The Boston Bruins will be doing a bit of traveling in 2020.
The NHL announced Friday that the Bruins will be headlining the 2020 NHL Global Series by opening the season in the Czech Republic against the Nashville Predators.
Both the Bruins and Predators will complete their training camps in Europe with Boston also set to travel to Mannheim, Germany to faceoff with SC Bern in an exhibition game.
B's President Cam Neely stressed the importance of team bonding on these long international trips.
"We have kicked off our season with international games twice in the past decade and both times the trips have proved valuable for our team building, so we feel that this trip to Germany and the Czech Republic will be beneficial for our team," Cam Neely said, according to NHL.com. "We are also looking forward to working with the NHL and the Nashville Predators to continue our collective efforts to grow the game of hockey in international markets."
The Czech Republic is where Bruins' stars David Krejci and David Pastrnak grew up, and they couldn't be more excited to be able to play in front of friends and family.
Boston Bruins
"Opening the season in Prague and Northern Ireland back in 2010 was a very special experience to share with my family, friends and teammates," Krejci said. "It was the start of a year I'll always remember. Growing up in Czech, it was my dream to play in the NHL so to be able to play in more NHL games in Europe means a lot to me personally. I think it's great the league continues to grow the game and bring hockey to different countries all over the world."
Pastrnak actually had the opportunity to watch the Bruins play in Prague in 2010, he's now excited to be a part of the action from a player's perspective.
"I was very excited to learn that the Boston Bruins would be heading back to my home country to play in the 2020 NHL Global Series in Prague," Pastrnak said. "I remember driving to O2 Arena as a kid to go see the Bruins play the Coyotes back in 2010 for the NHL Premiere games. The passionate fans and atmosphere were something I'll never forget - I can't wait to feel that energy again from the ice in Prague and Mannheim."
Pastrnak, who has 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) through 15 games this season and Krejci, who has five points (one goal, four assists) through nine games, will headline the festivities in their native country.
This will be the third time Boston will play overseas -- the first since the team competed in the O.R.G. NHL China Games against the Calgary Flames in 2018-19.
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