Hennessy's 'Lifelong Dream' Fulfilled With Bruins Call-Up

BOSTON (CBS) -- With a long road trip coming up and a shortage of extra bodies available, the Boston Bruins needed to call up a player this week. That chance is being given to Massachusetts native Josh Hennessy.

The 27-year-old forward has 20 NHL games under his belt, all with the Ottawa Senators from 2006-10. After spending last season playing in Switzerland, Hennessy signed a one-year deal with the Bruins. The former Milton Academy star spent the past few months in Providence, but now he could get his chance to make his debut as a Boston Bruin.

Hennessy's role is expected to be a healthy scratch, but should any forward suffer an injury on the upcoming six-game road trip, he'll be the first player to get the call.

Just the opportunity, though, is what Hennessy's always wanted.

"Since I was about two and a half, I've been looking forward to this, since I can remember," he told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche at the morning skate. "I try not to use every cliche in the book, but this really is a lifelong dream of mine. That's really how I feel."

Hennessy said getting the phone call from the Bruins had him reverting back to a child.

"It was awesome. I was  home alone with my kids. It made me feel like a kid," he told Roche. "It was one of those things, it seemed like it would be so awesome I didn't want to spend too much time thinking about it. I didn't want to get hung up in a dream that who knows how realistic it was.

"I had it back in my mind, a little bit of hope, but I kept it to myself."

In those 20 NHL games, Hennessy has one goal and no assists. He scored that goal on Jan. 7, 2007, as part of a 6-1 Senators win over the Flyers. In 49 games with Providence this season, he has 15 goals and 15 assists, ranking second on the team in points.