( Photo Credit: Harvard University Athletics )

By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277

Mason Langenbrunner, a Boston Bruins prospect and steady defenseman for Harvard University during his Ivy League tenure, has decided to retire from hockey after completing his four-year NCAA collegiate career. The news, first reported by the Boston Globe’s Bruins beat writer Kevin Paul Dupont, comes as Langenbrunner prepares to embark on a new chapter outside the rink.

Langenbrunner, 23, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 2020 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Over his tenure with the Harvard Crimson, he became a trusted member on the blue line, skating in 130 games and posting a stat line of 9 goals and 17 assists for 26 career points. In his senior season, he was named team captain, tying his personal best with ten points and providing steady leadership for his teammates.

The decision to step away from hockey was revealed in the aforementioned Globe interview with his father, Jamie Langenbrunner, a former NHL player who recently left his role as assistant general manager with the Boston Bruins to join the Nashville Predators organization. According to Jamie, Mason has chosen to pursue a business path with several startup companies, opting to transition out of competitive hockey and into a new field, taking full advantage of his Harvard business credentials.

“I was fortunate enough to see him play his last college game, pretty much knowing that was going to be it,” said Jamie. “Kind of sad to see it end, but it’s good to see your kids go after their passion. He understood how much you have to put into chasing the other [hockey] dream. He made more of a business decision than a heart decision on it, which isn’t always easy for a 23-year-old.”