Jeremy Swayman Bio
Jeremy Rion Swayman, born on November 24, 1998, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known around the league by the nicknames “Sway” and “Bulldog,” Swayman was selected by the Bruins in the fourth round, 111th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. After three standout seasons at the University of Maine, he turned professional in 2021 and quickly developed into one of the NHL’s most reliable young goaltenders.
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Swayman grew up surrounded by hockey and credits much of his early love for the game to family trips to watch the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. His journey from small-town Alaska to one of the NHL’s most storied franchises has been marked by steady improvement and several major accolades.
Early Life and Background
Jeremy Rion Swayman was born on November 24, 1998, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Anne Boesenberg and Ken Swayman. Raised in a family that valued sports, Swayman was brought to college hockey games at the University of Alaska Anchorage as an infant by his father, which helped spark his lifelong love for the position of goaltender. By the time he was five years old, he had committed himself to the crease, a decision that would shape the rest of his life.
Swayman spent his youth playing amateur hockey throughout Anchorage and attended South Anchorage High School, where he played two seasons with the school team. He initially expected to continue his development in-state with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League, but he was cut from the roster in favor of two older goaltenders. With the help of family friends, he instead joined the Pikes Peak Miners of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League, where he posted a .940 save percentage and a 1.79 goals against average across 18 games.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following his single season with the Pikes Peak Miners, Swayman was selected by the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League in the 12th round of the 2016 USHL Phase II Draft. Stampede head coach Scott Owens, who had first noticed Swayman during his time in Pikes Peak, was impressed by the young goaltender’s preseason performance and quickly made him a key part of the team. Swayman went on to play 32 games for Sioux Falls, finishing with a 7-18-3 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.90 goals against average.
His play in the USHL caught the attention of NHL scouts, and the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him as the 12th-best North American goaltender prospect ahead of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The Boston Bruins selected Swayman in the fourth round, 111th overall, and he soon committed to playing three seasons of college hockey at the University of Maine. Across his time with the Maine Black Bears, Swayman posted a .927 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average, finishing his career as the program’s all-time leader in saves with 3,130 and minutes played with 5,906:45.
Jeremy Swayman Career
Collegiate Career (2017-2020)
Swayman made his collegiate debut on October 7, 2017, stopping 26 shots in a loss to UConn. He quickly earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors twice during his freshman year and finished with a .920 save percentage, 2.74 goals against average, and a 15-13-3 record, the best marks for any Maine rookie goaltender since Ben Bishop. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.
As a sophomore, Swayman continued to develop, recording 79 saves across a two-game series against Boston University and later stopping 74 shots across two games against Vermont to earn additional weekly honors. He made a career-high 53 saves in a 4-3 upset of UMass on January 25, 2019, and finished the season with a .919 save percentage and a 14-17-4 record, earning a spot on the All-Hockey East Third Team. His junior year was his most decorated: he posted a .939 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average, leading all NCAA Division I goaltenders with 1,099 saves. He won the Walter Brown Award, the Hockey East Player of the Year award, and the Mike Richter Award, and he finished as runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award.
NHL Debut and Early Professional Seasons (2020-2022)
Swayman signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Bruins on March 18, 2020. Because the COVID-19 pandemic had suspended play across multiple leagues, his professional career did not begin until the 2020-21 season, when he was assigned to the Providence Bruins of the AHL. He won his first seven professional starts and finished his time in Providence with an 8-1-0 record, a .933 save percentage, and a 1.89 goals against average.
Promoted to the NHL in April 2021 after injuries and illness sidelined Boston’s veteran goaltenders, Swayman made his NHL debut on April 6, stopping 40 shots in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He recorded his first NHL shutout on April 16 against the New York Islanders and finished the regular season with a 7-3-0 record, a .945 save percentage, and a 1.50 goals against average. Selected as Tuukka Rask’s backup for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, Swayman appeared in one postseason game, stopping two of three shots in relief.
In 2021-22, with both Rask and Jaroslav Halák unavailable for stretches, Swayman became a full-time NHLer and eventually took over as Boston’s starter after Rask’s retirement. He was named NHL Rookie of the Month for February 2022 and finished the regular season with a 23-14-3 record, a 2.37 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage, leading all rookie goaltenders in each category. He finished fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, while also receiving Boston’s Seventh Player Award.
Historic 2022-23 Season and Jennings Trophy (2022-2023)
The 2022-23 season was the most successful regular season in Bruins history, with the team setting NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points to claim the Presidents’ Trophy. Swayman and goaltending partner Linus Ullmark formed what many considered the league’s top tandem, allowing just 177 goals across 82 games, 36 fewer than the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. The duo was awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy for that achievement, and their postgame “goalie hug” became a viral sensation throughout the league.
Boston entered the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs as the favorite but was eliminated in the first round by the Florida Panthers after squandering a 3-1 series lead. Swayman was given the start in Game 7 but could not prevent a 4-3 overtime defeat.
Boston Bruins Era (2023-Present)
On August 1, 2023, Swayman signed a one-year, $3.475 million contract through arbitration. Entering the 2023-24 season, he opened the year with a 6-0-0 record and a .952 save percentage, earning his first career All-Star Game selection in January 2024. He finished the regular season with a 25-10-8 record, a 2.53 goals against average, and a .916 save percentage.
Swayman played all seven games of Boston’s first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, posting a .950 save percentage and a 1.49 goals against average. He started all six games of the second-round rematch against the Florida Panthers, including a 28-save effort in Game 5, but the Bruins were eliminated in six games by the eventual Stanley Cup champions. After the season, Swayman signed an eight-year, $66 million contract on October 6, 2024, two days before Boston’s regular-season opener.
Driving Style and Strengths
Swayman is widely recognized for his calm demeanor in net, his strong lateral movement, and his ability to track pucks through heavy traffic. He has shown particular comfort in high-volume shot games, having posted 50 or more saves on multiple occasions at both the collegiate and professional levels. His composure under pressure has allowed him to thrive in postseason environments, where he has often elevated his play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Swayman’s signature achievements are his William M. Jennings Trophy win with Linus Ullmark in 2023, his Mike Richter Award at the University of Maine in 2020, and his role in helping the United States win the 2025 IIHF World Championship gold medal, the country’s first since 1934. He also became just the second Alaskan-born player to appear in an NHL All-Star Game when he participated in the 2024 event.
Jeremy Swayman Career Wins
Jeremy Swayman has compiled an impressive record across collegiate, AHL, NHL, and international play. His most significant victories include the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2022-23, the Mike Richter Award in 2019-20, and the 2025 IIHF World Championship gold medal with Team USA.
NHL and Collegiate Highlights
Swayman’s first NHL victory came on April 6, 2021, when he stopped 40 shots in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He recorded his first NHL shutout on April 16, 2021, against the New York Islanders. At the collegiate level, his most memorable win came on January 25, 2019, when he set a career high with 53 saves in a 4-3 upset of UMass. In the 2024 playoffs, he delivered a 2-1 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the first round.
International Wins and Performances
Swayman represented the United States at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping Team USA win the bronze medal. He later joined the U.S. national team for the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, recording two shutouts. His most celebrated international run came at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he went undefeated at 7-0, posting a 1.69 goals against average and a .921 save percentage while helping the United States capture its first gold medal since 1934.
Jeremy Swayman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jeremy Rion Swayman was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, by his mother, Anne Boesenberg, and his father, Ken Swayman. His father introduced him to hockey as an infant, bringing him to University of Alaska Anchorage games, an experience that helped shape his future career. Swayman is Jewish and had a bar mitzvah during his youth.
Personal Life
During the 2021-22 NHL season, Swayman and goaltending partner Linus Ullmark became known for their postgame “goalie hug,” a tradition that quickly went viral and became one of the most recognizable rituals of the Bruins’ recent era. Swayman has spoken publicly about the close bond he and Ullmark developed during their time together in Boston.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked a major transition for Jeremy Swayman, as he entered the year as the clear starting goaltender for the Boston Bruins for the first time in his career. After signing his eight-year contract just two days before the season opener and missing training camp, he made his season debut in the second game of the year, a 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens. His early-season struggles drew public criticism from head coach Jim Montgomery and fueled rumors of friction in the Bruins locker room.
By December, Swayman appeared to find his footing, winning seven of nine starts during one stretch. However, the Bruins’ inconsistent team play persisted, and on March 23, 2025, Swayman gained national attention when he challenged Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a fight at center ice. The altercation was broken up by referees, but it became one of the most talked-about moments of the season.
Swayman finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 22-29-7 record, a 3.29 goals against average, and an .892 save percentage across a career-high 58 starts. Boston was eliminated from postseason contention, marking the first time in Swayman’s career that he missed the playoffs. Shortly after the NHL season ended, he joined Team USA for the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he went 7-0, posted two shutouts, and backstopped the United States to its first gold medal since 1934.