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Adam Sandler Announced Bruins' NHL Draft Pick in Character As Happy Gilmore

Sandler, a.k.a. Happy Gilmore, announced the Bruins' selection of James Hagens with the sixth pick in the NHL draft.

Tim Capurso

Uh oh! Happy learned how to pick.
Uh oh! Happy learned how to pick. / Screengrab Twitter @NHL
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The Boston Bruins' selection in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft was made in style on Friday night.

The seventh pick was announced by actor Adam Sandler, only it wasn't Sandler who appeared on the video screen at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles—it was none other than wannabe hockey player and golfer extraordinaire Happy Gilmore.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman teased the introduction, then Sandler, a.k.a. Gilmore a.k.a. the amazing-golf-ball-whacker-guy, walked out onto the screen, hockey stick in hand.

"My name is Happy Gilmore," Sandler said. "How are you? Proud to be part of the 2025 NHL draft. The Boston Bruins select, from Boston College, James Hagens!"

Making this selection even better? Hagens's favorite movie is Happy Gilmore. Sports are poetic.

One can bet that Hagens is just as excited about Happy Gilmore 2, which will premiere on Netflix on July 25, as he is about being drafted by the Bruins and beginning his NHL career.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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