Bringing the Bruins back
Former Bruin standout and current Director of Hockey Operations
and Player Development for the B’s, Lynnfield’s Don Sweeney
can often be found at Ferncroft CC when not on Causeway Street.

By Gary Trask

There was a time not too long ago when Don Sweeney was a certifiable golf nut.

“Oh yeah, I had the bug and I had it bad,” says the longtime Lynnfield resident and former Boston Bruin defenseman who at one time was a single-digit handicap. “It used to line up perfectly for me because the hockey off-season corresponds with the heart of the golf season in this area. And, believe me, I took full advantage.”

But when Sweeney hung up his skates in 2004 after a satisfying 16-year N.H.L. career, he didn’t retire to the links. With a young family at home and a new job in the Bruins’ front office as Director of Hockey Operations & Player Development, the 43-year-old Harvard graduate is actually seeing less time on the links now than he did during his playing days.

But golf is still very much a part of Sweeney’s life. So that’s where we decided to begin our line of questioning with the man who is just one of four players to play more than 1,000 games in a Bruins’ sweater.

1. It seems that most professional athletes play more golf after they retire, not less. Why hasn’t that been the case for you?

I still love the game and I get out there when I can, but it just doesn’t line up for me like it used to. Plus, I’ve really got into triathlon training over the last few years so I can’t really go for a three or four-hour bike ride and then come home and tell my wife that I’ll see her later after I get in 18 holes. It just doesn’t work that way, at least not at my house. (Laughs).

2. How have you managed to stay connected to the game?

My sons (10-year-old twins Jarrod and Tyler) are really starting to get into it and I have a blast when I’m out there with them. And as they get older and start playing more I’m sure things will ramp up again and I’ll be playing more and more.

3. You’re also the celebrity host of the annual Ferncroft Country Club Junior Golf Classic. How did you get involved with that program?

(Former Bruins goalie) Cleon Daskalakis is the one who told me that it would be a good fit for me. I’ve known Cleon for some time. He’s done a lot of work for different charities over the years and when I heard what it was all about, I was all for it. I’m proud to be a part of it. I think it speaks volumes about the dedication to youth golf by the Ferncroft management.

4. How does the program work?

The scholarships are awarded to kids who normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to play the game. It provides instruction, equipment and the chance to take advantage of the great facilities at the Ferncroft. This year we’ll be hosting the 3rd Annual Junior Golf Classic (on Sept. 10). It’s something that really seems to be gaining momentum.

5. When you were playing a lot of golf, what were your strengths and weaknesses?

My biggest problem was always getting off the tee. I played quite a bit with Raymond (Bourque) and Reggie (Lemelin) and they used to always get a big laugh out of my struggles off the tee. They used to always tell me that the problem was in between my ears. I don’t know because nowadays I just go out there and hit it sideways half the time. (Laughs). But my short game was always a strength and that can bail you out a lot of time.

6. What do you enjoy most about the game?

I always liked the competitive part of it. I try not to get involved with too many Nassaus nowadays since I’m not playing that much, but I always love to get out there and play a match, just to get the competitive juices going. I also love the social aspect of the game as well the many charity events that you can get involved with on the golf course.

7. Are you enjoying your role as a Boston Bruins front office guy?

Obviously, it’s different. The thing I really enjoy is working with the younger players. I’m on the ice every day at the developmental camp and it’s infectious to be that close to the game. The other side of the job has been a real learning experience. I’m working with the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) and the salary cap. It has presented some challenges, but I learn something new every day.

8. Would you like to eventually get into coaching at the professional level?

I toyed with that idea, but I think it might be a little late to go down that path. The year after I retired I spent a year working at the admissions department at Phillips Andover Academy and I did some coaching there. I really enjoyed it and loved the people I worked with. But when the opportunity to come back and work for the team that I played for presented itself, I had to jump at it.

9. Being a former Bruin, how satisfying was it for you to see the team come back and be a factor in the playoffs last year?

You know, deep down I always felt like things could turn around if we had the right core of guys because we knew we would have the fan base behind us. Our players and coaching staff did a great job. We had a great regular season, but we still feel like we dropped the ball by not winning Game 7 at home (against Carolina in the second round of the playoffs), but I really feel like the passion for the team is back in the fold. (General Manager) Pete Chiarelli did a tremendous job in bringing in the right mix of players.

10. At what point last year did you realize the team was a legit contender for the Stanley Cup?

Probably right around Christmas time. The key to everything was that the younger players stepped up and helped accelerate the entire process. We had some veteran guys like Patrice Bergeron, Marc Savard and Tim Thomas who had great years, but it was the younger guys who helped us make that next step.

11. What kind of things do you try to instill in the younger players when you have a chance to be around them?

The number one thing I always remind them is that I made the NHL Finals my second year in the league. And then I never made it back. So when you have the opportunity to make it deep into the playoffs, you’ve got to try like hell to take advantage of it.

12. What does this year’s team need to do in order to make the next step and get past the second round?

The good thing is that we all got a taste of what it feels like to contend last year. And I think our coaching staff has the right system in place. We just need to try and keep the core group of players together, but as I’m learning, that becomes a challenge with the salary cap. The biggest thing is that you’ve got to develop your own players.

13. You were undersized by NHL standards for a defenseman, yet you played for 16 seasons. What do you credit for your longevity?

Yeah, I was undersized and I knew it. But the thing is, I didn’t know how to play the game any other way. So I just always put my work boots on and tried to utilize my skating ability and do whatever it took to be the best player I could be. I embraced my role and tried to do my best to shut down the faster guys on the opposing team. I got burned my share of times, but I enjoyed that kind of challenge.

14. What was it like playing for such a storied franchise like the Bruins?

It’s something that I feel very fortunate about. The passion for the team obviously predated me. I learned from guys like Ray Bourque, Terry O’Reilly, Johnny Bucyk, Kenny Hodge, Derek Sanderson, Pie McKenzie. I could go on and on with the different names that meant so much to the organization. The passion and closeness those guys had for the team was instilled in me.

15. Like you, some of the former Bruins you mentioned have also settled down on the North Shore after retirement. What is it about this area that attracts professional athletes?

Well I know for me during my playing days it was always convenient because we practiced in Wilmington. We’ve lived in Lynnfield for a total of about 14 years and we love it. It’s close to the Lakes Region in New Hampshire where we spent some time. My wife is from Toronto and once we got down here and got immersed in the community and got used to living near the water, we really didn’t feel the need to go anywhere else.

16. You said your wife Christine is from Toronto. When and where did you meet her?

That’s a funny story. We were actually set up on a blind date by (pro golfer) Billy Andrade. It was during the NHL lockout in 1994. She is a two-time Olympian figure skater and we had a couple of mutual friends who set us up. It’s strange how things work out sometimes. Small world.

17. You must get asked this question all of the time, but how good are your kids on skates considering their pedigree?

(Laughs). Yeah, people always ask that. My sons love the game, but they’re very active in a lot of other things like golf and tennis too. But I will say that they are both huge Bruins fans. They love going to the games and they follow the team very closely.

18. What are you and your family doing to enjoy the offseason?

Well it’s funny because as soon as the playoffs end we go right into the NHL combine and then there’s the draft and the developmental league. So, to be honest, there really is no “off season” anymore. But obviously there is more time away from the rink. We spend some time up in New Hampshire. I’m a member at Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club, so I get out and try to play a little golf. But the season will be here soon enough and then it will be all about trying to get us back into the playoffs. The season is a long haul, but when you have success like we did last year, it makes it all worth it.