Western Mass Blades/Springfield Pics
Coaching Profile

Coaches Name:
Brian Sullivan

Playing Experience:
Sullivan is a high school graduate of Thayer Academy in Braintree, Ma., where he lettered in three sports including Football, Hockey, and Baseball. During his senior season in 1998-1999 he was named All-Independent Schools League in Football and Hockey. After completing his senior season at Thayer he was an eighth round pick of the Dallas Stars in the 1999 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Sullivan then accepted a hockey scholarship to Northeastern University (Hockey East, Division I) and went on to play 93 games for the Huskies over the next four seasons. As a senior at NU, Brian was the recipient of the “Don McKenney Coaches Award”.

Following his graduation from Northeastern with a bachelor's degree in Economics, Sullivan then proceeded to persue a Masters Degree in business at UMass Boston (ECAC East Div. III). Brian was able to play the 2003-2004 season for the Beacons given a red-shirt year from injury while at Northeastern. For his efforts at UMass, Sullivan received an all ECAC selection, having lead the team and all ECAC East defenseman in scoring.

Sullivan went on to spend two seasons in the Carolina Hurricane's (NHL) organization split between the American Hockey League’s (Springfield Falcons and Lowell Lock Monsters) and the East Coast Hockey League’s (Florida Everblades and Trenton Titans).
 
Coaching Experience:
Sullivan has been an instructor for several hockey schools in New England and Minnesota, including Mike Sullivan's Hockey School, and USA Hockey's, Massachusetts Development Program. Brian also ran the Bay State Breaker's (Eastern Hockey Federation) youth hockey programs summer development from 2003-2005. He also served as Curriculum Director for the Breakers during that time.

Following his playing career he served in a coaches consulting role to Curry College (Milton, MA) of the East Coast Athletic Conference (Div. III), he remains a consultant of player development for the Bay State Breakers. Brian served this past season (2009-2010) as the Springfield Pics Squirt Major (1999) head coach.
 
Personal:
Sullivan is a native of Marshfield, MA. He and his wife Yolanda now reside in Longmeadow with their one year old son Liam. Brian is the younger brother of Mike Sullivan who formerly served as Head Coach of the Boston Bruins, and Associate Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mike spent 11 seasons as an NHL player and currently serves as the Associate Head Coach of the New York Rangers.