{"id":104631,"date":"2025-08-23T16:22:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T16:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/104631\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T16:22:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T16:22:09","slug":"jordan-harris-ditched-the-family-business-goaltending-and-now-is-on-the-blue-line-for-the-bruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/104631\/","title":{"rendered":"Jordan Harris ditched the family business (goaltending) and now is on the blue line for the Bruins"},"content":{"rendered":"

His dad, Peter, put a stop to that.<\/p>\n

Peter stopped pucks at the University of Lowell in the late 1980s and Jordan\u2019s older brother, Elijah, followed in his father\u2019s footsteps, manning the net for Kimball Union Academy and Endicott College.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to be a goalie. I wanted to be a goalie so bad,\u201d Jordan told the Globe. \u201cI played both [in youth hockey]. I played goalie. I played forward and I played some defense. But my dad was like, \u2018No, not happening.\u2019 I honestly think the equipment\u2019s just so expensive. He\u2019s like, \u2018No, we can\u2019t do it, so he kind of talked me out of it. I could always skate well when I was younger. So, he probably thought my future was a little brighter outside of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n

Father knew best.<\/p>\n

Jordan, who signed a one-year deal with the Bruins July 1, settled in as a defenseman and flourished. <\/p>\n

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After joining Elijah for a season at Kimball Union, Jordan was drafted by the Canadiens in 2018 (third round No. 71 overall) and landed at Northeastern, where he shined for four seasons, including his senior campaign when he served as the Huskies captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, when I went on my visit, I was probably 16 years old and [then coach Jim] Madigan walked me and my dad around campus and honestly as soon as we were on campus, it really felt like somewhere I could see myself,\u201d said Harris. \u201cWe\u2019d looked at a couple other schools, but Northeastern just kind of fit like it was home. I\u2019d watched some of their games. I liked the way they played. It was kind of the underdog team of Boston, especially when I committed. They were always that last Beanpot school, not really talked about as much as the other ones and I liked that. So definitely I think one of my best decisions was going to Northeastern.\u201d <\/p>\n

Madigan recalled seeing Harris play at the Marlborough Sports Complex with then assistant Jerry Keefe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJerry and I were in a corner watching him and I said, \u2018OK, we\u2019ve got to go get this young man,\u2019 \u201d said Madigan, who is now NU\u2019s athletic director. \u201cAnd later that week we had him to campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madigan remembered the visit and could tell by the body language between Jordan and Peter that things were going well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he committed pretty quickly once we had recruited him and we were serious in terms of what our offer was, which is a full scholarship,\u201d said Madigan.<\/p>\n

Harris acclimated quickly, averaging heavy minutes in all situations as soon as he pulled on the Huskies sweater.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis maturity really stood out. There was poise, there was composure. He adjusted right away to our systems making that transition from high school. He played, I think 10 games in the USHL at the end of his high school senior year, which helped, I think, with the transition,\u201d said Madigan, noting that Harris thrived under former Maine coach Tim Whitehead at Kimball Union. \u201cSo, he was ready. Second power-play unit, penalty killing. It was five-on-five minutes. It was late in the game, late in the period, and he was in a top-four role. Those top four guys played a lot. He was logging 20 minutes a game as a freshman, and then it increased from there,\u201d said Madigan. \u201cHe was in tremendous shape, and he was a tremendous skater, an NHL-level skater. Also, his recovery was really quick. So, he\u2019d come off the ice, but then he was ready to go again. Some players need a little bit longer. He wasn\u2019t that way. His recovery was quick to get back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following his time with the Huntington Hounds \u2014 which included a double overtime goal against Boston University in the 2020 Beanpot title game \u2014 Harris signed with the Canadiens.<\/p>\n

Though it may not seem like an easy transition for a Boston boy to fit in in Montreal \u2014 \u201cMy buddies really let me have it when they drafted me,\u201d Harris said \u2014 the transition was smooth.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously as a Boston kid you always dream to play for the Bruins, but I mean playing for the Canadiens was so unique and cool with the history aspect of it,\u201d said Harris. \u201cAnd you\u2019re closer to home, too. My parents want to come up for a Saturday game, it\u2019s only a 4\u00bd-hour ride. Obviously, there\u2019s a rivalry there, but I didn\u2019t feel like super out of place because I knew my home was really close.\u201d<\/p>\n

After two-plus seasons in Montreal, Harris was traded to Columbus as part of the Patrik Laine deal<\/a>. He was limited to 33 games with the Blue Jackets last season, and once he hit free agency, he knew where he wanted to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings didn\u2019t work out great from a personal playing scenario in Columbus and I like Columbus a lot, it was a great spot,\u201d said Harris. \u201cAnd Boston was kind of interested right from the jump once I knew I would be going to free agency, and it just kind of worked out well. I wanted to be playing for the Bruins. Again, it\u2019s something I\u2019ve always dreamed of, and I have a lot of familiarity with the staff, and I\u2019ve skated at Warrior since I was in college and all that. It\u2019s a tremendous honor to be playing for a team like the Bruins and they were interested as well, so it kind of just worked out well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris has had brief conversations with coach Marco Sturm and assistant Jay Leach about what to expect when camp opens next month.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust to play my game. I think as a defenseman always to defend first. I think they know my game pretty well and they\u2019ve seen me play for a long time now. So, use my feet to defend, kill plays quickly, move the puck up. Obviously the offensive side is always a bonus as a defenseman,\u201d said Harris.<\/p>\n

The Bruins return their top six defensemen (Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Henri Jokiharju, Andrew Peeke, and Mason Lohrei), so Harris will be fighting for a spot in the rotation.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust compete. You never know how things are going to turn out throughout training camp and preseason and whatnot, and I\u2019ve seen a lot of crazy things happen over the past few years with injuries and everything,\u201d he said. \u201cYou never know how things are going to play out, but just to compete. It\u2019s always a competition; that\u2019s something that is true going into every training camp you want to show what you can do. So just show what I can do and use my strengths as my strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris, who is biracial and Jewish, embraces being a role model for younger players who may not fit the traditional hockey player mold.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. Any chance you can get as a hockey player or just as a person, you might meet some kids who come from similar backgrounds as you and you can just have a chance to talk to them, and they can see that someone like them has been able to reach the highest level of sport. It\u2019s so cool,\u201d Harris said. \u201cI try to make time to work with different organizations and we work with an organization called S.C.O.R.E. Boston this year, which has done a lot of work with kids of color and inner-city Boston kids and getting them introduced to hockey. The Bruins have a relationship with them and Northeastern has a relationship with them, which is great, and I believe they got some funding from the NHL last year. So, I\u2019m really excited to continue that work this year and play a small part in whatever I can in helping grow the game and maybe inspiring a couple of kids along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris, who is engaged to Codie Cross, who played defense for Northeastern\u2019s women\u2019s hockey team, said he feels great physically and he is champing at the bit to get his Bruins career started.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think every time, especially as I\u2019ve gotten a bit older, every time you step on the ice, I think there\u2019s an opportunity and I\u2019m just really looking forward to an opportunity to wear that \u2018B\u2019 on my chest and just have fun and compete and do whatever I can,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I\u2019m just really, really kind of rearing to get going and hungry and excited just for another opportunity. Every day is kind of a fresh start and I\u2019m definitely going to be really proud to step on the ice for the first day wearing that \u2018B.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

\"JordanJordan Harris was a four-year standout defenseman at Northeastern.John Tlumacki\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n

Road to recovery<\/p>\n

Lucic gets another shot, with Blues<\/p>\n

From the looks of his recent social media posts, Milan Lucic is in a good space personally. After signing a professional tryout deal with the Blues last week, the big winger has a chance to get there again, professionally.<\/p>\n

A Bruins fan favorite because of his ability to land timely checks, haymakers, and goals, Lucic\u2019s second tour in Boston came to an abrupt end following his arrest for allegedly assaulting his wife, Brittany, during an incident at their North End home in November 2023. The case was dropped the following February when Brittany invoked her marital privilege and declined to testify against him.<\/p>\n

The couple appear to have reconciled, appearing together in several recent Instagram posts, including one from July where Brittany wrote: \u201cSome people would rather see you broken than see you heal. They question your strength and recovery like it\u2019s not real. But healing is REAL … and it\u2019s exactly what this world needs more of.\u201d<\/p>\n

The deal reunites Lucic with Peter Chiarelli, his general manager in Boston and Edmonton. Chiarelli, now the Blues vice president of hockey operations, awarded Lucic a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Oilers in 2016, a year after the Bruins traded him to the Kings.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Blues coach Jim Montgomery briefly coached Lucic in Boston.<\/p>\n

Lucic, an entertaining and engaging interview who turned 37 in June, has 233 goals and 586 points in 1,177 regular-season games and won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.<\/p>\n

\"Lucic’sLucic\u2019s second tour in Boston came to an abrupt end following his arrest for allegedly assaulting his wife, who then declined to testify against him.Charles Krupa\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

Generals honor<\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly to have number retired by Oshawa<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Terry O\u2019Reilly, who will have his No. 17 retired by the Oshawa Generals next month. O\u2019Reilly grew up in Oshawa and played youth hockey there before skating for three seasons for the Generals, collecting 41 goals, 134 points, and 298 penalty minutes in 154 games.<\/p>\n

The \u201cTaz\u201d served as a Generals captain before landing in Boston, where he became a cult hero. O\u2019Reilly played 14 seasons, amassing 204 goals, 606 points, and a franchise-record 2,095 penalty minutes. <\/p>\n

After retiring in 1985, O\u2019Reilly coached the team, leading the Bruins during a memorable 1987-88 season when they dispatched the Canadiens in the second round of the playoffs en route to winning the Wales Conference title.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Reilly\u2019s No. 24 was retired by the Bruins in 2002. He was named to the Bruins Centennial Team in 2023 and was emotional talking about the dedication of Bruins fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of these kids still wear my sweater,\u201d he said. \u201c[They\u2019re] wearing 24s!\u201d<\/p>\n

Time heals<\/p>\n

Red Wings to retire Fedorov\u2019s number<\/p>\n

News item: The Red Wings announce they will retire Sergei Fedorov\u2019s No. 91 on Jan. 12.<\/p>\n

Immediate reaction: How in the Lord Stanley Cup was Fedorov\u2019s sweater not already dangling from the Little Caesars Arena rafters?<\/p>\n

History lesson: Fedorov played the first 13 seasons of his 18-year NHL run in Detroit, when he was one of the most feared offensive players on the planet. Graceful and powerful, FedEx put the Mo in Motown, collecting 400 goals, 954 points, and three Stanley Cups for the Big Red Machine. He is a Hall of Famer on those numbers alone.<\/p>\n

However, Fedorov created some bitter feelings in 2003 when the Red Wings offered to make the pending free agent the highest-paid player in the NHL, and he asked to think the deal over. Management subsequently pulled the offer and Fedorov signed with the Mighty Ducks (who coincidentally had just bounced the Winged Wheels from the postseason).<\/p>\n

The octopi-loving Detroiters booed Fedorov when he returned with the Mickey Mouse Club. He finished his career in 2009 with runs in Columbus and Washington.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Fedorov acknowledged he made a poor move.<\/p>\n

\u201cSign everything that Detroit offered and continue working calmly,\u201d he told Sport-Express, a Russian website, in January. \u201cDon\u2019t escalate the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those comments likely helped lead to a thawing of the Cold War between club and player. Amen.<\/p>\n

File under: Time heals all wounds.<\/p>\n

Quiz time: Terry O\u2019Reilly will become the fourth former Bruin to have his number retired by the Oshawa Generals. Name the other three … Massachusetts will be well represented at the United States men\u2019s Olympic Orientation Camp Aug. 26-27 in Plymouth, Mich. The group of 44 includes a half-dozen Bay Staters, including forwards Matt Boldy (Millis), Jack Eichel (Chelmsford), Conor Garland (Scituate), and Chris Kreider (Boxford), defenseman Noah Hanifin (Norwood), and goalie Joey Daccord (North Andover). The camp is more a team-building exercise with no formal on-ice workouts scheduled … The Bruins will be repped at the camp by Charlie McAvoy (already selected to the final roster) and Jeremy Swayman, who helped lead Uncle Sam\u2019s skaters to gold at the IIHF World Championships in May … Other notable veterans signing PTOs: Winger Conor Sheary (Melrose\u2019s own!) with the Rangers; and veteran defensemen Jack Johnson (Wild) and Brendan Smith (Blue Jackets) … A reminder that the Bruins Fan Fest Tour will make three stops during the first week of September. The free event, which will feature members of the organization, will be in Hanover (Chesna Memorial Rink) Sept. 5 from 5-8 p.m.; in Fitchburg (Wallace Civic Center) Sept. 6 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Concord, N.H. (Everett Arena) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information and to preregister (highly recommended) go to: https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/bruins\/fans\/fan-fest<\/a> … From the time flies dept: The Columbus Blue Jackets celebrate their 25th anniversary this season. Nationwide Arena is a decent take but brace yourself for that cannon. No matter how many times you hear it, you will be shook … Boston College will resemble a sort of Bruins farm club this season with six skaters under the Black and Gold flag, including James Hagens, the club\u2019s first-rounder in June. The Eagles recently named Andre Gasseau, another Boston prospect, one of three captains along with Lukas Gustafsson and Brady Berard. The other Bruins draftees on Greg Brown\u2019s squad: Oskar Jellvik, Dean Letourneau, William Moore, and Kristian Kostadinski … Quiz answer: Bobby Orr (No. 2). C\u2019mon admit it, that was an easy one; Dave Andreychuk (No. 9). Be honest, did you forget he wore the spoked-B?; and Marc Savard (No. 27).<\/p>\n

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n