Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Don DelNegro (Westfield State Class of 1984) still struggles to verbally express the euphoria surrounding Boston winning the 2011 Stanley Cup, but the longtime Bruins head athletic trainer is at no loss for words in explaining how Westfield State shaped his career.

“A big part of where I am at today is because of my years at Westfield State and Rich Pierce (Westfield's legendary athletic trainer from 1977-2006) played a big part of that in being my mentor,” said DelNegro, who begins his 19th year as the Boston Bruins head athletic trainer. “It bodes well on Rich being where I am at today, along with my entire educational experience at Westfield State.”

DelNegro was even thinking of his Westfield State days shortly after the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years, sending New Englanders into a summer-long celebration. He emailed a photograph of himself hoisting the Stanley Cup to Pierce, his mentor and friend.

“The best reflection of how I thought he could be a good trainer is that he kept in touch with me all these years,” said Pierce. “Don is really into it (athletic training). When he was a student he did everything he had to do. He was dedicated and enthusiastic, and in those days if you put in the time as a student you had to be committed. Back then our (athletic training) internship program was 1800 hours.”

DelNegro's dream job of working in professional sports, especially for the Boston hockey team he grew up rooting for in his hometown of North Adams, Mass., was fulfilled when he was hired by the Bruins in 1993 after a five-year stint as the director of sports medicine at Williams College. He earned a master's degree in athletic training from Indiana State then landed a his first job as the assistant athletic trainer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., from 1986-88.

“I was making $300 a month plus room and board,” said DelNegro of his two years in Lake Placid.

He accomplished other career goals by being selected the athletic trainer for the U.S. Bobsled and Luge teams at the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France, and for Team USA at the 2000, 2005 and 2007 World Hockey championships. Moreover, he crossed paths with another Westfield State graduate when he served as head trainer for the U.S. men's hockey team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Peter Laviolette (Westfield State Class of 1984) was the head coach of the 2006 Olympic squad. Laviolette, the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, also experienced the thrill of hoisting the Stanley Cup when he led the Carolina Hurricanes to the NHL title in 2006.

“The NHL's Stanley Cup is so much different than the others,” said DelNegro. “In no other sports do fans get to touch the trophy and players get to keep it for a day. It is really amazing.”

As a vital team member of the Boston Bruins, DelNegro also owned the coveted Cup for a day. The Stanley Cup was delivered July 12 to his Lake Placid summer home, where he hosted an all-day Cup party for family and friends, including college roommates Justin Kelly ('85) and Shaun Gear ('83).

"Having the Cup for a day allowed me the unique opportunity to share it with my family, friends and community,” said DelNegro. “It gave me a chance to get together with everyone and say thank you for all their love and support over the last 18 years. It is a day I will never forget.”

DelNegro also carried the Stanley Cup on the No. 2 duckboat he shared with Bruin defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Seidenberg during the Rolling Rally through the streets of Boston to celebrate the Stanley Cup championship with Bruin fanatics.

“The Rolling Rally was just phenomenal,” said DelNegro, who was able to spot relatives and a few of his Westfield State friends in the mass of humanity. “It was awesome to see a million-plus fans. They were all so happy and joyous...”

DelNegro also offered insights on the incredible atmosphere following Boston's Game 7 title-clinching victory in Vancouver.

“There were a lot of tears shed in the locker room after the game, but they were tears of joy,” he said. “And it was a six-hour party all the way home.”

A chief reason DelNegro has stayed with the Bruins for nearly two decades is because the players truly make him feel part of the team. He said it is like a big family and this year's team is his favorite.

“In my 18 years as the Bruins trainer there are no comparisons to this team,” DelNegro said. “The players are the epitome of what a team should be. They were 20 guys with no egos with a common goal of winning the Stanley Cup. There were no high profile players on the team like Sidney Crosby….just 20 people working in the same direction.”

Pierce said that DelNegro's longevity with the Bruins during numerous head coaching changes is a testament to his training skills, which include the ability to work well with people in the demanding, pressure-packed and high stakes world of professional sports.

“Don has been chosen as trainer in a lot of challenging positions,” said Pierce. “You have to know what needs to be done and be there for the players,” said Pierce. “A lot of times you are the go between for players and coaches and that can be tough.”

As accommodating as the hockey players he treats, DelNegro always welcomes opportunities to share his experiences and expertise with aspiring athletic trainers. Prior to a regular season game early in 2011, DelNegro met with 13 Westfield State University students at the TD Banknorth Garden and conducted a workshop for them, along with Pierce and Mary Allen Watson, a professor in the Westfield movement science department. DelNegro has also returned to Westfield State several times to make presentations at career workshops for student trainers.