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Welcome to Puck Daddy’s August series, “Mount Puckmore” which will feature fans, bloggers and various media personalities of all 30 teams choosing the four defining faces of their franchise. These four people are who you remember most when you think of these teams — whether they be players, coaches or executives. We’ll be running these daily for the rest of the month. First up, representing the Boston Bruins, NESN’s own Jack Edwards (yes, that Jack Edwards).

Bobby Orr - Quite simply, he is the greatest player ever to lace up skates. I understand the Gretzky and Lemieux arguments, but no one changed the way the game is played as much as Bobby Orr did. It is ridiculous to think that a defenseman could lead the league in scoring. Orr did it. Twice. In what is one of the most emblematic sports photographs of all time, consider that Orr - a defenseman - is being tripped up by Noel Picard JUST OUTSIDE THE CREASE after executing a give-and-go with Derek Sanderson in the corner. Before Orr, defensemen who got that close to the attacking-end crease usually won themselves a seat on the end of the bench for the rest of the game for being reckless and irresponsible. But Orr could beat the counter-attack if his forays failed, blowing-by everyone who would try to catch him up ice. The man was Plus 124 in 1971. That mark will still be standing when we’re all dust.

If you look into the background of that Cup-winning moment photo, you can see the crowd erupting. As those fans sprang from their seats, rinks sprang up all over New England and created a hockey-mad atmosphere whose multi-generational rites of passage have given Bruins fans their own special island in the pantheon of New England sports. Incidentally, in a 2010 online poll at NESN.com, Orr was voted the greatest sports legend in the region’s history, ahead of the likes of Ted Williams and Bill Russell.

Ray Bourque - No one ever accepted obligation with as much integrity as Ray Bourque. He always did what was right. Inheriting the legacy of Orr as the designated next great defenseman of the Bruins, he completely accepted the impossibility of comparison and - in a head-shaking twist of fate - became one of, if not THE — longest-lasting high-performance defensemen the game ever has known. Bourque’s ability to turn defense into offense with his vision of the game, his skating or passing ability, gave Boston stability that extended its all time record make-the-playoffs streak to 29 consecutive seasons. His trade to Colorado was seen as a humanitarian gesture as much as anything, and Boston threw him a City Hall rally when he won the Cup with the AVS! Few could touch him in his ability to keep the puck in the attacking zone on attempted clears; none was in his league when it came to getting a hard shot on goal to produce a rebound; he gave up his number for Phil Esposito at Espo’s retirement celebration, perhaps the truest display of humility and character ever seen in Boston sports; and no one … ever… outworked Ray Bourque.

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By Jack Edwards, NESN, Puck Daddy blog

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