AMESBURY, Mass. - The Hockey East Association is again the most well-represented college hockey conference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 93 league alumni set to battle for the NHL’s top prize. Of the 93 alumni, 40 are active players that appeared on the rosters of their NHL clubs this season and 53 include staff and front office members representing 10 different member institutions. The full list of players and staff is below.
Fifteen of the 16 teams that clinched the playoffs have at least one Hockey East alumni on their roster, and all 16 playoff teams have at least one Hockey East alumni on the coaching staff or in their front office. Of the 127 NCAA alumni on NHL playoff rosters, Hockey East accounts for over a quarter of those battling for the Stanley Cup.
The 40 active players represent 10 different institutions with Boston University topping the league with eight representatives. Massachusetts claims seven alumni while Boston College holds six. Maine and New Hampshire are represented by five former players. Providence has four, followed by UMass Lowell with two while Merrimack, Northeastern and Vermont all boast one former player vying to etch their name on the Stanley Cup.
The Boston Bruins once again hold the title for most Hockey East alumni on their roster with six players from three different programs. The Colorado Avalanche come in second with five alumni from five different programs and the New York Rangers follow with four. The Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets each have three Hockey East products on their rosters. The Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks all claim two, while the Dallas Stars, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals all carry one former player heading into the first round of the playoffs.
In total, 109 Hockey East alumni appeared in at least one NHL game during the 2023-24 regular season, tying the all-time record set in 2021-22 and making four consecutive season with over 100 alumni playing at the game’s highest level. All 11 current men’s member institutions had at least one former player represented. Hockey East also produced nine 2024 NHL All-Stars.
Last season, Boston University’s Jack Eichel and Maine’s Ben Hutton won the first Stanley Cup in Vegas Golden Knights history, making the 2023 championship the 13th-straight season a former Hockey East Player has lifted the Cup.
In addition to the 127 NCAA alumni listed on NHL playoff rosters, nine of the 16 teams that clinched were as- sembled by general managers who played college hockey: Boston’s Don Sweeney (Harvard), Carolina’s Don Waddell (Northern Michigan), Colorado’s Chris MacFarland (Pace), Florida’s Bill Zito (Yale), Los Angeles’ Rob Blake (Bowling Green), the New York Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello (Providence), the New York Rangers’ Chris Drury (Boston University), Vegas’ Kelly McCrimmon (Michigan), and Washington’s Brian MacLellan (Bowling Green).
Five of the qualifying teams are led by former NCAA players: Boston’s Jim Montgomery (Maine), Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour (Michigan State), Los Angeles’ Jim Hiller (Northern Michigan), the Rangers’ Peter Laviolette (Westfield State), and Washington’s Spencer Carbery (Alaska Anchorage, St. Norbert).
Boston Bruins
Jeremy Swayman, Maine (2017-20)
Kevin Shattenkirk, Boston University (2007-10)
Charlie Coyle, Boston University (2010-11)
James van Riemsdyk, New Hampshire (2007-09)
Matt Grzelcyk, Boston University (2012-16)
Charlie McAvoy, Boston University (2015-17)
President of Bruins Foundation Bob Sweeney, Boston College (1982-86)
Head Coach Jim Montgomery, Maine (1989-93)
Assistant Coach Joe Sacco, Boston University (1987-90)
Goalie Coach Mike Dunham, Maine (1990-93)
Skating and Skills Consultant David Breen, Merrimack (2002-04)
Skating and Skills Consultant John McLean, Boston College (1983-87)
ECHL Head Coach Terrence Wallin, UMass Lowell (2011-15)
Carolina Hurricanes
Brett Pesce, New Hampshire (2012-15)
Bradly Nadeau, Maine (2023-24)
Scott Morrow, Massachusetts (2021-24)
Development Coach Peter Harrold, Boston College (2002-06)
Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar, Massachusetts (2017-19)
Brandon Duhaime, Providence (2016-19)
Ross Colton, Vermont (2016-18)
Miles Wood, Boston College (2015-16)
Josh Manson, Northeastern (2011-14)
Amateur Scout Neil Shea, Boston College (1982-86)
Dallas Stars
Jake Oettinger, Boston University (2016-19)
Director, Hockey Strategy/Scouting & Development Steve Greely, Boston University (2000-04)
Coordinator, Player Development Ben Bishop, Maine (2005-08)
Edmonton Oilers
Warren Foegle, New Hampshire (2014-15)
Vincent Desharnais, Providence (2015-19)
Special Advisor and Alternate Governor, Hockey Ops Bob Nicholson, Providence (1973-74)
Amateur Scout Scott Harlow, Boston college (1982-86)
Regional Scout Dani Rylan Kearney, Northeastern (2010-12)
Florida Panthers
Evan Rodrigues, Boston University (2011-15)
Brandon Montour, Massachusetts (2014-15)
Ryan Lomberg, Maine (2012-14)
Assistant GM Brett Peterson, Boston College (2000-04)
Senior Advisor to the GM Paul Fenton, Boston University (1979-82)
Manager, Player Development Mike Ryan, Northeastern (1999-03)
Amateur Scout P.J. Fenton, Massachusetts (2004-08)
Amateur Scout Josh Monk, Providence (2013-17)
Los Angeles Kings
AHL Scout Blake Bolden, Boston College (2009-13)
Nashville Predators
Gustav Nyquist, Maine (2008-11)
Mark Jankowski, Providence (2012-16)
Dante Fabbro, Boston University (2016-19)
Senior Advisor David Poile, Northeastern (1976-80)
Assistant General Manager/ Director Scouting Jeff Kealty, Boston University (1996-97)
Assistant GM/ Director Hockey Ops Brian Poile, Boston College (1996-97)
Chief Amateur Scout Tom Nolan, New Hampshire (1993-98)
Pro Scout Doug Janik, Maine (1998-01)
Pro Scout Rob Cowie, Northeastern (1987-91)
Forward Development Coach Nathan Gerbe, Boston College (2005-08)
Defense Development Coach Rob Scuderi, Boston College (1997-01)
New York Islanders
Oliver Walstrom, Boston College (2018-19)
President, Hockey Ops/ General Manager Lou Lamoriello, Providence (1960-63, 1969-81)
Assistant GM/ AHL GM Chris Lamoriello, Providence (1990-94)
Player Development Marty Reasoner, Boston College (1995-98)
Pro Scout Steve Kariya, Maine (1995-99)
Scout Gates Orlando, Providence (1980-84)
Scout Chris O’Sullivan, Boston University (1992-96)
AHL Goaltending Coach Chris Terreri, Providence (1983-86)
ECHL Assistant Coach Bob Deraney, Boston University (1984-87)
New York Rangers
Chad Ruhwedel, UMass Lowell (2010-13)
Zac Jones, Massachusetts (2019-21)
Chris Kreider, Boston College (2009-12)
Jonathan Quick, Massachusetts (2005-07)
President and GM Chris Drury, Boston University (1994-98)
Director, Player Personnel and Amateur Scouting John Lilley, Boston University (1991-92)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mitchell Chaffee, Massachusetts (2017-20)
Conor Sheary, Massachusetts (2010-14)
Pro Scout Stephen Gionta, Boston College (2002-06)
College Scout Brian Putnam, New Hampshire (1993-97)
ECHL Assistant Coach Ben Holmstrom, UMass Lowell (2006-10)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joseph Woll, Boston College (2016-19)
Director, Amateur Scouting/Asst. Dir., Player Personnel Wes Clark, Maine (2004-08)
Amateur Scout Jim Vesey, Merrimack (1984-88)
College Free Agent Scout Chris Bourque, Boston University (2004-05)
Vancouver Canucks
Casey DeSmith, New Hampshire (2011-14)
Thatcher Demko, Boston College (2013-16)
Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato, Providence (1989-93)
Director, Player Personnel Scott Young, Boston University (1985-87)
Vegas Golden Knights
Jack Eichel, Boston University (2014-15)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College (2014-15)
Ben Hutton, Maine (2012-15)
Assistant Coach Dominique Ducharme, Vermont (1991-95)
European Scout Peter Ahola, Boston University (1989-91)
ECHL Head Coach Rick Bennett, Providence (1986-90)
Washington Capitals
Trevor van Riemsdyk, New Hampshire (2011-14)
Player Development Brooks Orpik, Boston College (1998-01)
Scout Rich Alger, Massachusetts (1993-94) Boston University (1995-97)
Scout A.J. Toews, Northeastern (1996-98)
Winnipeg Jets
Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell (2012-14)
Collin Delia, Merrimack (2014-17)
Parker Ford, Providence (2019-23)
Pro and College Scout Mark White, New Hampshire (1997-01)
