(Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)

Playing in six seasons with the Boston Bruins in the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bob Sweeney has played in his fair share of games against the Montreal Canadiens.

Growing up in Concord, Massachusetts and then playing colligate hockey at Boston College, Sweeney’s roots in Boston run deep and he is very familiar with hockey’s most historic rivalry

A new chapter will be added to the history of the Bruins and Canadiens rivalry later this week when the two Atlantic Division rivals meet in the 2016 Winter Classic. But before the current Bruins and Canadiens drop the puck on an extremely important game, a few familiar faces will battle it out.

On Thursday the Bruins and Canadiens Alumni will meet in what will be a game full of some of the NHL’s all-time best.

This is the second time the Bruins alumni will partake in the Winter Classic Alumni game. Back in 2010 when the Bruins hosted the Flyers, the Alumni game setup was a bit different. The Alumni game at Fenway featured two teams of former Bruins.

Spending many summer nights as a kid at Fenway, the backdrop of their 2010 Alumni game was a special one for Sweeney, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Boston Bruins Foundation.

“It was great, I mean that was, everything was so new as far as outdoor games. You know the first two had gone on and it was great to have an opportunity for an alumni game,” Sweeney said in an exclusive interview with Bruins Daily last week. “I think all the guys had a blast. For the alumni game it was snowing, the atmosphere was great.”

Things have slowed down a bit the past few years between the Bruins and Canadiens, but with the B’s snapping their skid against Montreal earlier this month and the two now neck and neck in the standings, this could be the most entertaining Winter Classic yet.

Sweeney and his fellow alumni are excited to be a part of the event and renew that rivalry with the Canadiens once again

“Yeah, Boston-Montreal as far as a Winter Classic you couldn’t ask for a better matchup. I think Gillette will be a great host. Hopefully the weather will get a little colder,” Sweeney said. “I know speaking from the alumni guys; they’re all excited for the opportunity on both sides. I think it’s going to be a great two, three days and a great time for all of New England.”

For anyone who has followed the Bruins alumni over the past several years knows that they all do a great job raising money for charities all across New England. Usually skating alongside the same cast of characters, Sweeney is excited to lace them up with some new faces.

“I think the guys who just retired and you look at the last Winter Classic and you got Mark Recchi and Marco Sturm who scored the big goal; well, they both scored,” Sweeney stated. “They both were very key parts of that victory over the Flyers a few years ago and I’m sure they’re just as excited as this is their first taste of it as an alumni.”

On the other side of things, Sweeney is excited to see some former Habs and some guys he’s grown to know over the years.

“Well I think it will be good to see some guys. Chris Nilan has gone through some tough times and now he is really doing awesome so it will be great to see him,” added Sweeney.

“Stephane Quintal played a little bit with me in Boston, so it will be good to see him as well. But I’ve gotten to know some of the other guys a bit, the Stephane Richer’s of the world, you know Guy Lafleur and they all do a lot in their different communities. “

Puck is scheduled to drop at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at Gillette Stadium. You can view both team’s rosters by clicking here.