Bruins' top pick James Hagens's drive to succeed helps him chase his dreams on the ice

Boston Globe

11 hours ago

It was the culmination of a busy day, but just the start of James Hagens's NHL journey.
'Oh man, we love Boston,' said Mike as he soaked in all the surroundings.
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James Hagens, fresh off a successful freshman season at Boston College, seemed like a longshot to continue his playing path in the city the Hauppauge, N.Y., native considers his second home. Central Scouting had the slick center as its No. 3 ranked player among North American skaters.
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Mike Hagens, however, had a feeling about the Bruins. In fact, it's a feeling he's had going back to James's days at Mount Saint Charles in Woonsocket, R.I.
That's when James had a chance encounter with a future boss on a trip to Nashville.
'A couple years ago, I was flying on a plane to nationals, and my coach sends me a text,' Hagens told the Globe. 'He goes, 'Introduce yourself to the guy next to you.' So, I looked at him and I kept staring at him. I kept going back and forth and I'm like, 'I know this guy. I know this guy is in the hockey world. I know he looks familiar.' So, I ended up going to my phone looking up the GMs in the league and I don't know if he saw me searching or not but then I just asked him, 'Are you the GM of the Bruins?' and he said 'Yes, I'm Don Sweeney.' '
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The two spent the rest of the flight just talking hockey.
'It was really cool,' said Hagens. 'When you have an opportunity to have a conversation with somebody like that, it's pretty amazing.'
What wasn't amazing was Hagens's start at Mount Saint Charles.
A rink rat from way back, Hagens decided he needed some early-morning ice time at Mount Saint Charles's rink. His plan was foiled when the then-eighth grader set off the Adelard Arena alarms.
'He thought it would be a good idea to go sneak into the rink before class, kind of like a 'Youngblood' thing with the lights off and go shoot pucks,' said Mike, referencing the Rob Lowe hockey movie. 'And he accidentally set the alarm off, and it set off all kinds of problems for him. He got a little jammed up for it, but it's a cool story thinking about it now.'
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James was a little nervous about calling home to tell them about the incident, but Mike let him off the hook with just a warning.
'He wasn't too mad because it was hockey-related,' said James, add whose family cleaned the Peacock Theater souvenir stand out of Bruins merchandise booth moments after
After his time at Mount Saint Charles was up, Hagens realized his dream of joining the United States National Team Development Program. Playing for Uncle Sam was something he had wanted since watching a tournament game in Lake Placid as a kid.
'I saw Auston Matthews play, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,' he said. 'I wanted to be on that ice so bad.'
That weekend added fuel to Hagens's fire.
'It was about wanting to chase my dream of making the national program, that was always a goal of mine,' said Hagens. 'I just think inside I could never live with not making that team. I wanted to make it so badly and I was able to make it. It's just kind of the inner drive and whatnot. So, I think that's what pushed me and that's what got me to where I am today.'
He's represented the US in myriad tournaments since 2022, including collecting a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, where his 9 points was second on the team. He was also the MVP and leading scorer at the 2024 World Juniors when he had 9 goals and 22 points as the US picked up a silver medal.
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Most recently, Hagens had 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games at BC, where he seamlessly succeeded Will Smith on Greg Brown's top line.
'It was just about learning your linemates and adjusting,' said Hagens, who likely will return to the Heights this season to play another year with his brother, Michael, and a handful of other Bruins prospects.
Hagens, who has been called an 'ankle breaker' by some scouts because of his shiftiness ('I don't know about that,' he said with a chuckle), but what really stands out are his vision and instincts. He finds seams with passes and consistently puts his teammates in enviable positions. He often appears to be a play or two ahead of the action. It's a skill that can't be taught.
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'It allows you to see the play develop before it happens, so you just have to make sure that you're thinking fast and on the spot,' he said.
When Bruins development camp wraps up this week, Hagens will have some down time, which could include a few trips working the fishing boat his father captains during the summer.
'Well, James is a hockey player, first,' Mike said with a laugh when asked about his son's fishing skills. 'But I like that he can get out on the water and sometimes you just need to get your mind off the game a little bit.'
James relished the time on the water with his dad and brother.
'Yeah, it's awesome being able to be out on the boat,' he said. 'It reminds you where you come from. It reminds you what hard work is. Make sure to stay humble, never get arrogant. I loved it. I worked two days before the [scouting] combine, so I still do it from time to time.'
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After a pause and a smile, Hagens added, 'I told my dad tonight that I fired myself, though.'
A new profession awaits him in Boston.
Jim McBride can be reached at