Boston Bruins Star Humbled By West Roxbury Crowd

They came from as far as Rhode Island, the New Hampshire border and Western Mass and as close as West Roxbury and Roslindale, all with the hope of meeting Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk at the Real Deal on Thursday night.

When the Bruins star defenseman exited his flashy sports car on Corey Street, he was shocked by the large crowd of fans that came to see him.

“I’m surprised and humbled,” Boychuk said. “I didn’t even think people knew who I was.”

Boychuk signed pucks, t-shirts and posters from behind the Sugar bakery counter and posed for pictures with fans.

Olivia Kousidis , 16 of West Roxbury and Jeremy Denekamp, 16, of Dedham waited over an hour and were first in line to meet the Bruins star.

"I'm so happy," Kousidis said. "I'm definitely going to get a picture and autograph with him."

The "meet and greet" event with fans was organized by Mahlon Williams of the Boston Sports Apparel Company, who said he chose the Real Deal as a location, because he is a friend of owner Eric Battite.

"It's good for the neighborhood and for kids who otherwise won't get that opportunity to have an intimate relationship with the players," Williams said.

The company had scheduled West Roxbury appearances with other Bruins stars in the past. Brad Marchand met fans in West Roxbury in 2011 and Gregory Campbell was in town last summer.

Battite, owner of The Real Deal said the event is organized so kids have an opportunity to meet their favorite hockey players.

"We try to do this for the kids in the community," Battite said. "West Roxbury has a large hockey community, and it's for them."