Throughout the years, the Boston Bruins Alumni has displayed some of the most notable Bruins in history to skate in alumni games across New England.

There was one game, however, that they wanted to schedule for some time involving StinkySocks Hockey. That contest came to fruition on Saturday January 31, 2015  at Steriti Rink in the North End of Boston thanks to Rick Middleton (President of the Boston Bruins Alumni) and Peter Manderino (President of StinkySocks Hockey) in a charity event to benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation.

“It was Peter’s idea,” Boston Bruins Foundation President Bob Sweeney said about the game. “StinkySocks provides them a great outlet to play the game they love.”

Sweeney was one of the many past Bruins to come out and skate on Saturday. Other former players included, Terry O’Reilly, Ken Linseman, Reggie Lemelin, Andy Brickley and Bob Beers – just to name a few.

Some, like O’Reilly, were introduced to StinkySocks for the first time.

“It’s the first time [that I heard it],” said the former Bruins captain. “I can’t speak for everybody, but it’s kind of an interesting name.”

StinkySocks Hockey began operations in the winter of 2006. It’s main mission is to provide an enjoyable experience both on and off the ice.

Over the last nine years, StinkySocks Hockey has gone from a handful of leagues to an expanded operation that now features over 50 games a week across 15 different locations, a flexible No-Commitment Hockey program and multiple tournaments, both locally and internationally.

As the company is nearing the end of its first decade of existence, there’s one thing that’s been consistent: every player no matter their skill level is welcome to join. Whether you’re skating for the first time in your life or or getting back into the game after years on the sidelines, StinkySocks accommodates anyone who wants to play the game of hockey as they offer true leveling and a firm no-tolerance policy.

StinkySocks player, Margaret Yellot, is taking up hockey for the first time. She played in the first game of the doubleheader where the Bruins Alumni and StinkySocks split their teams into two – Team Milbury and Team Cherry.

“I’ve always been a big Bruins fan, and I’m new to hockey so it was really exciting to be on the ice with them and I wanted to see how big they were in person,” Yellott said.

“I heard [StinkySocks] was really a fun way to get involved and I have a pretty busy work schedule, so the fact that I can sign up whenever I want to and hit the ice is really fun.”

Yellott was part of the victorious Team Milbury team in their 5-3 win over Team Cherry in the first game. That game was highlighted by Middleton’s goal for Team Cherry as well a successful penalty shot from George Ward and Tyler Ingham’s performance between the pipes. Both Ward and Ingham are members of StinkySocks Hockey.

In the second game – the main event between the Bruins Alumni and Team StinkySocks – the B’s legends got all they could handle from the StinkySocks Hockey B/C group, highlighted by Rich Ackerman’s highlight-reel goal to tie the game at 3-3. But O’Reilly’s snipe late in the game, followed by an empty netter from John Carter sealed the 5-3 win for the Bruins Alumni.

The results, however, were secondary. What mattered the most was allowing StinkySocks Hockey players a chance to lace up the skates against their favorite all-time Bruins for a good cause.

“It meant a lot,” Ackerman said about playing against the Bruins Alumni. “It was great playing against them, and I’d love to do it again sometime.”

“I kind of woke up with butterflies, I’m not going to lie,” Ingham said. “I definitely was looking forward to facing some shots by O’Reilly and Middleton…Middleton put one past me, you know, that’s one I’ll add to the resume. Of all people to score on you, I think that’s an acceptable name.”

“It was crazy,” Ward added. “A lot of these guys I grew up watching them and it was an amazing experience.”

For many of the players, it was an experience of a lifetime.

An experience they got from StinkySocks Hockey.

A StinkySocks experience that will hopefully continue to grow.

“If you’re looking to get back on skates and relive some memories from when you were a kid and meet some good guys looking for a good time and get some good guys, then StinkySocks is the place,” said Mike Muller, who laced up the skates for the first time in 25 years after joining StinkySocks in September.

“The best part about hockey – and I have three boys who play – I tell them whether you play in the NHL, college, high school [and adult league], ‘as long as you can keep skating, you can play this game as long as you want,'” Sweeney stated. “And that’s what it comes down to, if you do play in the NHL, we still like to do games like this to raise money for charity, and most importantly the camaraderie in the locker room still gets guys going. And that’s what it’s all about, the ladies and gentlemen that we faced today and if you asked them they had a lot of fun, and that’s what we want.”

Thanks to the hard work of the StinkySocks Hockey players, over $20,000 was raised for the Bruins foundation.