Jake DeBrusk had the opportunity to play alongside numerous NHL legends during his tenure with the Boston Bruins. Among them were Stanley Cup champions like Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Adam McQuaid, and Zdeno Chara, along with seasoned veterans such as David Backes, Nick Foligno, and Rick Nash.
Of all the players DeBrusk shared the ice with, one in particular stood out as intimidating to the 27-year-old forward from Edmonton, Alberta—Zdeno Chara, who stands at a towering 6-foot-9.
“Z is such a nice guy with a super calm demeanor,” DeBrusk recounted on “The Cam & Strick Podcast.” “But initially, he was intimidating. I remember the first time I saw him on the ice, especially during a one-on-one drill; I was unsure how to approach him. He was unlike anyone I had seen before at that time.”
Reflecting on his first training camp with the Bruins, DeBrusk shared a memorable experience involving Chara during a drill where defensemen controlled the puck and forwards vied for tips in front of the net. Nervous about facing Chara’s shot, DeBrusk instinctively leaned away from the net. However, Chara encouraged him to stay and challenged him to stand his ground.
“He brought out about 15 pucks and started firing shots,” DeBrusk recalled. “I managed to get a piece of a few, but I was definitely intimidated. Chara laughed about it afterward, showing his good-natured character even during intense practices.”
DeBrusk admitted to feeling scared initially, unable to read Chara’s powerful shots. Nevertheless, he credited the legendary defenseman for imparting a valuable lesson about facing challenges head-on.
“You have to fully commit to everything you do,” DeBrusk concluded, reflecting on the lessons learned from his time in Boston as he prepares to bring his experience to the Vancouver Canucks following a seven-year contract signing.
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