In an eagerly awaited moment, Zdeno Chara made his long-awaited return to the ice at Warrior Ice Arena as a retired Bruin in early December 2022. The occasion was the annual Nathan H. Hardy Memorial Alumni Game, which took place before the Boston Bruins' matchup against the Colorado Avalanche at TD Garden.
Having announced his retirement just a month earlier, Chara had the privilege of playing alongside one of the all-time greats, Ray Bourque. Despite the game being a charity event, Chara expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity, stating,
Chara had not skated since his final game on April 29, but that did not deter him from embracing new challenges during the Alumni Game. In particular, he attempted the infamous lacrosse goal, also known as the "Michigan." This audacious move, often executed by young players worldwide, has been successfully executed by notable NHL players such as Trevor Zegras and Andrei Svechnikov, who have displayed their creativity with several memorable goals throughout their careers.
