When Rene Rancourt, Bruins Fans Sang an Emotional National Anthem
April 17, 2013. Days after the Marathon bombings, the Bruins returned to the Garden. And Rene Rancourt made a moment to remember.
Boston sports fans fans know Rancourt well: the Lewiston, Maine native performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” (and “O Canada” when there was a Canadian team on the visitor’s bench) at Boston Bruins home games for 42 years. But did you know the opera singer actually had his anthem debut at a Red Sox game? He sang before Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. A year later, he would become a fixture at the Garden, with his signature post-anthem fist-pump cementing him in Bruins lore.
The Bruins were the first Boston team to host a sporting event in the city after the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013. They faced off against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden on April 17. The city was still reeling from the bombings, the suspects were still at-large, and emotions were running high, understandably. Bostonians had never gone through anything like they were going through. They needed a moment of catharsis. Thankfully, Rene Rancourt delivered…with a little help from about 20,000 Bruins fans.
When Rene Rancourt, Bruins Fans Sang an Emotional National Anthem
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join together, and sing loudly with Rene Rancourt as he performs tonight’s National Anthem. Representing all of Boston’s first responders, please welcome the Boston Fire Department Honor Guard to present tonight’s colors.” The public address announcer could barely get those sentences out over the roar of the sold-out Garden crowd. Moments later, Rancourt took his spot on the ice. After the opening lines of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the singer backed off of the mic and the crowd took over.
It remains to this day one of the most touching, moving, and emotional moments in Boston sports history. Thank you, Rene. We’ll always cherish the moment you helped create.
