Boston Bruins to retire Chara’s jersey number 33 in January ceremony

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — There will soon be a second retired number 33 hanging from the rafters at the home of the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins.

Former Boston Bruins Captain defenseman Zdeno Chara will see his jersey number 33 retired and raised, added to the ranks of team legends like Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque and Cam Neely.

The retirement ceremony will be held by the Bruins on January 15, 2026 at TD Garden.

Chara’s number is the 13th to be retired in team history.

“Big Z” first joined the Bruins as a free agent in 2006, and helped lead the 2011 team to a Stanley Cup Championship over the Vancouver Canucks.

The Chara-led Bruins appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues.

Chara left the Bruins in 2020 and signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals, playing there until the end of the 2021 season.

He played his final season with the New York Islanders before retiring from the NHL in 2022, and retired a Bruin after signing a one-day contract with the team.