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Tributes From Bruins, Others Pour In After Team Legend Milt Schmidt Dies At 98

Boston Bruins great Milt Schmidt died Wednesday at the age of 98, and a string of tributes from team members for a man who served the Bruins as a player, coach, and general manager quickly ensued.

Tributes From Bruins, Others Pour In After Team Legend Milt Schmidt Dies At 98

Here are some of the responses to the legendary figure’s death:

“Milt’s impact in Boston, as both a player and a coach, will forever be felt amongst hockey fans,” said Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. “He was a legendary personality in the Bruins organization and goes down in history as the ultimate Bruin. We should all be envious of the longevity and meaningfulness of his life.”

Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said: “It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of our dear friend, Milt Schmidt. Milt embodied everything it meant to be a Boston Bruin both on and off the ice.

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Milt has impacted the Boston Bruins organization in many different capacities, as a player on the ice, a coach behind the bench and as a general manager, cementing himself in NHL history as one of the all time greats.

Anyone who knew Milt personally know he was one of the all time greats off the ice as well. His beaming smile, sharp whit and infectious laugh could light up a room with such an incredible presence that can’t be matched. We extend our condolences to all of Milt’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Team president Cam Neely added: “I got to know Milt when I arrived in Boston, and I quickly learned that he was an outstanding ambassador for the game of hockey, a true gentleman, and that he epitomized what it means to be a Bruin.

Schmidt was part of the famous “Kraut Line,” whose other members were his childhood friends Woddy Dumart and Bobby Bauer. The trio’s shared Germany heritage inspired the name. They finished 1-2-3 in scoring in the NHL in 1940, with Schmidt coming in first.

The Kraut Line was the key component of Bruins teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1939 and 1941. Schmidt and his line-mates might have helped the franchise win even more championships, but they were inducted into the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942.

“Milt has been one of the most respected and friendly human beings that I have ever met and spent time with,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. “Losing Milt, who spent his life dedicated to the game of hockey, is a great loss for the Boston Bruins organization and the entire hockey community.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said: “It would be a challenge to find anyone who took greater pride in being a Boston Bruin than Milt Schmidt did – be it as a player, an executive or an ambassador over the 80-plus years he served the franchise, the City of Boston and the National Hockey League.

Milt’s respect for the game was matched by his humility and was mirrored by the great respect with which his opponents, and generations of Bruins players, treated him through the years. An ultimate competitor, a mainstay of two Bruins Stanley Cups as a player and architect of two more as the Bruins’ General Manager, Milt was a landmark presence in Boston’s sports landscape. The NHL family cherishes his contribution to our history and sends deepest condolences to his family, fans and all whose lives he touched.”

Schmidt– a Hall of Fame centre who would have been 99 in March– spent his entire playing career with the Bruins, from 1936-1942 and then from 1946-1955. The four-time All-Star won the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1951. He played 776 games, scored 229 goals, and also recorded 346 assists.

The Bruins retired his number, 15, in 1980.

After his playing career ended, Schmidt coached the Bruins from 1955 to 1962. After that, he served as general manager from 1967-73.

“I want to be known as someone who tried their very best all the time,” the legend said in a 2002 Boston Globe interview.

Mr. Schmidt, who spent four seasons as Bruins captain, was known as an aggressive playmaker and extremely fierce competitor. So aggressive, in fact, that throughout his career, he sustained numerous injuries, including a broken jaw, torn rib cartilage, ligament damage to both knees, a broken collarbone, ankle and shoulder fractures. He eventually underwent three hip replacements.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 20: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins and Andy Greene #6 of the New Jersey Devils stand with Bobby Orr and Milt Schmidt for a ceremonial puck drop before theri game at TD Garden on October 20, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.