Paul Bracken was a standout player for the highly successful Westfield State ice hockey teams of the late 1970s. He ranks as the second all-time leading scorer in Westfield State history with 222 points: 102 goals and 122 assists in 103 games played. 

He was the leading goal scorer in the ECAC in 1978, when the Owls finished 20-2 and captured the ECAC championship, and team captain from 1978-80. Bracken also was one of the top five scorers in the ECAC in 1977 and 1979, and an ECAC All-Star in 1978 and 1979. 

During his four years at Westfield State, the Owls played in four ECAC Tournaments and posted an aggregate record of 75-27. In addition, he was a star intramurals athlete at Westfield State. 

Following his graduation from Westfield State in 1980 with a degree in business administration, Bracken entertained offers to play pro hockey in Sweden and Finland. 

Bracken was a three-sport standout in soccer, baseball and hockey at Braintree High School. He was considered a major league prospect by baseball scouts before deciding to concentrate on hockey in college. 

He led the soccer team to the state semfinals, and the hockey team to the state finals, which were held at the Boston Garden. As an all-scholastic player, Bracken broke school records for goals and points. In baseball, Bracken was instrumental in leading the team to two state finals. 

Bracken is a Little League coach for the town of Windham, N.H., where he now resides This past spring his team of 10 year olds advanced to the state semifinals. Also, he has been a coach for the Salem, N.H., Saints hockey program for the past six years 

Bracken has been a top salesman in the soda distribution business. His wife, Cheryl, also a Westfield State graduate, is a program director for an early childhood center in Windham. They have two children: Josh and Sara.