The sights and sounds from Stanley Cup Media Day

The long and painful wait for the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals is almost over.

As Monday’s Game 1 looms, the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues fielded a plethora of questions from reporters around the globe during Sunday’s Stanley Cup Media Day at TD Garden.

Both teams trotted out players to answer any media queries following their respective practices. Some questions were serious, some were funny and some were even asked — or in this case, ‘barked’ — by a pup named Stanley.

But it all came together for a fun event that set the stage for what is to be a fantastic series between two quality hockey teams.

Here are the sights and sounds from Stanley Cup Media Day.

Don Sweeney and Bruce Cassidy’s mutual trust

Boston’s upper brass started off the festivities discussing the pride of going through the Eastern Conference. But both Bruce Cassidy and Don Sweeney expressed the work ahead of them as they look to add to the city’s plethora of championship riches.

“You can imagine it feels pretty good. This is a tough city, you got to keep up with the Jones’s in this city and you realize that the expectations, the pressure as a player, you certainly welcome that,” Sweeney said about Boston. “And obviously the city itself, they love winning teams and they will support you if you play a certain way and I think our team has done that.”

As they basked in their achievements this season, both Cassidy and Sweeney expressed their trust with one another over the past decade.

The duo has full belief in each other to get the job done as they’ve assembled a deep and talented hockey team.

“Well obviously Bruce and I have a long history and we have worked a long time together. Him having the opportunity to do it at the National Hockey League level really is just a testament to what he has done as a person and as a coach,” Sweeney said about Cassidy’s performance during his three years behind the Boston bench.

“I believed in it, I knew that his ability to adapt and make decisions in game would be really beneficial for us as an organization, especially when you’re implementing younger players. “

Yet, the head coach and general manager didn’t give away too many secrets about the Stanley Cup matchup.

ESPN’s Steve Levy tried his best as he asked Cassidy about the Bruins’ biggest advantage heading into the series. Cassidy, of course, didn’t crack.

“Boy, that’s going to be board material. Experience. I’ll go the easy route,” Cassidy said about Boston’s biggest advantage. “I just believe that our guys that have been there, that have won a cup, have lost a cup, that should give us an edge. Some people disagree with that once you’re here, but I believe it will give us an edge. I think it’s helped us a lot this week in the preparation, with all the down time, and hopefully going forward that is an advantage for us.”

The ‘Mayor of Walpole’

Chris Wagner’s Media Day status seemed in doubt after he sustained a right forearm injury after blocking a shot during Game 4 of the Carolina series.

Yet, the notorious ‘Mayor of Walpole’ made an appearance and even discussed his nickname and it’s origin…Danton Heinen.

Wagner didn’t reveal the extent of his injury and will most likely miss the entire series. But the fourth-liner admitted to feeling better since the Bruins’ sweep over the Hurricanes. Sleep easy, Walpole.

Stanley The Pup

Media Day brings its share of intriguing and entertaining questions. But Stanley The Pup, by far, stole the show.

As a bit of comedic relief, great television and a chance to give players a break from reports, the golden retriever would run over and greet certain players and deliver them a question.

Jake DeBrusk wants to eat Fruit Loops out of the Cup

The winner of media day – if there is one – was without a doubt Jake DeBrusk.

He started off the day in hilarious fashion by wearing his infamous toque — or as he calls it, a ‘Tuukka’ — during his Stanley Cup photo shoot. Those images will certainly be coming to a jumbotron in the near future.

The ‘Tuukka’ became a good luck charm for DeBrusk. And he most certainly wants to keep that going.

The second-year winger topped off his media day taking a question about the three things he’d put in the Stanley Cup. DeBrusk’s answer: Fruit Loops, beer and more food.

DeBrusk is truly one of a kind. We’re sure his father, former NHL enforcer Louie DeBrusk — who once dropped the gloves with Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara — is even proud of his son’s off-ice activity.