Zdeno Chara’s number will officially be among the greats in the TD Garden rafters.
The Bruins announced that the former defenseman’s No. 33 will be retired in a pregame ceremony on Jan. 15, 2026 when Boston hosts the Seattle Kraken.
“It is truly beyond words to see my jersey, number 33, raised to the rafters at TD Garden,” Chara said in a statement released by the Bruins. “This honor is greater than anything I could have imagined when I first came to Boston. I am forever grateful to the Bruins organization for trusting me to lead, to all my teammates past and present, to the fans whose passion and energy made Boston feel like home, and to my family who made everything possible. This moment is not just mine – it belongs to all of us.”
Chara, who was named Boston’s hockey operations advisor and mentor in September, signed a one-day contract with the Bruins in 2022 to retire as a member of the organization.
Bruins president Cam Neely said in 2022 that it was a “no-brainer” to have No. 33 in the TD Garden rafters at some point.
The Bruins signed Chara in 2006 and he helped reset the culture in the locker room and on the ice. He captained the team all 14 seasons he was in Boston, including 2011 when they won the Stanley Cup.
The 6-foot-9 defenseman ranks sixth in franchise history in games played with 1,023, and third in points by a defenseman with 481, behind only fellow Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888).
A career-high 19 goals and 31 assists during the 2008-09 season led Chara to his first Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. He was the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2010-11 and named to the NHL First All-Star Team three times (2003-04, 2008-09, 2013-14), the Second All-Star Team four times (2005-06, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12).
Chara was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility earlier this year.
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