Patrice Bergeron

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Lore & Background

Bergeron’s journey began in L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, where he grew up as a Quebec Nordiques fan alongside his brother Guillaume. Although his family name reflects Irish descent from his father and French Canadian heritage from his mother, he has always competed under the official legal surname Patrice Bergeron throughout his career. His minor hockey path saw him play in the 1998 and 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournaments with a team from L'Ancienne-Lorette before being drafted by the Acadie–Bathurst Titan out of AAA Bantam hockey. After one full junior season, he was selected 45th overall by the Bruins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. His rookie season included a selection to the NHL YoungStars Game and scoring his first NHL goal against the New York Rangers on November 15, 2003, followed by an overtime winner against Montreal just months later. The 2004–05 lockout saw him tally 61 points in 68 games for the Providence Bruins before returning to lead Boston with 48 points in the resumed 2005–06 season.

In Their Own Story

The 2011 Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks remains the defining narrative of Bergeron’s career. After losing games one, two, and five by single-goal margins, the Bruins rallied to win the series on home ice. In Game Seven on June 15, Bergeron scored two goals, including the series-winning goal, in a decisive 4–0 victory over goaltender Roberto Luongo, securing Boston’s first title since 1972 and overcoming a 3–2 deficit. His resilience was tested earlier that spring against the Philadelphia Flyers; after taking a hit from Claude Giroux caused a mild concussion, he returned for Game Three of the third round to help defeat Tampa Bay in seven games. The series also featured an infamous moment where Alexandre Burrows allegedly bit Bergeron’s finger during a scrum. Beyond scoring, his defensive prowess earned him the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the first time in 2011–12 after the Bruins were eliminated by Washington, followed by another heroic playoff run in 2013 featuring game-winning goals against Toronto and an overtime winner against Pittsburgh.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that Bergeron is engraved on the Stanley Cup using his full birth name, Patrice Bergeron-Cleary. His career trajectory was significantly altered by a severe head injury on October 27, 2007, when checked from behind by Philadelphia’s Randy Jones; he suffered a grade-three concussion and broken nose, missing most of the season before returning in 2008. Even his return was complicated by another concussion just two months later against Dennis Seidenberg, whom he would eventually welcome as a teammate after a trade in 2010. Bergeron’s legacy is defined by his two-way abilities, making him one of the premier defensive forwards in NHL history with six Selke Trophies and 12 nominations, both records. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2026 and remains set for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His tenure included a famous fight with Evgeni Malkin in the third round of the 2013 playoffs, where they exchanged blows even as referees attempted to separate them.

Did You Know?

• Bergeron was drafted 45th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft but made an immediate jump from junior hockey to the NHL for the 2003–04 season.
• He scored one goal and recorded zero assists in Game Seven of the 2011 Final against Vancouver, helping secure the Stanley Cup.
• Bergeron holds the NHL record for both Frank J. Selke Trophy wins (six) and nominations (12).
• His official legal name used in all NHL records is Patrice Bergeron.
• He suffered a grade-three concussion and broken nose on October 27, 2007, after being checked from behind by Randy Jones.