Zdeno Chara Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Retired Bruins great Zdeno Chara runs Boston Marathon

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 4/17/23

It appears that when Zdeno Chara hung up his hockey skates, he grabbed a pair of running shoes in their place.

The former Boston Bruins defenseman retired from the NHL after 24 seasons last October, but he proved to still be a man about town this week when he was a notable participant in the Boston Marathon.

Of course, even if Chara wasn't a local hockey hero, he would be hard to miss. The 46-year-old blue-liner is 6-foot-9 after all.

Zdeno Chara cruising at the Washington Street Fire Station portion of the Boston Marathon pic.twitter.com/rEx35JnAVr
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) April 17, 2023

The Sporting News reported Chara ran the marathon in support of two charities, the Hoyt Foundation and the Thomas E. Smith Foundation, both of which are based in Massachusetts.

Chara's NHL career spanned from 1997-2022 and included 14 seasons with the Bruins. He also suited up for the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals. The towering defenseman played for Boston when he won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 and won a Stanley Cup with the B's in 2011. He ended his NHL career with 680 points (209 goals, 471 assists), including 35 game-winners and a plus-301.

Speaking of his former team, the Bruins are gearing up to host the Florida Panthers on Monday night in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boston ended the season on an eight-game winning streak with a 65-12-5 record. The Bruins set the league record for most points in a season at 135.

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