AMESBURY, Mass. - There were a record 83 Hockey East alumni named to National Hockey League rosters for opening night of the 2022-23 season, it was announced this week by the NHL. The number is one more that the previous record of 82 in 2021-22 and sets a new standard for the 11th year in a row. For the first time ever, all 32 NHL clubs are carrying at least one Hockey East product on their rosters to start the year. A full list of players can be found below.
The 83 players represent every Hockey East member institution, led by Boston College (20), Boston University (18), and Massachusetts (10). Rounding out the schools are Providence (8), Northeastern (6), New Hampshire (5), Maine (4), UMass Lowell (3), UConn (1), Merrimack (1), Vermont (1). Additionally, six Notre Dame alumni who competed in Hockey East earned NHL roster spots.
The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Philadelphia Flyers each boast six Hockey East alumni on their rosters, the most of any NHL club.
The roster data includes players who are on injured reserve or long-term injured reserve to open the season, or who have been designated injured non-roster.
In total, 42 NCAA Division I programs boast at least one alumni on an NHL roster, led by Michigan’s 21. Other schools with 10 or more alums on NHL rosters include Boston College (20), Boston University (18), Minnesota (18), North Dakota (15), Wisconsin (15), Denver (12), Minnesota Duluth (12), UMass (10) and Notre Dame (10).
The Philadelphia Flyers enter the season with a league-leading 12 college hockey players on their Opening Night roster, followed by five teams with 11 each: Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Washington and defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado.
Additionally, half of the NHL’s 32 current general managers played college hockey, as did 12 of the league’s current head coaches.
By the end of the 2021-22 season, a record 349 former college players had appeared in the NHL, shattering the previous record of 327 (2018-19). That included 15 who debuted in 2022 following the completion of their NCAA hockey season. Of those 349 players, 109 were Hockey East alumni, representing nearly one-third of the NCAA alumni to play in the NHL last season. All 11 current men’s member institutions had at least one former player represented. In addition, all 32 NHL teams had at least one Hockey East product in the lineup at some point during the regular season. Hockey East claimed six 2022 NHL All-Stars, and boasted over 100 NHL players for the second year in a row.
Three Hockey East Association alumni were crowed Stanley Cup Champions, as the Colorado Avalanche captured the NHL’s top prize for the third time in franchise history. Etching their names on the most recognizable trophy in sports were Cale Makar (Massachusetts, 2017-19), who also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, Josh Manson (Northeastern, 2011-14) and Alex Newhook (Boston College, 2019-21). Hockey East has now claimed at least one Stanley Cup champion for the 12th year in a row. Joining the trio as champions are two other products of Hockey East schools, including Development Coach Brett Clark (Maine, 1995-96) and scout Neil Shea (Boston College, 1982-86).
The Hockey East Association saw 23 current players and recruits selected in the 2022 National Hockey League Entry Draft, representing eight of the 11 Hockey East member schools. Hockey East’s 23 selections were once again the most of any college hockey conference and represent over one third of the 66 NCAA players and recruits chosen. A full list of Hockey East players taken can be found below.
Of the 23 players, Northeastern’s Jack Hughes (LA Kings, Round 2, Pick 51) and Vermont’s Joel Maatta (Edmonton Oilers, Round 7, Pick 222) spent the 2021-22 season in Hockey East. In total, Hockey East had 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders chosen. Northeastern led all NCAA schools with seven players selected, while Massachusetts boasted four, Boston University and Vermont both claimed three incoming freshmen picked, Boston College and UConn recruited two each, while New Hampshire and Providence have one drafted player joining their ranks next season.
In total, 15 of the current 32 NHL clubs selected at least one current or future Hockey East player in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The selections were highlighted by five picks in the first two rounds, including incoming Boston College forward Carter Gauthier (Philadelphia Flyers) at fifth overall. The pick gives Boston College at least one player selected for the 27th consecutive draft, tying the all-time NCAA record held by Minnesota (1974-2000).
Hockey East Alumni on NHL Opening Night Rosters in 2022-23
By NHL Team
Anaheim Ducks (3)
Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston University), Frank Vatrano (Boston College), Trevor Zegras (Boston University)
Arizona Coyotes (2)
Clayton Keller (Boston University), Jack McBain (Boston College)
Boston Bruins (6)
Charlie Coyle (Boston University), Matt Filipe (Northeastern), A.J. Greer (Boston University), Matt
Grzelcyk (Boston University), Charlie McAvoy (Boston University), Jeremy Swayman (Maine)
Buffalo Sabres (6)
Jacob Bryson (Providence), Anders Bjork (Notre Dame), Casey Fitzgerald (Boston College), Vinnie
Hinostroza (Notre Dame), Tage Thompson (UConn), Alex Tuch (Boston College)
Calgary Flames (2)
Noah Hanifin (Boston College), Kevin Rooney (Providence)
Carolina Hurricanes (1)
Brett Pesce (New Hampshire)
Chicago Blackhawks (1)
Alex Vlasic (Boston University)
Colorado Avalanche (4)
Cale Makar (Massachusetts), Josh Manson (Northeastern), Alex Newhook (Boston College), Evan
Rodrigues (Boston University).
Columbus Blue Jackets (3)
Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College), Gustav Nyquist (Maine), Andrew Peeke (Notre Dame)
Dallas Stars (2)
Joel Hanley (Massachusetts), Jake Oettinger (Boston University)
Detroit Red Wings (2)
Seth Barton (UMass Lowell), Jake Walman (Providence)
Edmonton Oilers (2)
Warren Foegele (New Hampshire), Vincent Desharnais (Providence)
Florida Panthers (4)
Spencer Knight (Boston College), Ryan Lomberg (Maine), Brandon Montour (Massachusetts), Colin
White (Boston College)
Los Angeles Kings (2)
Cal Petersen (Notre Dame), Jonathan Quick (Massachusetts)
Minnesota Wild (3)
Matt Boldy (Boston College), Brandon Duhaime (Providence), Jordan Greenway (Boston University)
Montreal Canadiens (4)
Jake Evans (Notre Dame), Jordan Harris (Northeastern), Johnathan Kovacevic (Merrimack), Mike
Matheson (Boston College)
Nashville Predators (2)
Dante Fabbro (Boston University), Zach Sanford (Boston College)
New Jersey Devils (2)
Tyce Thompson (Providence), Miles Wood (Boston College)
New York Islanders (2)
Kieffer Bellows (Boston University), Oliver Wahlstrom (Boston College)
New York Rangers (2)
Zac Jones (Massachusetts), Chris Kreider (Boston College)
Ottawa Senators (1)
Brady Tkachuk (Boston University)
Philadelphia Flyers (6)
Cam Atkinson (Boston College), Justin Braun (Massachusetts), Patrick Brown (Boston College), Joel
Farabee (Boston University), Kevin Hayes (Boston College), James van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire)
Pittsburgh Penguins (4)
Casey DeSmith (New Hampshire), Brian Dumoulin (Boston College), Chad Ruhwedel (UMass Low-
ell), Bryan Rust (Notre Dame)
San Jose Sharks (4)
Matt Benning (Northeastern), Nick Bonino (Boston University), Mario Ferraro (Massachusetts), Matt
Nieto (Boston University)
Seattle Kraken (2)
Jamie Oleksiak (Northeastern), Brandon Tanev (Providence)
St. Louis Blues (1)
Noel Acciari (Providence)
Tampa Bay Lightning (1)
Ross Colton (Vermont)
Toronto Maple Leafs (2)
Zach Aston-Reese (Northeastern), Joseph Woll (Boston College)
Vancouver Canucks (1)
Thatcher Demko (Boston College)
Vegas Golden Knights (2)
Jack Eichel (Boston University), Ben Hutton (Maine)
Washington Capitals (3)
Matt Irwin (Massachusetts), Conor Sheary (Massachusetts), Trevor van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire)
Winnipeg Jets (1)
Connor Hellebuyck (UMass Lowell)
By School
Boston College (20) - Cam Atkinson (Philadelphia), Matt Boldy (Minnesota), Patrick Brown (Philadelphia), Thatcher Demko (Vancouver), Brian Dumoulin (Pittsburgh), Casey Fitzgerald (Buffalo), Johnny Gaudreau (Columbus), Noah Hanifin (Calgary), Kevin Hayes (Boston College), Spencer Knight (Florida), Chris Kreider (New York Rangers), Mike Matheson (Montreal), Jack McBain (Arizona), Alex Newhook (Boston College), Zach Sanford (Nashville), Alex Tuch (Buffalo), Oliver Wahlstrom (New York Islanders), Colin White (Florida), Joseph Woll (Toronto), Miles Wood (New Jersey)
Boston University (18) - Kieffer Bellows (New York Islanders), Nick Bonino (San Jose), Charlie Coyle (Boston), Jack Eichel (Vegas), Dante Fabbro (Nashville), Joel Farabee (Philadelphia), Jordan Greenway (Minnesota), A.J. Greer (Boston), Matt Grzelcyk (Boston), Clayton Keller (Arizona), Charlie McAvoy (Boston), Matt Nieto (San Jose), Jake Oettinger (Dallas), Evan Rodrigues (Colorado), Kevin Shattenkirk (Anaheim), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa), Alex Vlasic (Chicago), Trevor Zegras (Anaheim)
UConn (1) - Tage Thompson (Buffalo)
Maine (4) - Ben Hutton (Vegas), Ryan Lomberg (Florida), Gustav Nyquist (Columbus), Jeremy Swayman (Boston)
Massachusetts (10) - Justin Braun (Massachusetts), Mario Ferraro (San Jose), Joel Hanley (Dallas), Matt Irwin (Washington), Zac Jones (New York Rangers), Cale Makar (Colorado), Brandon Montour (Florida), Conor Sheary (Washington), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles), Frank Vatrano (Anaheim).
UMass Lowell (3) - Seth Barton (Detroit), Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg), Chad Ruhwedel (Pittsburgh)
Merrimack (1) - Johnathan Kovacevic (Montreal)
New Hampshire (5) - Casey DeSmith (Pittsburgh), Warren Foegele (New Hampshire), Brett Pesce (Carolina), James van Riemsdyk (New Hampshire), Trevor van Riemsdyk (Washington)
Northeastern (6) - Zach Aston-Reese (Toronto), Matt Benning (San Jose), Matt Filipe (Boston), Jordan Harris (Montreal), Josh Manson (Colorado), Jamie Oleksiak (Seattle)
Notre Dame (6) - Anders Bjork (Buffalo), Jake Evans (Montreal), Vinnie Hinostroza (Buffalo), Andrew Peeke (Columbus), Cal Petersen (Los Angeles), Bryan Rust (Pittsburgh)
Providence (8) - Noel Acciari (St. Louis), Jacob Bryson (Buffalo), Vincent Desharnais (Providence), Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota), Kevin Rooney (Calgary), Brandon Tanev (Providence), Tyce Thompson (New Jersey), Jake Walman (Detroit)
Vermont (1) - Ross Colton (Tampa Bay)
