BOSTON — Two iconic Boston Bruins forwards turned into another legendary duo Monday, with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand morphing into Mario and Luigi.
For the past 12 seasons, the Bruins have dressed up in themed costumes around Halloween and headed to local hospitals to cheer up sick kids, a tradition that had to go virtual for the past few years.
But this year it’s back, the Bruins donning Mario Bros.-themed costumes, with goalie Jeremy Swayman as Bowser, goalie Linus Ullmark as Toad, defenseman Brandon Carlo as Donkey Kong, defenseman Derek Forbort as Princess Peach, forward Charlie Coyle as Yoshi and forward Nick Foligno as Wario.
“I think it’s just a special day to be able to go and share a moment with kids, kids that are going through a lot, families that are going through a lot,” Bergeron said. “To be able to be there and brighten up their day as much as we can and bring up a smile or two. The costumes always help for that.”
The themes in recent seasons have included Snow White (Swayman) and the Seven Dwarfs, Toy Story and superheroes.
“This is one of the events we really look forward to every year,” Marchand said. “We see the excitement that the kids have when we come in, the excitement we have being a part of it. It was disappointing when we weren’t able to make it to the hospitals. [during the pandemic]. Just the difference it can make with what these kids have to go through.
“If we can bring a smile to their face for even a couple minutes, it’s worth it.”
Although most of the players didn’t get to choose their costumes, the 6-foot-6 Carlo was happy to grab Donkey Kong. He said he always chose the character while playing the video game.
“Every opportunity I’ve had, especially the in-person ones,” said Carlo, of being a frequent participant in the event. “I think it’s a great thing. It’s a lot of fun. You see the smile on the kids’ faces when you walk in in the silly costumes, and I think we’ve got a couple over there that will raise some eyebrows.”
Although it’s possible that some of them might bring smiles to a few other faces, as well. Forbort acknowledged that he had to make a quick stop for gas on the way to the hospital visits.
“I might get a couple looks filling up the tank there,” he said.
But the best part for most of the players was returning to the in-person nature of the visits after the pandemic hiatus.
“Even more special this year,” Bergeron said, who added that Patrice’s Pals, where he brings children from hospitals and other organizations to games at TD Garden and meets with them afterward, has also returned this season.
Foligno, more than anyone else, has an intimate understanding of what it’s like for the kids they visit.
The Foligno family has had a long-term relationship with Boston Children’s Hospital, dating back to his days with the Columbus Blue Jackets, after his daughter, Milana, was born with a congenital heart defect.
Foligno even tried his hand at the Wario laugh.
“It makes for a fun day,” Foligno said. “I think we’re just excited about going to see those kids, hopefully putting a smile on their face. They end up putting a smile on ours.”
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