James Hagens, a promising prospect for the Boston Bruins, participated in a practice session with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League on Tuesday, following the signing of an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL team.
The 19-year-old forward was the seventh overall selection by Boston in the 2025 NHL Draft.
“It was a blast. Experiencing my inaugural professional practice was truly exhilarating, and it’s certainly a moment I’ll always cherish,” Hagens remarked. “It’s been incredibly exciting, anticipating what this next chapter holds, and now to be here, my excitement couldn’t be higher.”
Hagens is slated to debut for Providence in their game against Springfield scheduled for Wednesday.
“Upon hearing the opportunity, I was completely open to it,” he stated regarding his decision to play in the AHL. “It presents an excellent chance to display your abilities and become part of a team like this.”
This past season, Hagens led Hockey East in scoring, accumulating 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) across 34 games for Boston College. He also topped his team with six game-winning goals, recorded two hat tricks, and tallied 133 shots on goal.
During the previous season, he earned a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie Team after registering 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists). Over his two seasons at Boston College, Hagens amassed 84 points (34 goals, 50 assists) in 71 appearances.
Additionally, Hagens spent two seasons (2022-24) with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), where his impressive performance included 187 points (72 goals, 115 assists).
“As James mentioned earlier, he’s keen to start playing immediately, and I believe this situation offers that immediate chance, allowing us to evaluate options as things progress,” explained Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, justifying Providence as the ideal destination for Hagens. “He gets accustomed to the professional game, which is a significant transition from college, and this enables him to step right into the lineup.”
When questioned about whether Hagens would need to complete a minimum number of AHL games before an NHL call-up, Sweeney responded, “It’s simply an ongoing assessment; we’ll let him settle in and make the necessary advancements. As I’ve said, (coach) Marco (Sturm) will decide if a player can benefit our team, and if so, they’ll join our club. … This whole process is designed to help him get comfortable, and if it appears he can bolster our lineup, then that’s the determination we’ll make.”
Originally from Hauppauge, New York, Hagens has represented the U.S. on multiple occasions, participating twice in the IIHF World Junior Championship (2025, 2026) and the U-18 World Championship (2023, 2024). Hagens secured a gold medal at the 2025 WJC and the 2023 U-18 tournament. In 2024, he set a new single-tournament scoring record at the U-18 men’s World Championship with 22 points, earning MVP honors and contributing to the United States’ silver medal finish.
“His offensive output remains exceptionally strong,” Sweeney observed. “He’s played considerably more on the wing, which could provide a smoother entry point for a young player into the National Hockey League. However, that remains to be seen.”
“We drafted him as a center, and he’s capable of playing center, but he’s currently playing both positions. So, I believe that truly enhances his versatility.”
Hagens shared that he has received messages from various Bruins players, including defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
“He sent a really thoughtful text; the fact that he’s also a Long Island native (from Long Beach, New York) was particularly cool,” Hagens commented.