Stanley Cup Fever Contagious in Dedham

Even Tedy Bruschi celebrated the Boston Bruins' historic Stanley Cup championship Thursday.

The Patriots legend visited along with dozens of B's fans to purchase gear honoring the club's first Stanley Cup in nearly 40 years.

Roster employee Anthony Bartoloni said several Black and Gold fans waited anxiously outside the store Thursday morning in the hopes of being the first to score championship gear. 

"Sales have been steady since the B's reached the Stanley Cup," Bartoloni said. "We're beating our goals everyday."

Roster received Bruins' championship gear around 11 a.m. Thursday, and the sporting goods store lit the lamp as it sold out of Stanley Cup champion on-ice hats before 2 p.m. In addition, the sporting goods store sold a $120 autographed portrait of B's goaltender Tim Thomas.

"I'd have been shocked if no one had bought it," Bartoloni said. 

Boston fans stormed and in their pursuit of Stanley Cup merchandise as well. T-shirts, jerseys and even an inflatable Stanley Cup trophy helped Black and Gold supporters celebrate the club's sixth championship.

"Seeing the Bruins making it this far is surreal,"  Boston resident John Davis said. "It hasn't really sunk in yet."

Davis purchased two championship T-shirts in anticipation of the Bruins' victory parade on Saturday. The Boston resident said the Stanley Cup championship rewards Beantown's loyal and passionate hockey fans.    

"Boston is used to winning," Davis said, "and the Bruins just joined the group."

The Black and Gold disappointed many fans last season as they relinquished a 3-0 series lead to the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing the series 4-3. But this season's championship could help erase last year's failure.

"It's huge," Westwood resident Jeremy Diarmuid Gallagher said. "It's the best thing that's happened to Boston."

Local retailers anticipate championship merchandise will remain popular in the upcoming weeks. Olympia Sports employee Dan Murphy declined comment on specific sales numbers, but acknowledged Thursday was "very busy," thanks in large part to the Bruins' success.

Bartoloni said Roster will receive additional shipments of hats and T-shirts soon. The Roster employee emphasized the store could top last year's sales. 

"The news has been spreading by word of mouth," Bartoloni said. "Everyone has been coming here in floods."