Bobby Orr, whose professional contract with the Boston Bruins was reported to be $50,00 over two years- the best ever offered to a National Hockey League newcomer – discovered that he was just another 18-year-old rookie at the fall training camp in 1966.

Orr's roommate in London, Ont. was the veteran left-winger Johnny Bucyk, who was quick to tell his fellow teammates that the rookie had started their acquaintance by calling him “Mr. Bucyk.”

But Orr thought, “everything's great.”

So did Milt Schmidt, Boston's general manager. “I'd say his biggest asset was the fact he had a lot above his shoulders. He seldom made mistakes. All the good hockey teams, winning teams, had somebody on the blue line who could get the puck out of his own end, passing it like Doug Harvey used to do for Montreal or carrying it like Carl Brewer used to do for the Leafs.”

Orr, a rushing defenseman with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A series for the previous three seasons, said everything was different at the Bruins' camp.

“The fellows kid a lot. Some of them were going golfing after the workout this afternoon and they asked me whom I was caddying for. At least I think they were kidding.

“And I got a parcel from home this morning, and Ron Stewar* asked if it was some more of my bonus.
“But they've been good to me 1 know a couple of times Teddy Green caught me with my head down, and he could have let me have it. but he didn't.”

The 18-year-old Orr had been paired on the blueline with Gilles Marotte, formerly of Niagara Falls Flyers. But, assistant general manager Milt Schmidt, former Bruin coach, said the pairing had no special significance.

“He's helped me. too,” said Bobby, “and if he sees me doing something wrong he'll tell me about it.
“Sometimes I feel a little out of place, but I'm just trying to do my best to make the club.”

From his perch in the stands, Schmidt had his eyes on Orr every time he hit the ice And he liked what he saw.

“I'd say his biggest asset is the fact he has a lot above his shoulders. He seldom makes mistakes,” praised Schmidt. “All the good hockey teams—winning teams—have somebody on the blueline who can get the puck out of his own end, either by carrying it out himself, like Doug Harvey used to do for Montreal, or passing it up like Carl Brewer did for Leafs.”

Said Schmidt, “The boy had progressed as far as he could in junior hockey, and I don't see how this will bother him after all the publicity he has had.”