John Bishop is the beat writer for BostonBruins.com. He covers the Black & Gold hoping to offer a positive look at the team, not only from the stands and the press box, but also from inside the locker room. A graduate of Boston U. and Northeastern, 'Bish' grew up in Connecticut and moved to the Hub of Hockey in 1993. Since then he has made all four rinks at the Beanpot schools, as well as both Gardens, his icebound homes away from home. Prior to joining the TD Banknorth Garden staff in 2005, Bishop had written for several publications, with his primary focus being college hockey. He coauthored the book Bygone Boston in 2003 and hopes someday to pen a bio of Hobey Baker.

And we're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Just returned from the world of the mouse where I was bonding with my brother and sister and I wanted follow up on a couple of stories from late last week.

First off, as you know, the Boston Bruins Foundation and Bay State Cruise Lines will host a Sunset Harbor Cruise tomorrow night to raise money for the 2007 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge and tickets are still available.
 
Local musical legend Jim Plunkett will be on board for musical entertainment throughout the night. Plunkett will be performing his favorite songs in front of Bruins players and alumni such as Gary Doak, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly, Shawn McEachern, and Bob Sweeney.

The cruise will also feature raffle prizes and silent auctions, so go here to purchase tickets.

And while I was away from the computer the B's also announced their pre-season schedule.

Tue., Sept. 18
Islanders at St. John’s, Newfoundland, 7 PM NT
Thu., Sept. 20
New Jersey at Manchester, NH, 7:00 PM ET
Sat., Sept. 22
Toronto at TD Banknorth Garden, 4:00 PM ET
Sun., Sept. 23
Montreal at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 4:00 PM AT
Thu., Sept. 27
Montreal at Bell Centre, Montreal, 7:30 PM ET
Sun., Sept. 30
Islanders at TD Banknorth Garden, 4:00 PM ET

I wouldn't mind taking in a couple of those roadies, I have never been to Newfoundland or Nova Scotia! And judging by my e-mail, there are plenty of Bruins fans in Atlantic Canada.

And finally, following up on my favorite story from last week, Kia Byers is bringing a gold medal home from Rio and the Pan American Games. Lyndon "LB" Byers is very proud of his daughter, who lives and trains in Saskatchewan with her mother's family.

Here is part of a newspaper article from Canada.

Byers brings home gold
By Rob Vanstone, Leader-Post

Kia Byers (right) with Marie-Christine Schmidt

Tanned tourists typically return from Rio de Janeiro with a golden glow, but Regina's Kia Byers has traveled one giant step further.

Byers teamed with kayaker Marie-Christine Schmidt of Lachine, Que., to win the women's K-2 500 meters Saturday at the 15th Pan American Games. The gold-medal presentation is still resonating with the 19-year-old member of the Wascana Racing Canoe Club.

"It was one of the neatest things,'' Byers said Sunday night from Rio. "Hearing O Canada has been something I have dreamed about since I was nine years old. Having it actually happen and seeing that Canadian flag and all the things that come with it, I was a little teary.

"I wanted to belt out O Canada as loud as I could, even though I'm an awful, awful singer.''

Byers won medals on two successive days. She also teamed with Schmidt, Camille Tessler-Bussieres of Quebec City and Jillian D'Allesio of LaSalle, Que., to help Canada finish third in the women's K-4 500m.

"When we won our first medal on Friday, I slept with the medal under my pillow,'' Byers said.

"I was pretty attached to it. I didn't want it to be on the other side of the room. The gold medal slept with me on my bed, too.

"I feel like a small child with their favorite toy or something that they've been waiting for for so long. This is what I have been waiting for. It's one of those steps to the ultimate goal.''

Although Byers would love to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, she indicated that she is focusing most intensely on the 2012 Olympics in London.

For the time being, she is enjoying Rio. She is to leave the city of six million people this afternoon and land in Regina on Tuesday night.

"People here are unreal,'' Byers said. "People have asked for our autographs and numerous pictures and they want to see the medals and touch them and talk to you about it. It has been really neat. I've just been trying to soak it all in.''

You can read the rest of the article here.

Congratulations to Kia from all of Bruins Nation -- we hope to talk to you soon.