David Pastrňák is known for joy. The wide smile, the effortless scoring, the playful attitude — he’s one of the NHL’s most dynamic and beloved stars. But in June 2021, that joy vanished. Quietly. Without a headline goal or a fancy celly, Pastrňák played through the darkest days of his life, and most fans never knew.
On June 23, 2021, the Bruins released a simple, devastating message on social media:
“We ask that you please respect their privacy as they mourn the loss of their newborn son, Viggo Rohl Pastrňák, who passed away six days after birth.”
There were no cameras. No statements from Pasta. No media appearances. Just silence. The kind that echoes louder than cheers.
Few fans realized that in the weeks leading up to that announcement, Pastrňák had continued training. He stayed with the team. He was emotionally broken but physically present — not because he had to be, but because he didn’t know what else to do.
When he finally returned to play in the 2021–22 season opener, reporters gently asked if he wanted to say anything about Viggo. Pastrňák didn’t hold back.
“You come home and you don’t have your kid waiting for you… it’s been really tough. But I’m trying to focus on the game and give everything I have.”
What fans don’t see — and what’s rarely talked about — is how his teammates rallied around him in total silence. No public tribute. No names on helmets. Just quiet support in the locker room, in hotel rooms, on flights. Patrice Bergeron reportedly stayed up with Pastrňák many nights during training camp, talking about anything except hockey.
Pastrňák didn’t ask for sympathy. He didn’t stop smiling on the ice. But every time he scored that season — every fist pump, every point to the sky — it meant something more than we could understand.
Fans cheer the goals. They wear his jersey. But behind the dazzling plays and fearless shots, there’s a father who skated through grief. And never once asked for attention.
That’s a Boston Bruin.
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