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Did you know that Jillian Dempsey named the Bruins' Mascot "Blades"?

By Cornelius Hardenbergh
Jillian Dempsey at faceoff
Jillian Dempsey at faceoff
Meg Linehan

Yesterday in Nashville, in support of the All-Star game, they had a "Mascot Showdown" competition between all of the NHL mascots. Here's a video:

The really interesting thing, however, is that while looking up when Blades actually appeared for the Boston Bruins I found this legendary origin story. It's mostly a feel-good story about a bear watching John Bucyk play hockey with local children on a pond, but one line in particular stood out:

While the bear munched, Chief decided that the bear needed a name. So he went to the stands and asked some of the young fans what they should name the bear.

One young girl from Winthrop named Jillian Dempsey, who was a hockey player herself, suggested 'Blades.'

Wait. a. gosh. darn. second. Jillian Dempsey? I've heard that name before.

Did they mean Harvard star Jillian Dempsey? USA Hockey player Jillian Dempsey? 2014 CWHL rookie of the year Jillian Dempsey? Clarkson Cup Champion Jillian Dempsey? Tied for fifth in points on the Boston Pride Jillian Dempsey?

It appears to be the same woman. Who knew that she had such an effect so early? Anyhow, here are some gifs of her clowning on NWHL goalies:

That's pretty neat!