Hockey Coverage presented by Natalie Marsh:
A Night of Legacy – Westwood’s Dave O’Brien Honored as Matthews Arena Says Goodbye

December 14, 2025

On Saturday night, one of the most storied buildings in American hockey history said goodbye.
 
After 115 years of memories, Matthews Arena hosted its final game, closing the doors on a century-plus of moments that helped shape the sport in Boston and beyond. The night was equal parts celebration and reflection — a farewell to an arena that has stood the test of time. As part of that historic evening, Northeastern University honored players who defined each decade of Husky Hockey. Representing the 1980s was one of Westwood’s own: Dave O’Brien.
 
For O’Brien — a Westwood resident and longtime Westwood youth hockey coach — the honor was both deeply personal and richly symbolic.
 
“It’s an incredible honor and privilege,” O’Brien said. “There were so many great teams and players from the 80’s, so to be chosen to participate in the on-ice ceremony and represent the decade is humbling. I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of my former teammates and coaches and sharing the night with my family.”
 
That sense of family is central to O’Brien’s story. Dave and his wife Heidi O’Brien have watched hockey become a throughline across generations. Sons Ben and Max O’Brien both went on to become standout players at Westwood High School, while their youngest son, Sebastian, is now a sophomore on the current Westwood Boys Hockey team — carrying the family’s connection to the game forward.
 
Originally opened in 1910 as Boston Arena, Matthews Arena is the oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use in the world. Over its 115-year history, it served as home to the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Northeastern Huskies, and countless Massachusetts high school teams who made the trip into the city to play under its roof. In the 1960s and ’70s, it was hockey lore — packed nights, back-to-back games, smoke-filled rafters, and the unmistakable energy of a building alive with the sport.
 
Those memories extended beyond the ice. Crusher Casey’s bar became a gathering place for parents, fans, and even team doctors before and after games. It was part of the fabric of Boston hockey — stories passed down through generations. They’re the same kinds of stories my own father still tells from his high school games there, moments he considers some of the best of his life.
 
In 1979, Northeastern purchased the arena and eventually renamed it Matthews Arena, cementing the Huskies’ permanent connection to one of the most historic buildings in the game.
 
That connection runs even deeper — straight back to Westwood.
 
From 1970 to 1989, Northeastern Hockey was led by legendary head coach Fern Flaman, who called Westwood home for more than 60 years on Church Street. Flaman was a giant in the hockey world — a 15-year NHL veteran with the Bruins and Maple Leafs, a Stanley Cup champion, and a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. Gordie Howe once said Flaman was one of the toughest players he ever played against — praise that carries weight in any era.
 
One of Flaman’s most trusted and beloved captains was Dave O’Brien.
 
O’Brien’s Northeastern journey began without guarantees. He arrived as a walk-on, starting on the junior varsity team. His opportunity came when a varsity player missed a game to take the state police exam. O’Brien stepped in — and never stepped back out. By the end of his freshman year, he earned a scholarship. Four years later, he left as a Husky legend.
 
He finished his career with 141 points, two Beanpot championships, a Beanpot MVP, and induction into both the Beanpot Hall of Fame and the Northeastern Hall of Fame.
 
Many of those memories were forged inside Matthews Arena — moments O’Brien still holds close.
 
“There are too many memories to list,” he said, “but two as a player really stand out.”
 
“My second career home game as a freshman in 1984 — scoring the winning goal in overtime to beat Maine. It was my first career goal.”
 
“In 1986 against BC, both teams were highly ranked. I scored the game-winning goal, and we won 8–5 in front of a standing-room-only crowd. The atmosphere was electric.”
 
But perhaps the most meaningful moment came after his playing days.
 
“Participating in Fernie Flaman Night at Matthews is something I’ll never forget,” O’Brien said. “All of Fernie’s former captains were introduced. He was so instrumental in my development both on and off the ice.”
 
That night carried an especially personal touch.
 
“I actually brought him to and from the ceremony because he also lived in Westwood and wasn’t driving at the time.”
 
On Saturday night, as Matthews Arena hosted its final chapter, those threads — hockey, mentorship, community, and family — came together one last time. O’Brien stood again in the building where he built his legacy, representing the 1980s not just as a former player, but as a living connection between generations.
 
For Westwood, it was a moment of pride. A reminder that its roots extend far beyond town lines — into the heart of Boston hockey history. And for Dave O’Brien, it was a fitting tribute — honored in the place where so many of his greatest moments unfolded, on a night when history itself took a bow.
 
Matthews Arena may have hosted its final game, but the legacy it created — and the people who defined it — will live on.