Anthony Perkins
It Ain’t Easy Being Sweezey
#GoldenKuraly
Billy Sweezey, son of Ken Sweezey, is no stranger to the Boston Bruins, not because he’s played in the NHL for a long time but because his family have been Bruins Season Ticket Holders since 1976. Billy was signed by the Cleveland Monsters/Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021, and he immediately made an impact in Cleveland on the blue line. Sweezey made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets on February 26, 2023, in a 3-2 SO victory against the Minnesota Wild. The next day, Sweezey would return to Cleveland, but he wouldn’t stay there for very long with the injury plagued Blue Jackets blue line.
Just before the Rangers game on March 28, 2023, Sweezey was called up again, he’d see almost 19 mins of ice time that night. Then, on Thursday March 30th, Billy’s childhood dream would come true. He was playing a game in TD Garden, and boy was it a show for his fans in attendance at the Garden.
In the second period, down 1-0, Bruins Forward Jakub Lauko challenged Billy Sweezey to his first NHL fight, and Sweezey gladly accepted. The two warriors dropped their gloves and entered an epic battle.
Not bad for two first time fighters, both benches seemed energized following the bout. One fan seems overtly excited. Ken Sweezey, Billy’s Dad, was in the stands, loving every minute of watching his son play on the same ice that he’d seen so many Bruins greats play on.
I don’t know what the future holds for this kid on the Blue Jackets but, he’s got heart, and grit, and exemplifies the meaning of being a Blue Jacket.
Sources:
Keegan Brekt
Kyle Denu
