Bruins
The Bruins coach mirrored on his alcoholism and sobriety whereas receiving the Jack Adams Award.
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Bruins Patrice Bergeron, Linus Ullmark, and Jim Montgomery win huge at NHL Awards
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4 issues to learn about Jim Montgomery
NASHVILLE — Jim Montgomery took to the stage at Bridgestone Area to simply accept the Jack Adams Award given to the league’s coach of the 12 months.
The humbled Bruins bench boss stays grateful for his second probability within the NHL — and life typically.
Montgomery’s struggles with alcoholism prompted his departure from the Dallas Stars after practically a season and a half. He returned to the NHL teaching ranks after his stint in rehab, accepting an assistant teaching gig in St. Louis earlier than touchdown in Boston final summer time.
He shared his struggles together with his pals, household, and different members of his assist system who helped him alongside the way in which to sobriety. On Monday, Montgomery opened as much as the general public throughout his acceptance speech.
“Three-and-a-half years in the past, the Dallas Stars terminated my contract due to alcohol, and I needed to change my actions and behaviors,” Montgomery stated in his speech. “That’s when my new workforce — an important workforce in my life — is what results in the success that I dwell day by day proper now.”
Montgomery’s on-ice success speaks for itself. However his off-ice character continues to shine three years after his restoration.
His earlier struggles with alcohol had been made public shortly after his firing in Dallas. But, Montgomery received’t hesitate to share his backstory, be it in entrance of the cameras or behind closed doorways.
Linus Ullmark heard Montgomery’s story. He admitted that Montgomery’s journey resonates with him, given comparable struggles with alcoholism within the Ullmark household.
“For me, it hits residence a little bit extra as a result of I’ve had it in my household as nicely,” Ullmark stated after capturing the Vezina Award. “So for him to all the time be that open about it, it reveals that he leaves all of it on the market. He’s very open, which makes you belief him.”
Montgomery gained the Bruins’ belief this season after guiding the workforce to a record-breaking common season. He gained additional self-confidence following the darkest level of his life three years in the past.
Coming into his second season in Boston, Montgomery nonetheless carries a pair of important traits he leaned on throughout his restoration.
“An perspective and gratitude,” Montgomery stated of the traits he carries over to as we speak from his stint in rehab. “I get up day-after-day and write down what I’m grateful for. That simply units my head straight, and it creates happiness from inside, after which I’m in a position to unfold that happiness to others.”
Montgomery, Ullmark, Patrice Bergeron (who ran away together with his sixth profession Selke Award on Monday), David Pastrnak (who completed a distant second to Conor McDavid on the Hart Trophy poll), and the remainder of the Bruins would’ve needed nothing greater than to cap off their record-breaking common season appropriately with Lord Stanley in tow. They’ll get an opportunity at redemption in 2023-24, albeit with a different-looking workforce from this previous season.
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Originally posted 2023-06-27 12:53:39.