Tuukka Rask
A technically brilliant and fiercely competitive goaltender who backstopped the Boston Bruins for a generation, defining an era with his calm, positional mastery.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Finnish ice hockey player·Birthday: March 10·Millennials
Biography
Hailing from Savonlinna, Finland, Tuukka Rask crafted a legacy in Boston defined by cool efficiency and elite consistency. Acquired by the Bruins in a trade that became legendary for its one-sidedness, Rask patiently developed before seizing the starting role. His 2013-14 Vezina Trophy season was a masterpiece of goaltending, but his playoff performances are what forged his reputation. He carried the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 with a breathtaking run, and again in 2019, playing through injury. While the 2011 championship ring came as a backup, his name is etched all over the Bruins' record books as their all-time leader in wins and shutouts. His retirement in 2022 closed the book on a career marked by a quiet intensity and a fundamentally flawless style that frustrated shooters for 15 seasons.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tuukka was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tuukka Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Tuukka's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender for the 2013-14 season.
- Backstopped the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019, serving as playoff MVP in 2013.
- Retired as the Boston Bruins' all-time franchise leader in wins and shutouts by a goaltender.
- Recorded a career .921 save percentage, one of the highest in NHL history among goalies with significant games played.
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs but was traded to Boston for goaltender Andrew Raycroft.
Rask is the godfather to the child of his longtime teammate and friend, Patrice Bergeron.
He holds the Bruins record for longest shutout sequence, going over 200 minutes without conceding a goal in 2020.
Before focusing on hockey, he was a talented soccer player as a youth in Finland.
“I'm not a guy who shows a lot of emotion. That's just my personality.”
