Zadorov was one of the local figures, along with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who filled 150 outreach bags with turkey sandwiches, fruit cups, cookies, chips and hand warmers. It was the 16th consecutive season that a Bruins player has participated in this tradition.
“It’s an incredible organization. The Pine Street Inn and so many in Boston are really not just helping to stabilize and do great work here in our city; they are the national models for how to end homelessness,” Wu said. “We are working every day to be a city where every single person has a home, and everyone has somewhere warm, safe and surrounded by community and family.”
Zadorov wants his impact to go far beyond his heavy hits and explosive shot. Part of wearing the Black & Gold is showing up for Boston, not just on the ice, and the players have taken that to heart.
“When I came last year to this city, to this organization, it was clearly the message in here – there is a lot of community work getting done on a daily basis,” Zadorov said. “It’s every guy chipping into it. It really is what our identity is of the Boston Bruins. I think it’s really important for us to be here to support that.”
With all the bags packed and pies delivered, the Zadorov family headed home to prepare their own Thanksgiving meal. They won’t be having turkey, Zadorov said. Instead, it will be Beef Wellington. Bruins teammate Marat Khusnutdinov will be in attendance to test out Zadorov’s cooking skills.
“I haven’t started yet, but my wife prepared all of the ingredients,” Zadorov said. “I just need to be dialed in tonight.”
Before the Bruins return to game action on Friday at TD Garden against the New York Rangers, Zadorov is taking a moment to reflect on and enjoy the time with family and friends.
“I am thankful for my family first of all. I have three beautiful kids, I have a beautiful wife. They have been my supporters, my rock where I can lay on every night,” Zadorov said. “I am thankful for the team I am playing for, for the city where I am living, to have food on the table tonight. There’s a lot of different things, for sure.”