Bruins organization staying busy during lockout

Give the Bruins organization credit where its due.
The Bs are in a tough spot with a months worth of NHL games cancelled due to the NHL lockout, and more expected to be announced by the league on Friday. Usually, that means a trip to Death Valley in terms of club activity, but the Black and Gold are finding ways to stay involved and relevant in the community.
A Wednesday night surprise visit by Bs coach Claude Julien and general manager Peter Chiarelli to a Mens League game at Hockey Town USA was the latest example of it, but Julien has been front and center for the Bruins. The coach will also be coaching the Winthrop Squirt B youth hockey team on Sunday afternoon after the youth team won a raffle for Juliens services during a game at the Haverhill Valley Forum.
Tickets were purchased for 5 per ticket in a benefit for the Boston Bruins Foundation and Massachusetts Hockey, and the parents and kids involved with the Winthrop team are understandably pumped about Julien assuming the position behind the bench.
Our family took a chance on the raffle with the thought that winning was a long shot, but that the Bruins Foundation was a good cause and someone would benefit even if we didnt win, said Thomas Bailey, whose son, Thomas Jr., will be one of the players coached by Julien this weekend. When I received the email from the Bruins Foundation, I couldnt believe it: we had won the one in a million shot and Coach Julien would be coaching our sons team.
We are thrilling that Coach Julien would offer his time to the kids and we can verify that the kids are thrilled that the Boston Bruins coach will be on their bench, offering them some in-game instruction. In the end everyone involved in youth hockey is in it for the kids, and Winthrop Youth Hockey and the Bruins Foundation are no exception.
The youth hockey game is sure to be a hit with Julien, but it isnt the only thing the Bruins organization is involved in by a long shot, however. Bruins employees have been undertaking a grassroots effort to volunteer time at local charities on weeknights when home hockey games were scheduled to be held at TD Garden.
Theres also the Bruins Foundations monthly beer, wine and alcohol tastings at Mortons Restaurant in Bostons cool Seaport area. The tickets to the tastings are 40 each and feature a raffle as well as the chance to try different drinks and Mortons hors doeuvres over the 90-minute event starting at 5:30 p.m.
"We are very appreciative of our friends at Morton's for allowing us this fantastic opportunity.  We look forward to our monthly tastings and meeting new friends of the Boston Bruins Foundation, said Boston Bruins Foundation Director Bob Sweeney. The tastings are a great opportunity to talk to people and explain what the Bruins Foundation is all about and gives us the opportunity to support our various teams, such as the Boston Marathon and the Pan Mass Bike team.
The next MortonsBoston Bruins Foundation tasting event will take place at the MortonsSeaport on Monday, November 26 at 5:30 p.m. and will include tastings of the Wines of the Northwest. Tickets to the fun and casual event can be purchased by going to the team site.