Unlike baseball, there is no debate about what jersey a player will wear when he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. If there were, Ray Bourque's would be brief. Despite hoisting the Stanley Cup while wearing a Colorado Avalanche jersey, and the retirement of that jersey less than three weeks later on June 26, the NHL's all-time leading scorer among defensemen will always be a Boston Bruin.

	Handing over No. 7 -- revealing No. 77 -- endeared Bourque to Bruins fans.

After all, 15 months of mercenary work to fulfill a life-long dream doesn't eclipse 20-plus years of hard-core toil.

In Colorado, Bourque is saluted and thanked for delivering Denver its second Stanley Cup in six years. But Boston is where he is truly appreciated, as evidenced by the more than 15,000 fans who crowded City Hall Plaza to see Bourque and the Stanley Cup he won with another team.

The reason Bourque is feted in Denver yet revered in Boston extends beyond the two decades' worth of seasons he skated for the Bruins. Bourque symbolized and represented Boston's blue-collar community. He worked hard every game and practice without a complaint. Not a one.

His personality fit Boston, as well. While playing for the Bruins, Bourque was never singled out for being quiet or standoffish, for it was due to humility, not arrogance. There was no misunderstanding Ray Bourque.

Ironically, Bourque was criticized for simply doing his job. As owner Jeremy Jacobs and GM Harry Sinden continually surrounded Bourque with mediocre talent year after year, media and fans called upon the team captain to speak out and hold management accountable. But Bourque did not speak up.

Even the NHL Players' Association winced each time Bourque refused to push the salary envelope as the Norris Trophies piled up. Bourque never threatened to leave Boston during a contract negotiation.

Perhaps, that's why Bourque never transcended his sport like Larry Bird did during the same era -- although a few championships for Bird didn't hurt. Bourque simply went about his business to the best of his ability, and ultimately, it was more than enough.

But there was one specific moment when Bourque uncharateristically thrust himself into the spotlight with a selfless act and became a hero in Boston.

It was 1987 and Cam Neely had just arrived in Boston. After Bruins fans recovered from the banishment of Barry Pederson to Vancouver, Neely assumed control as the crowd favorite on offense. It was easier to see his greatness -- goals and huge hits -- as opposed to the subtlety of Bourque's defensive genius. The Bourque poster never left the bedroom walls of the children of Boston, but it became more wallpaper than ornament, never featuring as prominently as Neely's.

Before that holiday season in Boston, the Bruins were set to retire the number of Phil Esposito, the Hall of Famer who had led the Bruins to Stanley Cups in 1970 and 1972. It was as tough a ticket to get as any in Boston sports. Bourque wore No. 7 at the time, but very little was made of the fact it had been Esposito's as well.

As team captain, Bourque performed ceremonial duties during the pregame festivities. When he skated to center ice to greet Esposito, Bourque shocked everyone as he took off his No. 7 jersey and handed it to it's previous owner, revealing the No. 77 he was wearing underneath -- and would wear for the remainder of his career.

The crowd went into an absolute frenzy -- as loud and spontaneous as any ovation the storied Boston Garden ever witnessed.

Without a word or hint of promotion, Bourque honored another beloved Bruin in the perfect way, a way that solidified his legacy as much as any on-ice performance.