Wednesday marked Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans’ Day in the United States. With only two games on the NHL schedule, both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks wore camouflage jerseys for warm-ups in a tribute to those who have served their country.
In honour of Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Day, here’s a very cool story from February, 1945 via hockey Twitter’s resident historian, @NHLhistorygirl.
John J. Barrio, an American prisoner of war in Germany, sent a letter to former Boston Bruins general manager Art Ross while in captivity in 1944. Barrio requested tickets to Bruins’ playoff games in March, 1945 for himself and 10 others.
The article reads:
Eleven Boston war prisoners in Germany asked Manager Art Ross of the Bruins today to reserve seats for them at one of the Stanley Cup hockey play-off games in March.
Ross received a letter from John J. Barrio, 24, who was forced down while piloting a bomber over Germany more than a year ago, which contained the request.
From Kriegsgefangenenlager, dated Nov. 29, the letter said:
“I am writing on behalf of myself and about ten other local boys who would appreciate your reserving seats for us for one of the play-off games in March. We have implicit faith in the United States forces and the Bruins.”
The Bruins fell to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the semifinal of the 1945 Stanley Cup playoffs.
