Langenbrunner enjoys dad's support in quest to reach NHL with Bruins

BOSTON -- It wasn't "Take Your Child to Work Day," but Mason Langenbrunner and his dad, Jamie Langenbrunner, spent a full week working under the same roof at Warrior Ice Arena for the Boston Bruins Development Camp earlier this month.

Mason Langenbrunner, a 20-year-old defenseman selected by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round (No. 151) of the 2020 NHL Draft, took part in his third development camp with the Bruins as he looks to advance his career, and is preparing for his second season at Harvard University.

His father, Jamie Langenbrunner, enters his second year as Boston's assistant general manager, following 18 seasons in the NHL. A forward, he had 663 points (243 goals, 420 assists) in 1,109 games with the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues from 1994-2013, and won the Stanley Cup twice -- with the Stars in 1999 and Devils in 2003.

How does the elder Langenbrunner balance his front office role with his son in the Bruins' system?

"Really simple: I'm just his dad when it comes to everything," Jamie Langenbrunner said. "He'll ask me a question and I'll maybe answer it, but we've got good people in [player development coordinator] Adam McQuaid and [player development and scouting assistant] Danielle Marmer that do all the hockey talk with him, and I can just be dad."

Though Jamie Langenbrunner is 'dad' first, Mason Langenbrunner constantly relies on his experience for guidance as he charts his own course.

"I talk to him all the time, whether it's about hockey or if it's about life," the younger Langenbrunner said. "He's been through it all too. … Sometimes it's hard times you're going through in your career, and just having to figure those things out and what to do in those certain times, and I think it's just an advantage I have."

Their conversations typically tend to revolve around broad-scope topics rather than technique.

"How to handle teammate situations, how to handle coaching situations, how to handle pressure situations," Jamie Langenbrunner said. "Those types of things, more so than specific game stuff."

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 166 pounds, Mason Langenbrunner said he has become more comfortable playing physically, and he prides himself on playing a shutdown defensive role. That commitment has resonated with his teammates, particularly the goalies.

"He's a big body, and he does a good job of [protecting] the net for me," said Harvard goalie Derek Mullahy, a fellow invitee to Bruins development camp. "He's got a long stick, so he's able to deflect passes. Really makes my job easier just because I can focus on what I need to focus on, not anything else. I can put a lot of trust in him."

As Mason Langenbrunner takes the next steps in his career, he hangs on to the biggest piece of advice his father gave him:

"It's obviously a cliche, but 'it's a marathon, not a sprint,'" he said. "Everybody's path is different. Not everyone is going to come to the League when they're 19-20 years old; some guys come in when they're 26-27 years old. Whenever your time is, when you're given that opportunity, just kind of making the most of it and taking advantage of that."