GREENFIELD — When Dr. Richard Miner took over as the oral surgeon for the Boston Bruins in 1970, the team was in the middle of its glory years.

The team had just won its first Stanley Cup in 29 years during the 1969-70 season and two years later, the Bruins were on top of the hockey world once again.

And Miner, who just last week celebrated his 97th birthday at his Greenfield home, was there front and center.

Back then, hockey players didn’t wear helmets, facemasks or even mouth guards. And if they wanted to, there were some choice words from teammates.

“Those early days, you were considered a sissy if you used anything to protect your teeth,” Miner said. “I eventually got them to get teeth protection.”

So needless to say, Miner was a busy guy.

He spent about 25 years as the team’s top oral surgeon before he finally called it a career in the mid 1990s. There are plenty of stories from that time, and even a few he can’t talk about. And when he was all done, the Bruins had a parting gift.

“They gave me a year off with tickets to the games,” Miner said. “They had enough of me so they put me on the top row of the house.”

When the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in the 1971-72 season, the last time the Original Six team hoisted the championship trophy, Dr. Miner witnessed it all.

He went to all the playoff games, including when they defeated the New York Rangers to clinch the finals.

And back then, it was a team-oriented experience.

“We were like a family,” said Miner.

Since there were no precautions taken to protect the teeth and mouths of the players, Miner had to check each one of them out before and after the games.

And when teeth were knocked out, Miner would use the same protocol.

“I took the teeth right off the ice and put them back in without even washing them,” he said.

It was a different time back then. Players were more accessible and everyone associated with the organization felt like part of the family.

“The days of Bobby Orr were days of family,” said Miner. “We were together as a team.”

Each year, Miner and his family would be part of the end-of-season party and when they won the Stanley Cup, Miner felt like part of the team.

“That was the year we drank out of the Stanley Cup,” Miner said.

He was doused with champagne by former and future team captain Johnny Bucyk because Miner had pulled some teeth for him, so he was going to be included.

Miner saw hundreds of players go through the organization during his tenure, but his favorites to this day are Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr.

Sanderson and Miner used to take the train from Boston to Montreal because Sanderson was not a fan of flying.

Miner got the job when former team dentist Harold Burke introduced him to former owner, Wesley Adams Sr.

While Miner got plenty of opportunities to watch games live during his tenure as the team’s oral surgeon, the last game he went to was in 2001.

Growing up, Miner loved hockey and played it through his time at Deerfield Academy, also serving as the team captain.

So working for the Bruins was a dream job.

While the exact dates and years of specific events elude his memory, Miner won’t forget other details.

“My best times are the early times when we won the Stanley Cup,” Miner said.

At the age of 97, Miner holds those things close to him.

He spends his days at his home in Greenfield, which has been in his family for more than 90 years. On the back of his favorite chair is a white Bruins jersey and it reads “Dr. Miner,” showing how important he was to the organization.