Bobby Orr of the Bruins scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues while airborne 40 seconds into overtime at Boston Garden. May 10, 1970

On this day May 10, 1970, Bobby Orr iconic defensive player for the Boston Bruins scored one of the most famous goals in hockey history.  On May 10, 2010, the fortieth anniversary of Orr scoring the game-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues in overtime to clinch the 1970 Stanley Cup, the Bruins commemorated the event with a bronze statue of Orr outside the TD Garden, the Bruins’ home rink.  Orr – a native of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada – was inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame at the age of 31. His famed #4 jersey flys high over the ice at “TD” Boston Garden. He was ranked 31 in ESPNs SportsCentury: 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century in 1999^.

In 1970 Bobby Orr went on to lead the Bruins in a march through the playoffs that culminated on May 10, 1970, when he scored one of the most famous goals in hockey history and one that gave Boston its first Stanley Cup since 1941.

The goal came off a give-and-go pass with teammate Derek Sanderson at the 40-second mark of the first overtime period in the fourth game, helping to complete a sweep of the St. Louis Blues.

The subsequent photograph by Ray Lussier of a horizontal Orr flying through the air, his arms raised in victory – as he made the shot, he had been tripped by Blues’ defenceman Noel Picard while watching the puck pass by goaltender Glenn Hall – has become one of the most famous and recognized hockey images of all time.”

I remember that goal, that game and that season! Orr was an inspirational as well as an inspired player – a role model and a  gentleman.

Bruins legend Bobby Orr was all smiles as his statue was unveiled at TD Garden. AP Photo/Steven Senne

Learn more about Bobby Orr here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Orr