Northeastern University Athletics

David G. O'Brien was elected to the Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of ice hockey

O'Brien entered Northeastern without a hockey scholarship and left as the recipient of the Herbert W. Gallagher Award as the University's outstanding male scholar-athlete. As a walk-on in 1984 out of Brookline High School, he quickly earned the confidence of Coach Fern Flaman, scoring 15 points as a right winger. His sophomore season saw him score 39 points and win Most Improved Player honors. His junior season he scored 40 points and was elected captain for his final season. Captain O'Brien led NU through a magical journey in 1987-88. The first stop was the Beanpot where NU defeated BU 6-3 in the finals. The next stop was a Hockey East Championship after a stunning upset of nationally number one ranked Maine in the finals. Individually that season, O'Brien scored 47 points, earned All New England and All Hockey East kudos and received the Hockey Writers Paul Hines Award as New England's Most Improved Player. His career scoring total of 65 goals and 76 assists for 141 points places him 12th on NU's career goal scoring list, 15th on the points list and 19th on the assist list.

After spending three years in pro hockey with the St. Louis Blues organization, he returned to his studies, graduating cum laude from New England School of Law in 1996.