Boston fans still love ‘Little Ball of Hate’ Brad Marchand, and the feeling is mutual
October 21, 2025
The Little Ball of Hate still has a lot of love back in Boston. Brad Marchand received a standing ovation from the Boston crowd on Tuesday night when he returned to play against his old team for the first time. The crowd cheered him off the ice after the pregame warmups, as the TD Garden DJ played a mashup of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The longtime Bruins forward responded with a stick salute as he headed off via the visitor’s bench. Fans wearing Marchand’s Boston and Florida No. 63 jerseys cheered again during introductions for the former Bruins captain.