BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Bruins, struggling to return to prominence in a city loaded with champions, know they need a good start to the coming NHL season to continue to ride the momentum they created in last year’s playoff loss to Montreal.

“It’s important for us to build on what we got done last year,” owner Jeremy Jacobs said Wednesday night, after he and other members of the organization held their second annual preseason “town meeting” with over 700 season ticket holders at the TD Banknorth Garden. “Critical. I think so, critical,” added Jacobs’ son, Bruins executive vice president Charlie Jacobs. “And that question was asked tonight “What are you going to do? What’s your encore? What are we going to see the first 20 games of this year?'”

In April, the Bruins returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They lost in the first round to the rival Montreal Canadiens, but nearly rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to pull off an upset. After winning a classic Game 6 at home, Boston lost Game 7 in Montreal. But they had people talking hockey again.

Charlie Jacobs reported a 93 percent renewal rate on season tickets, which he said is “unheard of.”

Jeremy Jacobs owns the building where the Celtics returned to the top of the basketball world by winning another NBA championship just a few months ago. Across town, the Red Sox are seeking their third world championship in the last five years. Down in Foxborough, the Patriots narrowly missed a fourth Super Bowl title in seven years after going undefeated in the regular season.

“We strive to do as well or better than them, said general manager Peter Chiarelli. “We see them every morning in the newsprint, see them every morning on the internet and we wish them well and we want to be with them.”

Joining the Jacobses and Chiarelli on an on-ice platform in front of the fans for the 90-minute program were club vice president and former Bruins great Cam Neely, coach Claude Julien and players Zdeno Chara and Aaron Ward.

Ward, the defenseman who re-signed with the team during the offseason: “Hopefully, there’s a lot of Game 6’s. If you’re going to get the infectious feeling that comes along with the game of hockey, you’ll catch it with Game 6.”

Among the other things discussed were the prospects for an outdoor game, since the NHL set its second outdoor game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field this year.

“I think Fenway’s as good as Wrigley,” Jeremy Jacobs said. “I know that both the National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins want to see an outdoor game here so I think it’s in our future.”

AP-ES-09-10-08 2229EDT