Goodnight Patrice

This year marks the end of an era. Since the summer of 2018, Patrice Bergeron has been the captain of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the RHL. He has been a steady presence as the team’s number one centre, first powerplay unit, and reliable penalty killing presence. He has been one of the most respected players around the league. He has led the Ducks to six straight playoff appearances, including a loss in the Stanley Cup Finals in the 22/23 season. The Anaheim Ducks also led their division twice and, and they won the President’s Trophy in the 2020/2021 season. (Though there is no documentation to prove this and GM VideoJ is known as a belligerent drunk liar)

Patrice Bergeron played his first season for Anaheim after being brought in in the RHL’s first ever 3-way trade. GM VideoJ’s first order of business was to change the team’s losing ways. This was made possible by fellow GMs Blix of the Colorado Avalanche and MixtureBill of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ironically, they are all fans of the Boston Bruins and thus have forged an unbreakable bond, which is only sometimes challenged by the negativity of the 4th wheel, RBK, who later joined the RHL as a Bruins fan. So while it was a shared love of the Bruins, of long time Simhockey GMs attempting to take advantage of a good natured rookie, the stage was being set for a behemoth of a deal. The Colorado Avalanche were pushing hard to bring in then superstar, now washed-up Tyler Seguin. With little interest in keeping him with the Anaheim Ducks, and with Patrice Bergeron on Columbus’s trade block, much discussion occurred, but Anaheim sent out Kyle Turris and Tyler Seguin to Colorado, receiving a 1st in return, along with Patrice Bergeron and Wayne Simmonds from Columbus.

Due to the lack of stats prior to the end of the tyranny of the CyanWinters and Swabu days, we can only account for his stats from the last three seasons. Over the last three seasons Patrice played 233 games, accruing 80 goals and 140 assists. While these numbers are not astronomical, he consistently provided defense for the top line, and the leadership on the ice and in the locker room that every top team feeds off of. A man with great character, as made obvious to the rest of the league in multiple facets. When needing to be re-signed as a UFA, he could have easily commanded more money on the open market. Instead he signed a team friendly 6 million dollars for 6 years contract with a no-trade clause. He knew he wanted to remain an integral part of the team until his retirement. He also retires as the reigning Selke Trophy winner, as voted by the league!

While we are sad as an organization to see him leave, we wish him all the best as he lives out his life with wife and children in retirement. There is no man more deserving. He will be sorely missed both on and off the ice and will be impossible to replace. His number 37 will be retired at the Ducks home opener at the start of the 2024-2024 season.