WAKEFIELD, Mass. - The Hockey East Association has a strong footprint in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 33 alumni representing 10 schools will compete for the chance to win the National Hockey League's top prize at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. A full list of the players can be found below.
Boston College boasts nine players on active rosters in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston University has eight, while New Hampshire claims four, UMass Lowell and Providence both send three, Maine, Massachusetts and Northeastern each developed two players, and one player from both Notre Dame and Vermont vie for the NHL's biggest trophy. Additionally, another six players appeared on their NHL clubs' roster this year but are not currently active. The 39 total Hockey East alumni represent 24% of the 166 former NCAA players in the playoffs this season, a year that saw 325 NCAA alumni, a record number and one-third of all league players, reach the NHL.
Last season, the champion Washington Capitals' roster featured two former Hockey East players, Boston College's Brooks Orpik (1998-2001) and Boston University's Alex Chiasson (2009-12). Orpik helped the Eagles to the 2001 NCAA championship, while Chiasson led the Terriers in scoring for two of his three seasons on campus. In 2017, a record seven players on the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins had roots in Hockey East, including Nick Bonino (BU, 2007-10), Brian Dumoulin (BC, 2009-12), Ron Hainsey (UML, 1999-2001), Chad Ruhwedel (UML, 2010-13), Bryan Rust (ND, 2013-14), Conor Sheary (UMass, 2010-14), and Scott Wilson (UML, 2011-14).
Hockey East Alumni in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Boston College - Cam Atkinson (CBJ), Brian Boyle (NSH), Brian Dumoulin (PIT), Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Stephen Gionta* (NYI), Noah Hanifin (CHY), Kevin Hayes (WPG), Brooks Orpik (WSH), Zach Sanford (STL), Alex Tuch (VGK)
Boston University - Nick Bonino (NSH), Adam Clendening (CBJ), Charlie Coyle (BOS), Dante Fabbro (NSH), Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson* (BOS), AJ Greer* (COL), Matt Grzelcyk (BOS) , Charlie McAvoy (BOS), Matt Nieto (COL), Colin Wilson (COL)
Maine - Ben Bishop (DAL), Scott Darling* (CAR), Ryan Lomberg* (CGY), Gustav Nyquist (SJS)
Massachusetts - Justin Braun (SJS), Joel Hanley* (DAL), Matt Irwin (NSH)
UMass Lowell - Connor Hellebuyck (WPG), Ron Hainsey (TOR), Chad Ruhwedel (PIT)
New Hampshire - Casey DeSmith (PIT), Warren Foegele (CAR), Brett Pesce (CAR), Trevor van Riemsdyk (CAR)
Northeastern - Zach Aston-Reese (PIT), Jamie Oleksiak (DAL)
Notre Dame - Bryan Rust (PIT)
Providence - Noel Acciari (BOS), Mark Jankowski (CGY), Brandon Tanev (WPG)
Vermont - Kevan Miller (BOS)
*not on active roster
