London, Ontario is situated about halfway between Toronto and Detroit, and hockey fans there tend to gravitate toward the Maple Leafs or Red Wings.
Bruins third-round pick Brett Harrison, a London native, grew up a die-hard Boston fan, though. As it turns out, that fandom has run in his family stretching back decades, to his grandfather's friendship with former Bruin Gary Doak.
"I’ve always been a Bruins fan. Just ran through the family," Harrison said after being selected 85th overall. "My grandpa was best friends with Gary Doak. So it was a dream come true when I saw my name pop up, a moment I’ll never forget."
Doak, who passed away in 2017, played 14 seasons for the Bruins across a 16-year stretch from 1965-1981. He was a member of the 1970 Stanley Cup title team.
Harrison's favorite player growing up? That would be Patrice Bergeron, a player the 6-foot-2 center tries to model parts of his game after.
"I’ve always watched the Bruins growing up," he said. "So many great players have gone through. Just watching Patrice Bergeron, he’s such a reliable player and someone I really look up to and would love to play like."
Harrison played for the OHL's Oshawa Generals in 2019-20, recording 21 goals and 16 assists in 58 games. With no OHL season this past year due to COVID-19, he went overseas to play in Finland and notched four goals and five assists in seven games for Koovee's under-20 team. He was also a depth forward on Canada's gold medal team at the Under-18 World Championships and scored two goals in seven games.
This season he is expected to return to Oshawa, which is the same junior team Jack Studnicka played for. Harrison said he doesn't know Studnicka personally, but that their fathers are friends, so there's another Bruins connection.
Scouts and analysts praise Harrison's shot, his ability to get to the front of the net, and his hockey IQ, while questioning his skating ability. He was ranked as a second or third-round player in most pre-draft rankings. TSN's Bob McKenzie ranked him at 57, The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler had him at 66 and 53, respectively, and Hockey Sense's Chris Peters had him at 67.
Here is how Harrison himself describes his game:
"I’m a player that can play in all areas of the ice, all positions. I’m a centerman, but I can also play both sides on the wing as well. I have a very high hockey IQ and a really great scoring touch. I find soft areas in front of the net and in the slot, and I love going to the dirty areas and producing on my chances in front."
For coverage of the rest of the Bruins' Day 2 picks, check out our live tracker here.
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