The most nervous Bourque had ever been in his playing days was as a rookie when he returned home to Montreal to face the Canadiens in the old Forum. Last night, he said, there were butterflies of a different kind.
"It's the pinnacle, it just wraps everything up, and it's the final closure," said Bourque, 43. "This whole weekend has been incredible. You come in as a rookie and you just want to play in the NHL. The next thing you know, 23 years later, you're here as part of a special fraternity, and it's an honor and a privilege to be here."
What drove him to play 1,612 regular-season games, during which he recorded 410 goals and 1,169 assists, and 214 playoff contests (another 180 points) was a desire to make a contribution every single night. He said it was never about the individual accolades.
"For me, it was never in my mind," he said. "I never liked to look too far ahead and I never liked to take myself too seriously regardless of the success I was having, because I knew regardless of what I accomplished that day that I had to wake up the next day and do it again and again and again. By looking at it that way, it kept me hungry and consistent.
"You don't worry about things you can't control, and that's awards or stuff like this. You do your job, and when you're called or invited somewhere to accept something, it's an honor and a privilege because there are so many great players who have played and accomplished so much. When you're spoken with some of these names and guys who are in the Hall of Fame, it's an unbelievable feeling."
Not even the lockout that threatens the entire 2004-05 season could put a damper on the festivities for Bourque.
"This has been all sweet," he said. "It's been a lot of fun, it's been a great weekend. The Bruins would've been playing the Maple Leafs [in the Hall of Fame game]. I didn't even think about the NHL and the lockout, other than when you're asked about it. Yes, I am concerned in some ways, because it doesn't sound like there's going to be a hockey season, and that would be too bad."
