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Boston Globe
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Thousands gather for daylong festivities celebrating Fourth of July in Boston
Advertisement Angela Martin, 54, of Florida, was blown away by Boston's parade Friday morning. 'The Minutemen come out with the band and I'm like, 'What is this?'' she said. 'It was so meaningful.' Dan Burns, Michele DeParasis, and Al Chin of the Billerica Colonial Minute Men enjoyed the confetti during the 249th Independence Day Celebration at Old State House. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Friday's festivities came on the heels of the milestone commemorations in April of the 250th anniversary of the Revolution's 'shots heard round the world' In Boston Friday, some took the anniversary as an opportunity to protest President Trump — reusing 'No Kings' signs and shirts from last month's rallies. Advertisement Tim Cooke, 67, from Brookline, displayed a sign reading, 'No Kings since 1776,' as he walked the Esplanade with his dog, Lucy. 'Done without for 249 years,' Cooke said. 'So let's keep it going.' But for the most part, people set aside politics to celebrate America. Many celebrated their freedom to speak up, to work, to pursue their happiness. The first person on the grass at the Hatch Memorial Shell Friday was Nikki Jax, 57, of New York. Jax, a woman of transgender experience, teared up as she thought about freedom. 'All the gifts of the universe were given to me after I transitioned,' Jax said. 'So freedom for me is the freedom to walk my path.' 'I love my country,' said Cathleen Curran of Lowell. 'As long as we're doing things for the country and not letting politics get in our heads, we're the greatest country.' By mid-afternoon, hours before the Pops show was set to begin, hundreds were spread out in the Hatch Shell, the Charles River Esplanade, across the Charles in Cambridge, and bobbing on boats in the river. Doraehea Chiu, a visitor from Taiwan on a three-month trip to the US, marveled at how everyone was able to celebrate together. 'No matter whether you are rich or poor, no matter if you are a manager at the bank, or you are a worker building a house, they are really equal,' she said. 'They all enjoy it the same way. They all went to the harbor to see the fireworks.' Members of the Wilmington Minutemen fired their muskets while marching in the 249th Independence Day Celebration parade. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Karen Lopez, 28, of Paraguay, was also eager to see how Americans celebrate, taking in a week of festivities including a parade and laser show in Wilmington, Mass., where she lives. Advertisement 'I like to explore another country and their Independence Day traditions,' she said. Those traditions began early in Boston Friday. After thousands wearing patriotic colors recited the Pledge of Allegiance at City Hall Plaza, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu greeted the crowd and thanked military families for their service. 'Two hundred and forty-nine years ago today, from this very spot, we declared our independence,' Wu said to the crowd. 'We declared that Boston would not back down in the face of tyranny, in the face of bullying. Not to kings and not to the greatest army in the world at that time.' The mayor then joined the parade led by the Boston Fire Department to the Old State House for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the end of the reading, red, white, and blue confetti fell from the sky as the Frank Zarba Military Band played, and some in the crowd chanted 'USA, USA.' Soon after, across town, others watched as the USS Constitution set off from its dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard for its annual cruise of Boston Harbor. The world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat, the 228-year-old ship was undefeated in 33 military engagements, including during the War of 1812 A hushed silence fell over the crowd in Charlestown as the ship, nicknamed 'Old Ironsides,' slowly left the dock. As it turned into the harbor, a cannon went off, producing grey smoke and a round of applause. 'I feel American now,' one onlooker said. Hundreds gathered at Castle Island's Fort Independence Park to watch the ship's 21-gun salute. The celebrations felt personal to Alex G. Lee, a naturalized citizen originally from South Korea. He pointed out a statue commemorating the Korean War down the boardwalk, and said the cannonade reminded him of his service. Advertisement 'This day is so meaningful, not only for the independence of the United States, he said. 'I'm celebrating everything." The crowd listened to the reading of the Declaration of Independence during the 249th Independence Day Celebration at the Old State House. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Back in Downtown Crossing, Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums performed at the Franklin Steps. Among them was Bill Phenix, who has been playing the fife for 53 years and can recall playing it during bicentennial celebrations in 1776. 'If you told me then that I would still be doing this, I probably would have looked at you like you lost your mind,' he said. 'It's a lifelong pursuit.' The celebrations Friday are a lifelong pursuit for many. Dorchester's Mike Williams, 58, has been coming to the Esplanade for more than half a century, since he was 6. Sharon Davis, of Machias, Maine, remembers watching the Pops on television as a kid; she first got to attend in person a few years ago. For Eli Rodriguez, 34, of Ashland, the Fourth of July is always one of the biggest days of the year for the Jax, the first person waiting at the Hatch early Friday morning, came to Boston to see the show in 1985. She never forgot it. 'I remember it as being one of the most singular, beautiful experiences with humanity,' she said. Christopher Huffaker can be reached at
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Revolutionary War veterans fought for the nation and pushed for a pension
Ichabod Beckwith was a 24-year-old patriot who heard the call for revolution in 1775 and set off with a company of battle-ready Minutemen on a march toward Lexington. That's where Beckwith's record as one of America's first veterans begins. And it ends in 1820, when the town overseers in Ludlow, Massachusetts, described the 69-year-old war veteran as 'a pauper disabled in body and mind' with no means of support other than the charity of friends and his town.
Boston Globe
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Ainsley Cuthbertson took her shot and put Lexington atop the Division 1 girls' track championship for the first time
Natick (65 points) and Westford (57 points) sit in second and third place with 18 of 19 girls' events accounted for — pole vault was pushed to Sunday due to the slippery conditions. Advertisement 'It's pretty new to me to be able to score points for the team at big meets like this,' said Cuthbertson, who had never previously won an event at states. 'Before my last throw, I heard [all my teammates] cheering, and I was like, 'I just have to do it for them.' So it feels amazing.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Freshman standout Amelia Whorton placed second in the 800 meter (2:10.16) and third in the mile (4:58.64), and junior Aubrey Deardorf was second in both the 100-meter (12.84) and long jump (19-04.5) for the Minutemen. 'We sort of made a statement in indoor, but we wanted to come back in outdoor and show everybody that while we're a young team, and we're not necessarily everybody's target, we're still here,' said coach Rebecca Trachsel. 'And we're here for a while because we don't have any seniors.' Advertisement Weymouth's Ainsley Weber wins the javelin with a throw of 131 feet, 7 inches. Barry Chin/Globe Staff On the boys' side, Lowell captured the team title with 87 points, narrowly edging Lexington (76) and Brookline (73). The Red Raiders were paced by junior Ethan Thevenin, who surged to victories in the triple jump (46-07.00) and 400 (49.50) before sealing the team victory with a clutch fifth-place effort in the long jump (21-10.25), the meet's final event. 'Ethan just did so much for us today, can't say enough good things about what he did winning those two events and then closing it out for us,' said Lowell coach Nick McArdle. 'It was a grind, but everyone just stepped up. A full team effort.' Brookline's Altamo Aschkenasy led from start to finish to capture the 1-mile at the Division 1 meet. Barry Chin/Globe Staff The Raiders also got boosts from senior Khai Yin, who finished third in both the 110 hurdles (14.49) and 400 hurdles (55.10), and senior Emanuel Trinidad, who was second in discus (158-05) and third in shot put (52-07.50). After missing the bulk of the cross-country and indoor track season due to a lingering illness, Westford star junior Abigail Hennessy made a triumphant return to the Division 1 stage. In one of the meet's most dominant individual efforts, Hennessy claimed the girls' mile by 15 seconds (4:43.72) on Saturday, shattering the meet record by seven seconds. She also claimed the 800 (2:07.18) by three seconds. At the D1 state championship meet, Westford junior Abigail Hennessy destroys the competition in the girls' mile, winning in 4:43.72. She won the race by 15 seconds, and set a 7-second meet record. That's her second victory of the meet. — Matty Wasserman (@Matty_Wasserman) Though Hennessy began separating within the opening lap and never faced much competition, she used the meet record as fuel. 'During the third lap, I just had to keep repeating myself, 'I can do this. I can do this,' ' Hennessy said. 'Especially with the wind in your face that last final stretch, I had to think about the meet record to make sure I'd finish strong.' Advertisement Westford Academy's Abigail Hennessy outran her closest competitors to break the meet record in the girls' mile. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Natick's Emmanuella Edozien (right) gets a hug from a teammate after winning the 100-meter hurdles. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Shrewsbury's Darius Gibbons gives it his all to win the shot put with a throw of 55 feet, 10.25 inches. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Natick's Chloe Elder had plenty of breathing room as she crossed the finish line to win the 400. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Ryan Kyle of Westford Academy leaps for joy after seeing the results of his win in the 110-meter hurdles, which came two days after he set a state record in the 400 hurdles. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Boston Globe
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Is this the best Lexington boys' volleyball team ever? The postseason will tell.
'He was an inspiration,' Ale said of Matteo. 'I do look up to him, especially in the volleyball world. 'We've done a lot better than I thought we ever would . . . Just being able to be a part of the team that's ended up proving not just themselves, but other teams wrong, it's a blessing.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The team has built upon Matteo's foundation to foster a historic season, with hitters playing selflessly serving as a catalyst to the longest winning streak (17 matches) in program history, a stretch in which the Minutemen dropped just four sets. Advertisement 'Ale is our heavy hitter. He swings really hard into the block, high hands,' said junior Nic Sanchez de Rojas . 'Me and Nadav [ Vachtel ] play smarter and make fewer errors, but might get fewer kills. Having three players that have different play styles? I'm still learning from both Nadav and Ale, different little tricks and techniques or strategies to get kills, passing, or defense. Advertisement 'We can each learn from each other. Not all other teams have this opportunity.' Ale Luciani heating up in the first set for Lexington — AJ (@aj_traub) Added coach Marc Turiano : 'They see what the teams in the past have done and have a healthy respect for it, but they see they have the talent to be great and probably the best team in Lexington volleyball history. They see the path to getting there would be playing a team-based game.' Vachtel, a senior, completes the net trio driving the magical season. The team's depth keeps the players honest, constantly competing to retain their roles and staying ready if their name is called. 'The deepest team Lexington has ever had,' Vachtel said. 'As we saw in the Brookline game, Nic got injured . . . Two people on our bench stepped in and they performed as we needed to . . . and we won that set. Everyone can step in when we need them to and perform.' Adam Mann is a superutility man for the Minutemen. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Embodying that quality is junior Adam Mann , who barely touched a volleyball before high school but fell in love with it. Mann said he 'worked [his] butt off' to make varsity and has been the versatile piece that helps save the team when it needs a boost. He's always ready to jump in wherever he is needed: hitter, libero, defensive specialist, or anywhere else. 'When your spot is locked up, you may get a little lenient and don't have to work as hard,' he said. 'When you don't know what position you're going to play or when you're going to play . . . you're going to die on the court and work the hardest. 'I'm diving for balls, I'm giving my all to the team.' Advertisement Though the Minutemen Now, the top four hear the footsteps of the Middlesex champion as the tournament nears. Lexington senior Ale Luciani is known as the team's most powerful hitter. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe 'I don't think we're going to surprise anybody anymore,' Turiano said following the Brookline match. 'I think we have the ability to be a true contender in D1.' Though Matteo graduated, his mark on this trailblazing squad is evident. He convinced Vachtel to play and influenced Sanchez de Rojas to switch from soccer to club volleyball. He takes pride in his younger brother forging his own legacy. 'I wanted to be an inspiration for them, but I didn't think I was that big of one in that way,' Matteo said. 'To see it firsthand and hear it firsthand is really cool. I'm proud of myself and of them that they're having this success. I do hope that it comes to something really good.' As the Minutemen race towards the postseason, they have a newfound confidence. 'I think that up until [Brookline], people were looking at our record and strength of schedule and shrugging us off,' Sanchez de Rojas said. 'I think now people are thinking of us as a serious contender, and people will be scared of us entering the tournament. I think people will be like 'Oh no, I'm playing Lexington,' which is nice.' The Lexington boys' volleyball team, bottom, huddles before taking on Acton-Boxborough, top, in a a senior night match at Lexington High School on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Set points ▪ In further evidence that Natick has put its previous shortcomings behind it as the postseason approaches, Advertisement Though Natick took down Brookline once and Newton North twice, the Rockets presented a mental obstacle. The Redhawks started off the season with a loss in Needham, but finally broke through. Middle John Carroll earned the senior-day victory, the first time Natick won the matchup since his brother, Brendan, won on his senior day in 2019. 'This performance was very good,' said coach Peter Suxho . 'You see it in the front row, in the back row, everywhere we are better.' Related : ▪ It is coming down to the wire, but it appears Newton North in Division 1 and Wayland in Division 2 will avoid sliding as they drop late matchups due to injured stars. Earlier wins and high strength of schedule prop up their The Tigers complete a quartet of Bay State teams in the four spots, all with home-court advantage until the neutral-site semifinals, but have been playing without several key players, including elite hitter Simon Vardeh . The Warriors have been without AJ Traub can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis has a skill set fans will be familiar with
'One of my all-time favorite players I've ever coached,' said Carvel, the one-time Ottawa Senators assistant coach who directed the Minutemen to the NCAA Frozen Four title in 2021. 'It's because he does everything the right way. He does everything well. He doesn't have overpowering speed. He doesn't have an overpowering shot. He's not overpowering [in his] physical [play]. But he does all of it at a really good level — a lot of integrity in his game.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up To anyone who's watched the Bruins over the past 20-plus years, such a list of bona fides summons to mind what Patrice Bergeron , then only 18, brought to Causeway Street in the autumn of 2003. The dedicated, efficient Bergeron shaped his skills into a remarkable Hall-of-Fame career (book now for that Nov. 2026 induction in Toronto). Advertisement 'Ah, Bergeron … that's a high standard,' mused Carvel, when it was noted how his description of Locmelis dovetailed remarkably with Bergeron's skill set, 'But that's the type of player he is — just really good all the way around. His defensive game will grow with his physical stature (6 feet, 1 inch/179 pounds), but he'll be a really good player, one who'll chip in consistently with offense.' Advertisement To see how this begins to play out, check this space in the fall, when Locmelis will get his shot to vie for a spot on the Black and Gold varsity roster. Always best to keep in mind that the best hockey league in the world has a way of tempering expectations for nearly all, including the best and brightest prospects, who knock at its front door. Related : Before getting too far ahead of the Zamboni here, let's first see how he plays in the Rookie Challenge tournament staged each September in Buffalo. 'I'm going to try to put up a lot of work this summer, so I can try for a spot in the NHL, on the Bruins roster,' said Locmelis, reached by phone in Stockholm this past week. 'Yeah, that's my goal, to make it happen, so I'll do whatever it takes.' That, for the most part, is what every young wannabe will say, whatever the sport, whatever the league, whatever the reality. Bruins' fans have heard the same from countless prospects who've failed to make the leap. But it could be that Locmelis, selected at No. 119 in the 2022 draft, proves to be the exception. Remember, it happens. Proof: Bergeron, the 45th pick in the 2003 draft. He arrived in town with few attached expectations. Locmelis, three years older than when Bergeron arrived on the scene, is playing on a big stage, Advertisement 'It definitely wasn't easy,' said Locmelis, noting the process began in February, while he was playing for the Minutemen. 'It's tough even to describe —we were going week to week, talking with the Bruins a lot. And in the end [Boston and Providence] made the decision to let me go.' Latvia faces Finland and Slovakia this weekend. The playoff rounds begin on Thursday. In his first four games overseas, Locmelis logged a line of 3-1—4, and received a postgame tap on the shoulder, and words of encouragement, from the great Sidney Crosby last Sunday after Canada pinned a 7-1 loss on Latvia. Locmelis contributed a helper to the one goal vs. Team Canada, after which on-site reporter Martins Klavenieks , a fellow Latvian, posted on X that Locmelis was lost for words when Sid the Kid offered up his good words. Related : 'He's had a tremendous amount of international experience,' said Carvel, aware that Locmelis has suited up for Latvia every year since 2020, this his third time at the Worlds. 'I watched the first period against Canada — had it on anyway — and I kept hearing his name. He had an impact. Then you hear about Crosby making the comments to him after the game … and I'm not surprised.' Advertisement According to Adam McQuaid , the former Bruins defenseman and now the club's player development coordinator, Locmelis made great physical strides, both in terms of contact and shift-to-shift endurance, in his second year at UMass. He made himself a far better candidate to turn pro after just two seasons in Amherst. 'Dans is an excellent prospect for us,' lauded McQuaid. 'I am really excited, for the step he has taken year over year. If it progresses, then who knows where he is this time next year — who knows what he could accomplish?' Asked if he could see traces of Bergeron's game in Locmelis, the thoughtful McQuaid called that 'lofty company to be in,' preferring to say, 'we just call those guys hockey players — they're smart, able to adapt, have good brains for the game and are just competitive driven people.' A center throughout his career, Locmelis flipped to left wing for most of his stay in Providence, working on a line that usually had Matt Poitras at center and Oliver Wahlstrom on the right side. He has been back at pivot with Team Latvia, centering a line typically with ex-Providence Bruin Eduards Tralmaks on his right wing and Anri Ravinskis on his left. 'I enjoyed every day there, because I was having a lot of fun,' said Locmelis, reflecting on his time in Providence. 'I was playing with two great hockey players with high IQ, and Wahlstrom with that great shot. Really easy to fit in with those guys.' Advertisement The switch to wing, he noted, didn't make him worry about a new position, but he also didn't know what to expect. 'It ended up really good — I enjoyed playing on the wall,' he said. 'It's less work on the ice, less work in the defensive zone, so it was good playing on the wall. I didn't mind it. It's just easier to play over there.' The Bruins' rookies report to training camp in September. It's possible Locmelis will be here the first week of July for what would be his fourth development camp. If not, he'll remain home in Jelgava, just south of Riga, and concentrate on adding strength for the new season — and for however many might follow. Dans Locmelis (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Slovenia in the World Championship. Anders Wiklund/Associated Press Knockout blow? Bennett hit changed series That was some kind of ugly Wednesday night in Toronto, where the Panthers poured in a half-dozen goals (No. 5 by ex-Bruin A.J. Greer ) in front of a dumbstruck Maple Leaf Nation before Nicholas Robertson popped one home for the locals. It moved Florida to a 3-2 series lead, but it felt like time for the handshake line. The Leafs were listless, without pushback, humiliated. Toronto opened the series with back-to-back wins on home ice, setting up what looked like a clear path to the club's first conference final since 2002. The killer within, though, was their loss of No. 1 goalie Anthony Stolarz midway through Game 1, the ex-Panther last seen vomiting at the Leafs' bench after getting roughed up by the dastardly Sam Bennett (hands high if that sounds familiar). Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) The series turned on more than just goaltending, but the loss of Stolarz to concussion was pivotal. Ex-BC stopper Joseph Woll , promoted to No. 1 with Matt Murray his backup, increasingly lost confidence in Games 3-4 in Florida (5-4 and 2-0 losses). In Game 5, Woll struggled mightily, albeit behind a cast of the TML Skating Stepfords. Advertisement Playoff teams can survive, even advance, with underperforming special teams, but it's a struggle. There's no overcoming a leaky net, not at this juncture, particularly against clubs still willing (able?) to grind at the net like, you know, someone will hand you a big, shiny trophy for paying that price. Now, as for Bennett…. There was outrage aplenty in Toronto over the Bennett-Stolarz collision, which was easy to understand. An irreplaceable piece of that Florida attack, Bennett is an expert villain, a genius when it comes to disguising his well-hidden, nasty hits. Cameras caught him doing it in Round 2 last year, Game 3 vs. the Bruins, with Now, that said, it seems a stretch to think Bennett's contact with Stolarz in Game 1, in itself, led to the goalie's concussion. The video clearly showed Bennett, who crashed the net from the goalie's left during a power play, made contact with the goalie's head. Stolarz went down, and stayed down, though Bennett's hit was a glancing blow and went appropriately unpenalized. If that alone triggered the concussion, one would have to wonder if Stolarz earlier had his bell rung. Subconcussive blows often add up, per CTE research, and can lead to things for worse than concussions. Overall, there could be some hay to make around Bennett if an opponent so motivated were to force league bosses to scrutinize his antics. His hit on Stolarz was not egregious, but there have been plenty of others, masterfully and deliberately delivered, referees typically screened when he lands his shots. Seven years ago, the league finally got involved and curbed Marchand's Leo Komarov and Tampa's Ryan Callahan the objects of 'Marchy's' affections. Warned to cut it out by senior VP of hockey ops, Colin Campbell , Marchand indeed has kept his tongue in cheek ever since. The Florida-Toronto series turned on Stolarz going down and exiting the lineup in Game 2. An opponent kicking up a fuss over Bennett may not get him tossed for a night, or suspended for a game or two, but it could succeed in taking some of the starch out of his game. It's that time of the season when such little things can make such a big difference. World tour Harvard's Moy playing for Swiss Former Harvard forward Tyler Moy (Class of '17), who tied Alex Kerfoot for Crimson scoring his senior season, is playing for Switzerland in the World Championship. Moy, 29, was drafted (No. 175/2015) by the Predators, but soon left for Europe after a short stint (83 games) in the North American minor pros. As the weekend approached, he ranked third in Swiss scoring (2-3—5) in the World tournament. Related : Moy, goalie Thatcher Demko (BC) and forward Nikolas Olsson (BU) Demko, injured for much of this season, remains Vancouver's No. 1 starter, and will return in the fall for the final year of his five-year/$25 million pact. Moy has completed seven seasons in the top Swiss pro league, spending the last three with Rapperswil-Jona. Olson, an '18 BU grad, left the game for after only 19 games with the ECHL Adirondack Thunder. Loose pucks Sergei Zholtok (1992) and Martins Karsums (2004), two other Lativans drafted by the Bruins, saw very little success in their brief Black and Gold tenures. Zholtok logged 588 NHL games, the bulk of those with the Canadiens and Wild. In 2000-01, Latvian goaltender Peter Skudra manned the pipes for the Bruins for 26 games, working on a netminding staff that included Byron Dafoe , Andrew Raycroft , John Grahame and Kay Whitmore … Leo Komarov , another son of the Baltics (Estonia), played three more NHL seasons, all with the Islanders, following the '18 playoffs. Now 38 years old, he just wrapped up his second season playing in Finland for Helsinki … Often overlooked in the Oilers success has been the steady presence of No. 3 center Adam Henrique , long along Taylor Hall's key support at OHL Windsor. Vastly and deservedly overshadowed by headliners Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl since arriving from Anaheim at the March '24 trade deadline, Henrique is very much the glue guy in the Oilers attack, playing in all situations and often rolled out by Kris Knoblauch for key faceoffs. Think of Henrique as their 'Bergy Light' as the Oilers head to their second consecutive conference championship — the first time they've doubled up since reaching the Cup semis three straight years (1990-92) … Knoblauch, by the way, spent two seasons as an assistant with the Flyers and four years as the Rangers bench boss at AHL Hartford before then-GM Ken Holland hired him away as the Oiler bench boss. One of his big breaks along the way: Nov. 2012, when OHL Erie named him to replace Robbie Ftorek behind the Otters bench … Hall, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft now with the Hurricanes, is about to play in his 50th postseason game — and his first in a conference final … According to Phil Castinetti (Sportworld/Saugus), Bobby Orr , nearly 60 years since entering the NHL, remains the biggest get in the hockey card collecting biz. A prime Orr rookie card in 'nice condition,' said Castinetti, will fetch $10,000 on the open market, while Wayne Gretzky's rookie card (by O-Pee-Chee version) is around $5,000 … Hall-of-Famer John Bucyk celebrated his 90th birthday Monday. Fellow 1970 and '72 Cup winner Eddie Johnston is closing in on No. 90 (Nov. 24) ... Headed into Friday's Game 6, the Leafs' Mitch Marner had scored but one goal for the series and landed but one shot on net across the three consecutive losses to the Panthers. An unrestricted free agent as of July 1, he's rumored to be looking for north of $12 million a year (a bump from his current $10.9 million) ... Ex-Bruins forward Ted Donato now has logged 21 seasons as Harvard's hockey coach. He knows what he's doing behind the bench and he certainly understands the city's Black and Gold culture. Should be a guy fellow Crimson alum Don Sweeney considers as the Bruins GM ponders his coaching decision. Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at
