For those not in the know, the beloved Boston Bruins are celebrating their Centennial Season this year. They’ve unveiled Centennial jerseys, Centennial this, Centennial that. It’s like the marketing scene in Spaceballs. As part of the celebration, they’ve been doing what they call Centennial Stories.
It’s not a clever name. It’s legendary stories about the Bruins of yore, they’ve been pretty interesting, and why didn’t anybody tell me my ass was so big?
This week’s installment is about how much the Bruins love the Kowloon. A massive Chinese restaurant, the Kowloon is located on the fabled Rt. 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts and hasn’t updated their website since about 2003. But that doesn’t change the fact they have a staff photo with Pat Morita in the gallery.
The Many Saints of Saugus
If you’ve ever been on the road, you know it. It’s across the street from the defunct Hilltop Steakhouse, and right down the street from arguably the biggest dump (I say that with love) in hockey history – Hockeytown USA. Famous for the weird lighting and the dek hockey upstairs. It was not uncommon to be playing ice hockey on one of the rinks and have a dek ball suddenly careen onto the surface. Often ending in family fisticuffs because, you know… Saugus.
Back in the 60’ through the 80’s, most of the Bruins lived on the North Shore. They practiced in Danvers, so it made sense to live near the facility. After games, they would stop into the Kowloon for a couple of drinks and a many pounds of Saugus Wings. Could you imagine walking into the Kowloon to find the Lunchpail A.C. holding court? My word. If I could go back in time, I’d drop in after a win at the Garden just to behold that level of mayhem and majesty.
So, as this week’s story goes, bunch of the Bruins Alumni got together at the Kowloon during the opening week for the Bruins. I’m sure it got very nostalgic in there as the greats shared a few Fog Cutters and stories about the old days! It got me thinking about where I would gather after games when I could still see my feet and played beer league at least once a week.
To this very day, the people of Boston love the Kowloon. They definitely don’t need to get more reviews, as their Google Business profile currently shows 5,755 of them with an average rating of 4.2 stars. That is some chicky-chicky wing love right there, folks.
What’d You Just Say About My Sister?
Anyone that has ever played men’s league knows the beers after are almost as important as the game itself. I have never played for a team that wasn’t a drinking team with a hockey problem. Depending on the hour, or the day, some guys would even hoist a couple before the game, and many more after in the room. Each week, it is someone’s responsibility to bring the beer. If you don’t, it’s very, very bad. You subject yourself to much deserved taunts and boos in which no topic is off limits. We’re talking, mothers and sisters are on the table – figuratively and within the actual insults. Don’t be that guy.
I would usually get the top half off, skates untied, pants and shin guards still on, before drinking my first one in the stall. I hazard to guess the “first sip after a game” sip is the finest sip of beer in the known civilized world. The smell of barley and hops, mixed with smelly hockey equipment, is intoxicating in itself. The ball busting about how bad everyone was at hockey then began, and it was always glorious.
After a quick shower, and particularly if it was still Summer, you make it to the parking lot beer. The last fight I ever got in in men’s league, I remember the parking lot beverage very well. “Fight” isn’t the best word to describe that particular incident. I got my head kicked in by a local legend that was heading to NHL camp the next day. But we shared a beer in the parking lot afterward, and all was right with the world.
Sometimes after the parking lot beer, and depending on how old you are and what time it is, it may then be time for the bar. The Bruins had the Kowloon, and we had the Makaha or the China Ruby. This was always an ill-advised move and t’was highly recommended there be a non-drinker with you. The tales of the game most recently played get exaggerated like a great one that got away fish story. Also, the PuPu Platter is always a regret the next morning when it’s time to answer the hellish bell that was rung the night before.
The underlying theme for all these post game libations – is the camaraderie. I’m sure everyone that played team sports will say there’s no tighter room than an [insert your sport here] room. For me, it’s hockey. In between all the BS and tall tales. talk of kids, wives, girlfriends, and whatever else is on your mind. I have had more life problems solved by guys on my men’s league team than I can count.
So we can only imagine what the backroom of the Kowloon was like after a win. Or after a loss? Or maybe a loss on part of a losing streak? It’s one thing to be at the Makaha and be thinking about cutting the grass tomorrow. It’s entirely another when playing hockey is your livelihood.
So here’s a toast to all those guys out there, getting off work tonight and heading to the local rink for an 11 O’clock tilly against some plumbers. Done purely for the love of the game. And thanks to the Bruins for sharing a bit of their colorful Route 1 history as well. Cheers to you, boys!