One-on-One with the Beast: An Interview with Boston Bruisers Captain Jack Callahan
By Bronwen Evans
When Jack “Beast” Callahan walks into the coffee shop near The Battleground Arena, heads turn. At 6’3″ with shoulders that barely fit through doorways and hands that could palm a basketball, he’s every inch the intimidating NHL captain his nickname suggests. But when he orders a hot chocolate instead of coffee and apologizes to the barista for being “a pain in the ass” about extra marshmallows, you start to see why his teammates would follow him anywhere.
I managed to steal thirty minutes of the Boston Bruisers captain’s time between morning practice and an afternoon charity event. Jack settles into his chair with the careful control of someone who’s learned to be gentle in a world built for smaller people, and I dive right in.
So, Jack—hot chocolate? Really?
He grins, completely unrepentant. “What, you think just because I knock guys into the boards for a living I can’t enjoy a good hot chocolate? Coffee tastes like burned sadness. Life’s too short for burned sadness.”
Fair point. Let’s talk hockey. You’ve been captain of the Brawlers for five seasons now. What does wearing the “C” mean to you?
His expression shifts, becomes more serious. “It means I get to protect my family. That’s what this team is—a family. And families look out for each other. On the ice, in the locker room, in life. The ‘C’ just means I’m the guy who makes sure everyone knows they’re safe, that they belong, that they matter.”
That’s a pretty different definition than most captains give.
“Yeah, well, I’m not most captains.” He pauses, then adds, “Look, I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t belong anywhere. To think you’re too broken to be fixed. If I can make sure none of my guys ever feel that way, then I’m doing my job right.”
Speaking of your guys—your team has an interesting mix of personalities. The veteran goalie Lucas Garcia, the rookie sensation Patrick Kennedy, the Russian powerhouse Dmitri Volkov. How do you manage all those egos?
He laughs, the sound rumbling up from his chest. “Manage? I don’t manage them. I just… I don’t know, I meet them where they’re are. Lucas is dealing with grief—his wife died in a car accident eighteen months ago, and he’s raising two kids alone. Patrick’s young and cocky because he’s terrified of failing. Dmitri pretends he doesn’t care about anything because caring hurt too much back in Russia.”
He shrugs. “You can’t captain a team if you don’t understand what makes each player tick. Stats don’t tell you who someone is. Time does. Attention does. Showing up does.”
Let’s talk about your nickname. “The Beast” sounds intimidating, but from what I’ve seen, you’re more protector than monster.
His jaw tightens slightly. “The name stuck because I used to play like I had something to prove. Angry. Reckless. I’ve learned to channel that better now. But yeah, I’m still the Beast. I just figured out that real strength isn’t about how hard you hit—it’s about how many people you can lift up along the way.”
You run youth hockey programs for at-risk kids in your spare time. That’s not exactly standard NHL player charity work.
“It’s not charity.” His voice gets quiet but firm. “Those kids saved my life before I ever saved theirs. Hockey gave me a place to belong when nowhere else would take me. If I can give that to even one kid who feels like the world’s given up on them, then everything I went through was worth it.”
The Brawlers play at The Battleground Arena—appropriate name for a team known for their physical play. What’s the atmosphere like there on game nights?
He brightens immediately. “Electric. Our fans are loud, loyal, and a little bit crazy. They know we play with heart and hustle—that’s our motto. They know we’ll throw down for each other, that we’ll fight for every inch of ice. And they give that energy right back to us. The Battleground isn’t just our home rink; it’s our fortress.”
There’s been talk about a potential Stanley Cup run this season. How’s the team handling the pressure?
“Same way we handle everything—together.” He leans forward, intensity radiating off him. “We’re not just playing for ourselves. We’re playing for every kid who thinks they’re too broken, every player who’s been told they don’t belong, every person who needs proof that your past doesn’t define your future. That’s bigger than any Cup. The Cup is just the trophy you get for doing the work that matters.”
Your defenseman Marcus O’Sullivan has been dealing with some health concerns. How’s he holding up?
Jack’s expression clouds. “Mayhem’s… he’s going through something. But that’s his story to tell, not mine. What I can say is that he’s family, and family doesn’t give up on each other. Whatever he needs, we’ve got his back.”
Last question—you’re dating sports journalist Tara Collins. How do you balance being a public figure with maintaining privacy in your relationship?
For the first time in our conversation, Jack’s smile reaches his eyes. “Tara’s not just my girlfriend—she’s my partner. She gets the hockey life because she lives it too. And yeah, we keep some things private because they’re ours, you know? But I’m not hiding her. I’m proud as hell of her.”
Any plans for the off-season?
“Win the Cup first, then we’ll talk off-season.” He grins. “But between you and me? I’m thinking of finally teaching Tara how to shoot. She can skate now, which is a minor miracle considering she was terrified of ice when we met. Figure we might as well go all in.”
The Beast teaching his girlfriend to shoot. That’s either really romantic or a disaster waiting to happen.
He stands, towering over me with that massive frame, but his eyes are warm. “With us? It’s usually both. But that’s what makes it fun.”
As Jack leaves to head back to the arena, I’m struck by the contradiction he embodies—the enforcer who leads with empathy, the fighter who chooses love, the Beast who turned out to be exactly the hero his team needed.
The Boston Bruisers are lucky to have him. And based on the way he talks about them, I’d say the feeling is mutual.
Catch Jack Callahan and the Boston Brawlers at The Battleground Arena all season long. Tickets available at brawlershockey.com
