Billy Sweezey Explained

Billy Sweezey
Birth Date:6 February 1996
Birth Place:Hanson, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:205
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Boston Bruins
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Columbus Blue Jackets
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2021

Billy Sweezey (born February 6, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Sweezey played high school hockey with Noble and Greenough School within the Independent School League of New England before spending the conclusion of the 2014–15 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

In his only full season in the USHL in 2015–16, Sweezey appeared with the Chicago Steel before committing to a collegiate career with Yale University of the ECAC.

As a stay-at-home physical defensive defenseman, Sweezey played a full four seasons within the Bulldogs from 2016 to 2020, completing his collegiate career having appeared in 127 games for 3 goals and 29 points.

As an undrafted free agent, Sweezey began his professional career in the 2020–21 season, having signed a one-year AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the primary affiliate to the Pittsburgh Penguins, on April 24, 2020.[1] In the pandemic shortened seasonm, Sweezey in a third-pairing role made 22 appearances with the Penguins, collecting 4 assists.

In the following 2021–22 season, Sweezey continued in the AHL, securing a one-year contract with the Cleveland Monsters on July 12, 2021.[2] Sweezey scored his first professional goal in his debut and season opening game for the Monsters, in a 4–0 victory over the Belleville Senators on October 22, 2021.[3] Establishing himself within the Monsters blueline, Sweezey was later signed to his first NHL contract after agreeing to a two-year, two-way contract with affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 7, 2022.[4] With the Monsters unable to make the post-season, Sweezey notched new career highs with 4 goals and 11 points through 70 games.

In the first season of his contract with the Blue Jackets in, Sweezey was reassigned to continue his tenure with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL.[5] Continuing to impress with his physical presence, Sweezey in his second recall to the Blue Jackets, made his NHL debut during a 3–2 shootout defeat to the Minnesota Wild on February 26, 2023.[6] He was reassigned to the Monsters following his debut on February 28, 2023.

Following three seasons within the Blue Jackets organization, Sweezey left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2024.[7]

Personal

Sweezey's father, Ken Sweezey, enjoyed played collegiate hockey with Providence College in 1988–89.[8] His mother Lorie Blair also played at Providence College.[9]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2012–13Noble and Greenough SchoolUSHS27 1 8 9
2013–14Noble and Greenough SchoolUSHS28 8 20 28
2014–15Noble and Greenough SchoolUSHS27 5 18 23
2014–15Dubuque Fighting SaintsUSHL3 0 0 0 4
2015–16Chicago SteelUSHL55 3 1 4 131
2016–17Yale UniversityECAC33 1 5 6 40
2017–18Yale UniversityECAC30 1 9 10 46
2018–19Yale University ECAC32 1 4 5 26
2019–20Yale UniversityECAC32 0 8 8 47
2020–21Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL22 0 4 4 26
2021–22Cleveland MonstersAHL70 4 7 11 114
2022–23Cleveland MonstersAHL56 0 11 11 70
2022–23Columbus Blue JacketsNHL9 0 1 1 9
2023–24Cleveland MonstersAHL57 1 3 4 7313 1 1 2 4
NHL totals9 0 1 1 9

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Penguins sign Yale defenseman Billy Sweezey . . April 24, 2020 . April 24, 2020.
  2. Web site: Monsters sign trio of players . . July 12, 2021 . July 12, 2021.
  3. Web site: Cleveland Monsters 4, Belleville Senators 0 . . October 22, 2021 . October 22, 2021.
  4. Web site: CBJ sign D Billy Sweezey . . March 7, 2022 . March 7, 2022.
  5. Web site: CBJ trim 2022 training camp roster by 20 players . . October 3, 2022 . October 3, 2022.
  6. Web site: Kirill Kaprisov's OT winner completes hat-trick and secures Wild win . . February 26, 2023 . February 26, 2023.
  7. Web site: Bruins announce July 1 transactions . . July 1, 2024 . July 1, 2024 .
  8. Web site: Ken Sweezey player profile . eliteprospects.com . March 5, 2023 . March 5, 2023.
  9. Web site: Lorie Blair player profile . eliteprospects.com . March 5, 2023 . March 5, 2023.