Brock Boeser is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and will play in the NHL playoffs.Photo by Mike Hill.More than 120 former NCAA hockey players representing 35 schools will be on National Hockey League Playoff rosters when the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this weekend.
As of Friday morning, a total of 127 NCAA alumni were on NHL playoff rosters, with Boston, Colorado, New York Rangers and Vancouver leading the way with 12 each. Next up was Nashville in 10th place.
Michigan State (11) and Minnesota State (10) have the most alumni on their playoff rosters, followed by the University of North Dakota (9), Wisconsin (9) and Boston College (8). , the University of Massachusetts (seven), and St. Cloud State University (seven). Twenty schools in the NCAA have multiple alumni who compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NCAA alumni roster by series*:
twenty two – Vancouver (12) vs. Nashville (10)
21 – Winnipeg (9) vs. Colorado (12)
19 – New York Rangers (12) vs. Washington (7)
16 – Boston (12) vs. Toronto (4)
15 – Carolina (8) vs. New York Islanders (7)
13 – Edmonton (5) vs. Los Angeles (8)
11 – Florida (4) vs. Tampa Bay (7)
10 – Dallas (5) vs. Vegas (5)
* – List as of April 19th
Round 1 of the series with former teammates:
vancouver vs nashville
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- Brock Boeser vs. Cole Smith (2016-17 North Dakota)
New York Rangers vs. Washington
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- Johnny Brodzinski vs. Nick Jensen (2012-13 at St. Cloud State)
- Johnny Brodzinski vs. Charlie Lindgren (2013-15 at St. Cloud State)
Carolina vs. New York Islanders
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- Brady Skjei vs. Mike Riley (2012-15 Minnesota)
- Brady Skjei vs. Hudson Fasching (2013-15 Minnesota)
Edmonton vs. Los Angeles
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- Dylan Holloway vs. Alex Turcotte (2019-20 at Wisconsin)
In addition to the NHL playoff rosters being dotted with NCAA alumni, more than half of the 16 teams competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs were assembled by general managers who played college hockey. don sweeney (Harvard University), University of Carolina Don Waddell (Northern Michigan), Colorado Chris McFarland (Pace), of Florida. Bill Zito (Yale University), Los Angeles rob blake (Bowling Green), New York Islanders Roux Lamoriello(Providence), New York Rangers chris drury (Boston University), Las Vegas kelly McCrimmon (Michigan), Washington brian McClellan (Bowling Green).
Five of the qualifying teams are coached by former NCAA players. Gym montgomery (Maine), Carolina rod brinda amour (Michigan), Los Angeles Gym Hiller (Northern Michigan), Rangers peter raviolette (Westfield State), and Washington State. spencer carvery (Alaska Anchorage, St. Norbert).
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday with the Carolina vs. New York Islanders series and the Boston vs. Toronto series. Click here to view College Hockey Inc.'s NHL Matchup Tool for all NHL players and personnel affiliated with the NCAA.
Participate in the 2024 NHL Bracket Challenge and enter your bracket at NHL.com/CollegeHockey for a chance to win a prize package of official College Hockey, Inc. gear.
Did you know that? 93% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players get a degree.
