​​The game of hockey is a special sport, played by children and adults alike. Yes, it is a sport where scores are kept, with winners and losers, but hockey can also provide a therapeutic outlet for one’s day-to-day pressures. Hockey can be more therapeutic for some than others, as is the case within the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community, home to the Navy SEALs, who for over 20 years have been the tip of the spear in the United States war on terror. Hockey has become an integral part of this community’s toolbox for coping with extended deployments in hostile environments, post deployment assimilation, loss of friends, sleep issues, injuries, and the long lasting effects of combat.
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While stationed at the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island, then 36yr old Navy SEAL Commander (Cmdr.) Ryan Croley, a lifelong Detroit Red Wings fan, decided it was time to learn how to play hockey. Cmdr. Croley purchased equipment, joined a league at the newly built University of Rhode Island Boss Arena, and quickly realized there were benefits to playing hockey beyond the physical. After completing a nearly 18-month deployment and
training rotation Cmdr. Croley jumped back on the ice and recruited his SEAL brothers to join him at 6:00am, twice a week, at the local rink. Word spread and participation grew to the point where it was clear these morning skates were providing a much needed outlet for the NSW community. In 2012, with support from the Navy SEAL Foundation, Cmdr. Croley founded the Virginia Beach Hockey Club (VBHC) to formalize the program, increase involvement of the NSW community, and help grow the game in the Virginia Beach /
Hampton Roads Virginia area, home to the highest population of active duty, retired military, and Gold Star families in the country. Cmdr. Croley also started the Challenge Sled Hockey program for military, first responders and civilians unable to play standup hockey. In 2019, with support from the Boston Bruins Alumni, the VBHC was rebranded the Warrior for Life Fund to professionalize and widen the reach of the programs.

​John Horrigan interviews Rick Middleton, Bruce Shoebottom and Ken Hodge, Jr. at the 2022 Boston Bruins 

John Horrigan’s interviews from the Tresca Bruins Alumni Post Game Show after a 2022 game to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute ​

​Congratulations to this great group and their coach Rick "Nifty" Middleton!
Thank you to all who voted!

​John Horrigan talks with ex-Bruin Frank Simonetti and Capt. Ryan Croley prior to a recent Bruins Alumni game to benefit the Warrior for Life Fund.

Jean Yves Roy Interviewed by John Horrigan at a recent Bruins Alumni game in Kingston MA.

Roy was a member of the Canadian 1994 Winter Olympics ice hockey team, winning a silver medal. He would also play professionally in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins.

The NE Sports Museum is proud to announce its 20th annual fundraising gala, The Tradition, will honor David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox), Kevin McHale (Boston Celtics), Angela Ruggiero (US Women’s Hockey), Ben Coates (New England Patriots), Mike Milbury (Boston Bruins), and Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution).

Presenters for each honoree will be announced in the coming weeks.

​The program hosts will be Tom Caron and Jackie MacMullan.

Former Boston Bruin Peter McNab will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey announced on Thursday morning.

Before he became a broadcaster, McNab played for parts of 14 NHL seasons (1973-87) with four teams. He ranks 19th among Americans in NHL history with 813 points in 995 regular-season games, including 363 goals and 450 assists.

McNab had seven consecutive campaigns with 70 or more points (including four with 80-plus) and six straight with 35-plus goals, helping his teams to the postseason 10 times. He also reached the Stanley Cup Final in three straight seasons from 1975-77. 

McNab spent his first three years with the Buffalo Sabres, the club that drafted him 85th overall in the 1972 NHL Entry Draft. The center then played eight seasons (1976-84) with the Boston Bruins and he helped the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of his eight campaigns. McNab earned a spot in the 1977 NHL All-Star Game and tallied a career-high 86 points that season. He ranks 11th in Bruins history in goals (263), 13th in points (587) and is eighth in playoff goals (38).

McNab concluded his playing career by competing in parts of two years with the Vancouver Canucks and a two-season stint with the New Jersey Devils before he retired.
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