BOSTON -- The Jacket quickly became a symbol of unity and togetherness within the Boston Bruins' locker room.

The Bruins' tradition of handing down the jacket to a different player after each victory began in March and carried through Game 7 of the Cup finals. Brian Babineau/NHLI/Getty Images

The worn, torn and discolored black, white and gold Bruins jacket from the 1980s was purchased on eBay by Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference in March and since then has been presented to a Bruins player after each game by the player who previously had been awarded the jacket. The player wore the jacket in the locker room and kept it hanging in his stall until the team’s next win, and a different player who played a key role in the victory was selected to wear it. And on and on it went.

Future Hall of Famer and out-going three-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Recchi was presented with The Jacket following Game 7 of the Cup-clinching victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

So what happens now with The Jacket?

“It’s up to him what he decides to do with it,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said. “It’s his and he has the right to keep it or do whatever he decides to do with it.

“He deserves it. Obviously, we all know he’s retiring and he’s done so much for the game and for this team, it’s totally up to him,” added Chara. “He deserves it and we’re happy he got it.”