Rene Rancourt, at center stage for more then four decades in Bruins playoffs, adjusting to fan role

Rene Rancourt has not sung a musical note since he officially retired last season.

“I never, ever thought that would happen,” Rancourt told The Athletic. “I’ve sung for 60 years and you suddenly stop and I never thought I could do that, but it hasn’t been a problem whatsoever.

It was an impressive 42-year reign as the Bruins’ anthem singer for Rancourt, but he’s making the most of his down time. He and his wife spend most of their time in Albany, N.Y., taking care of his 98-year-old father-in-law.

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“I’m really, really enjoying retirement,” Rancourt said. “It’s something I really should’ve done earlier. Shortly, I’ll be 80 years old and the years really piled on during 42 years with the Bruins. I really earned this retirement and I enjoy every single day unbelievably.”

His vocal cords are healthy and he’s planning on dipping his toes back into the entertainment world with a few upcoming engagements.

“That means I’ll have to get the tuxedo out of the dry cleaners,” he said with a laugh.

He’s been working out, feels great and has finally become a true Bruins fan.

“It’s great watching the Bruins from the health club as I’m working out,” he said. “I enjoy the hockey 10 times more because I don’t have to be worrying if I have a cold, or I’ve got to warm up my voice, or get the tuxedo out of the cleaners, or drive through a snowstorm to get to a game. Now I can just relax and truly enjoy hockey like I never had.”

The tradition of Stanley Cup playoff hockey in Boston resumed Thursday night at TD Garden when the Maple Leafs won Game 1 against the Bruins.

But Rancourt’s absence was a big difference. It had been more than 40 years since someone other than Rancourt opened the playoffs in Boston with the American and Canadian national anthems.

Several performers emerged from auditions the Bruins held last summer to sing the anthem during the season. But Todd Angilly, whose primary duties at the Garden are as a bartender, has become a mainstay and a fan favorite, and he got the call from the Bruins to sing before Games 1 and 2.

“I’m still speechless about it,” he said. “It’s kind of interesting when you think about the big picture: They go from (Rene) who had been doing it for 40 years and now they’re going to give it to the bartender on the fifth floor. I’m up to the task and I like to think they made the right decision. There’s a big responsibility that goes along with this, and equally a big honor, so hopefully I can fill the role and give it the respect and honor it deserves.”

Rancourt admitted it bothered him during his career when others would sing the anthem in his place for one reason or another. Now that he’s on the outside looking in he’s been impressed with the performers, especially Angilly.

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“They are doing a great job,” Rancourt said. “I wish them all the luck. Some years ago if I had heard competition like that it would’ve killed me. My competitive juices would’ve been flowing. Now, I can truly and honestly say, ‘good luck’ and ‘you’re doing a great job and keep up the good work.’ I really mean it.”

Angilly is a probation officer during the day and he’s also a former chef at Fenway Park. He has also sung the anthem for the Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots. The 43-year-old Lynnfield, Mass., resident and native of Warwick, R.I., attended the New England Conservatory of Music.

Rancourt had his legendary fist pump when he was done singing and you knew how excited he was by how many pumps he gave the fans, but Angilly understandably has his own routine. When he’s done singing, he points to each end of the Garden – one to organist Ron Poster and the other to the bartenders on level 5.

“In my years of singing and performing you always acknowledge your accompanist, especially as a vocalist,” explained Angilly. “Everyone wanted to know if I was going to do the fist pump and I would say, ‘No, I’m not because that was Rene’s thing.’ It’s a respect thing and I don’t want to do it because that was his. So, I’m just trying to give some respect up to Ron and thank him. It’s an honor to work with him.”

The bartenders on level 5 at TD Garden want to have T-shirts made that read: “Yes, Todd’s singing” because fans always ask if Angilly is singing the anthem.

“They (fellow bartenders) are so supportive, like, ‘He’s one of us. He’s our guy down there,’” explained Angilly. “So, I do like to point up to them. When I change (before the anthem) I’ll come back through the bar and they’re all cheering me on as I’m leaving and they get really fired up. And, I can hear them when I get down on the ice.”

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One task of the anthem singer is to get the fans and players excited about the game. Rancourt had the magic touch and Angilly is following his predecessor’s lead well.

“I pay attention to it,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug. “I don’t know about other guys, but I get pretty excited, especially with the difference between the regular season and a playoff anthem; it’s a little bit different.”

Believe it or not, each player has his game-day routine for the anthem too. Some players use those few minutes to get pumped up and feed off the energy of the fans, while others use the time to take a deep breath, focus and try to calm the nerves.

“Rene obviously did a great job for years here and the crowd loved him, but Todd’s been great as well,” Krug said. “Either way, you’re going to have Boston fans cheering for you and that’s what is exciting.”

After the anthem, there’s an elevator waiting for Angilly to take him back to the fifth floor to resume his beer-pouring duties. Fans will always ask him to sing and he’s been taking a lot of pictures this season.

Most of the fans on level five are season-ticket holders, or have a suite, so they know Angilly. However, every once in a while someone will tell Angilly he looks just like the guy who sang the anthem. He and the other bartenders have some fun with it.

“I’ve also had people convinced that it was my twin brother,” Angilly said. “We’re a pretty tight group up there because we get a lot of the regulars, so I’ve acquired a pretty good relationship with a lot of my regulars. It’s just the coolest thing. They are so supportive and I don’t know whose prouder sometimes. It’s been a nice tradition we’ve started and hopefully we can keep it going.”

He’s also been asked to sing at fundraisers, funerals and weddings. He’s becoming a staple in New England just like Rancourt, whom Angilly has never met.

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“I would love to meet him,” Angilly said.

(Top photo of Rancourt: Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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