bergeron’s No. 37, franchise. “He has been Bergeron wrote Tuesday step away from playing the downs, and ultimately the
making him the 12th player an amazing teammate that he knows “how blessed game I love.” long lasting friendships. I will
so honored. He is a certain and extraordinary leader, and lucky I feel to have had In all, Bergeron scored 427 forever be grateful being a
first-ballot inductee for the helping establish a culture the career that I have had, goals with 613 assists in 19 part of such an exception-
Hockey Hall of Fame when of work ethic, respect and and that I have the oppor- seasons with the Bruins, who al group of men, and I will
he is eligible in three years. selflessness.” tunity to leave the game I selected him in the second carry the pride of winning
“Patrice is a perfect exam- But Bergeron missed the first love on my terms.” round of the 2003 draft. in 2011 with me forever.” q

Naoya Inoue stops Stephen Fulton and wins world titles in his 4th

weight class

TOKYO (AP) — Naoya Inoue pion in his fourth weight he stopped Stephen Fulton with punches in the corner year,” Inoue said through
became a world cham- class Tuesday night when in the eighth round to claim to force the referee to halt an interpreter. “However,
the WBC and WBO super the bout. unfortunately, I got injured,
bantamweight titles. The 30-year-old Inoue im- and I had to postpone
Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) made proved to 20-0 in world this fight. I am sorry to my
an impressive debut at 122 title fights with a whopping team and Fulton’s team,
pounds with a dominant 18 stoppages, improving but thank you so much for
performance against the his standing as one of the accepting this fight once
previously unbeaten Ful- world’s top pound-for- again. I am so happy right
ton (21-1) at Ariake Arena. pound boxers. now.” Inoue took charge
Fulton had held both of his Inoue held all four major against Fulton with his su-
belts since 2021 and was belts at 118 pounds after perior speed and relent-
considered the top fighter beating Paul Butler last De- less jab from the first round
in the division. cember, prompting him to onward, dominating the
The Japanese star knocked move up to challenge Ful- early rounds. The American
down Fulton in the opening ton. Their bout initially was fought back more effec-
minute of the eighth round scheduled for May 7, but tively in the middle rounds,
with a big left hand after Inoue injured his hand in but Inoue’s advantages
Naoya Inoue of Japan, left, celebrates after beating Stephen
Fulton of the U.S. in the eighth round of a boxing match for stunning him with a body training camp, forcing a 2 became insurmountable
the unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world titles in jab and a punishing right. 1/2-month delay. before he put together
Tokyo, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Inoue finished moments “Everything I was thinking yet another highlight-reel
Associated Press later, pummeling Fulton about was to fight him this finish.q