AMESBURY, Mass. - The Hockey East Association is again the most well-represented college hockey conference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 110 league alumni set to battle for the NHL’s top prize. Of the 110 products of league member schools, 52 are active players that appeared on the rosters of their NHL clubs this season and 59 include front office staff and coaches representing 11 different member institutions. The full list of players and staff is below.
All 16 teams that clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs have at least one Hockey East alumni on their roster and 15 of the 16 organizations have at least one Hockey East alumni on the coaching staff or in their front office. Of the 137 NCAA alumni on NHL playoff rosters, Hockey East accounts for nearly 38% of those battling for the Stanley Cup.
The 52 active players represent 11 different institutions with Boston College topping the league with 15 representatives. Boston University follows with nine products in the NHL playoffs, while Northeastern and Providence boast six each. Massachusetts sends three, while UConn, Maine, and New Hampshire are represented by two players each and Merrimack and Vermont have a lone alumnus playing for the Stanley Cup. Additionally, five Notre Dame products in the Stanley Cup playoffs played in Hockey East.
Hockey East was again the most well-represented college hockey league in the NHL, developing 38% of all college alumni that played in the sport’s top league this season. In total, a record 127 Hockey East alumni appeared in at least one NHL game during the 2025-26 regular season, eclipsing the previous all-time record set last year with 123. Just two years ago the high-water mark stood at 109. It marks six consecutive seasons with over 100 Hockey East alumni playing at the game’s highest level. All 11 current men’s member institutions had at least one former player represented.
The Hockey East Association saw nine alumni raise the 2025 Stanley Cup, as the Florida Panthers claimed the National Hockey League’s top prize for the second straight year. The league products included three players and six members of the Panthers front office staff and it marked the 15th straight year that at least one Hockey East alumnus had their name engraved on the Stanley Cup. The players included Evan Rodrigues (Boston University, 2011-15), Brandon Montour (Massachusetts. 2014-15), and Ryan Lomberg (Maine, 2012-14). Leading Florida in the front office was 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) and Director of European Pro Scouting Oleg Yevenko (Massachusetts, 2011-15).
In addition to NCAA alumni dotting NHL playoff rosters, six of the teams competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are helmed by general managers who played college hockey: Buffalo’s Jarmo Kekäläinen (Clarkson), Colorado’s Chris MacFarland (Pace), Minnesota’s Bill Guerin (Boston College), Montreal’s Kent Hughes (Middlebury), Vegas’ Kelly McCrimmon (Michigan), and Boston’s Don Sweeney (Harvard).
Five of the qualifying teams are coached by former NCAA players: Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour (Michigan State), Minnesota’s John Hynes (Boston University), Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse (Stonehill), Montreal’s Martin St. Louis (Vermont), and Vegas’s John Tortorella (Maine). Additionally, Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper played club hockey at Hofstra.
| Hockey East Players in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs | ||||||
| Player | Hockey East | NHL | Pos. | Nation | Draft | Years in College |
| Matt Boldy | Boston College | MIN | F | US | 1st | 2 |
| Brian Dumoulin | Boston College | LAK | D | US | 2nd | 3 |
| Jacob Fowler | Boston College | MTL | G | US | 3rd | 2 |
| Cutter Gauthier | Boston College | ANA | F | US | 1st | 2 |
| James Hagens | Boston College | BOS | F | US | 1st | 2 |
| Noah Hanifin | Boston College | VGK | D | US | 1st | 1 |
| Kevin Hayes | Boston College | PIT | F | US | 1st | 4 |
| Drew Helleson | Boston College | ANA | D | US | 2nd | 3 |
| Chris Kreider | Boston College | ANA | F | US | 1st | 3 |
| Mike Matheson | Boston College | MTL | D | CAN | 1st | 3 |
| Jack McBain | Boston College | UTA | F | CAN | 3rd | 4 |
| Alex Newhook | Boston College | MTL | F | CAN | 1st | 2 |
| Steven Santini | Boston College | TBL | D | US | 2nd | 3 |
| Jack St. Ivany | Boston College | PIT | D | US | 4th | 4 |
| Alex Tuch | Boston College | BUF | F | US | 1st | 2 |
| Cameron Crotty | Boston University | OTT | D | CAN | 3rd | 3 |
| Jack Eichel | Boston University | VGK | F | US | 1st | 1 |
| Jordan Greenway | Boston University | BUF | F | US | 2nd | 3 |
| Lane Hutson | Boston University | MTL | D | US | 2nd | 2 |
| Clayton Keller | Boston University | UTA | F | US | 1st | 1 |
| Charlie McAvoy | Boston University | BOS | D | US | 1st | 2 |
| Jake Oettinger | Boston University | DAL | G | US | 1st | 3 |
| Brady Tkachuk | Boston University | OTT | F | US | 1st | 1 |
| Trevor Zegras | Boston University | PHI | F | US | 1st | 1 |
| Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg | UConn | MIN | D | SWE | FA | 3 |
| Tage Thompson | UConn | BUF | F | US | 1st | 2 |
| Ben Hutton | Maine | VGK | D | CAN | 5th | 3 |
| Jeremy Swayman | Maine | BOS | G | US | 4th | 3 |
| Mitchell Chaffee | Massachusetts | TBL | F | US | FA | 3 |
| Cale Makar | Massachusetts | COL | D | CAN | 1st | 2 |
| Frank Vatrano | Massachusetts | ANA | F | US | FA | 2 |
| Declan Carlile | Merrimack | TBL | D | US | FA | 3 |
| Casey DeSmith | New Hampshire | DAL | G | US | FA | 3 |
| Warren Foegele | New Hampshire | OTT | F | CAN | 3rd | 1 |
| Jordan Harris | Northeastern | BOS | D | US | 3rd | 4 |
| Justin Hryckowian | Northeastern | DAL | F | CAN | FA | 3 |
| Michael Kesselring | Northeastern | BUF | D | US | 6th | 2 |
| Josh Manson | Northeastern | COL | D | CAN | 6th | 3 |
| Ryan Shea | Northeastern | PIT | D | US | 4th | 4 |
| Jayden Struble | Northeastern | MTL | D | US | 2nd | 4 |
| Jake Evans | Notre Dame | MTL | F | CAN | 7th | 4 |
| Dennis Gilbert | Notre Dame | OTT | D | US | 3rd | 3 |
| Andrew Peeke | Notre Dame | BOS | D | US | 2nd | 3 |
| Cal Petersen | Notre Dame | MIN | G | US | 5th | 3 |
| Bryan Rust | Notre Dame | PIT | F | US | 3rd | 4 |
| Noel Acciari | Providence | PIT | F | US | FA | 3 |
| Max Crozier | Providence | TBL | D | CAN | 4th | 4 |
| Mark Jankowski | Providence | CAR | F | US | 1st | 4 |
| Kevin Rooney | Providence | UTA | F | US | FA | 4 |
| Brandon Tanev | Providence | UTA | F | CAN | FA | 4 |
| Jake Walman | Providence | EDM | D | CAN | 3rd | 3 |
| Ross Colton | Vermont | COL | F | US | 4th | 2 |
Hockey East Staff in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Anaheim Ducks
Assistant Coach Tim Army – Providence (1981-85)
Scout Steve Lyons – New Hampshire (1980-83)
Scout Gabriella Switaj – Boston College (2014-18)
AHL Assistant Coach Michael Babcock – Merrimack (2015-19)
Boston Bruins
President, Boston Bruins Foundation Bob Sweeney – Boston College (1982-86)
Assistant Coach Jay Leach – Providence (1997-2001)
Goaltending Development Coach Mike Dunham – Maine (1990-93)
Skating and Skills Coach John McLean – Boston College (1983-87)
Skating and Skills Consultant David Breen – Merrimack (2002-04)
Player Development Coordinator Ben Smith – Boston College (2006-10)
Buffalo Sabres
None.
Carolina Hurricanes
Director of Player Development Peter Harrold – Boston College (2002-06)
Colorado Avalanche
Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Pryor – Maine (2009-13)
Scout Rob Riley – Boston College (1974-78)
Scout Neil Shea – Boston College (1982-86)
AHL Assistant Coach Derek Army – Providence (2010-24)
Dallas Stars
Scout Bob Emery – Boston College (1982-86)
Pro Scout Matt Mangene – Maine (2009-12)
Edmonton Oilers
Skills Coach Conor Allen – Massachusetts (2010-13)
Pro Scout Dani Rylan Kearney – Northeastern (2010-12)
Amateur Scout Scott Harlow – Boston College (1982-86)
College Scout Ron Anderson – Boston University (1969-72)
Los Angeles
Goaltending Development Coach Danny Tirone – New Hampshire (2014-18)
ECHL Head Coach/General Manager Chad Costello – Northeastern (2006-08)
Minnesota Wild
GM/President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin – Boston College (1989-91)
Assistant General Manager Chris Kelleher – Boston University (1994-98)
Head Coach John Hynes – Boston University (1994-97)
Associate Coach Jack Capuano – Maine (1985-88)
Pro Scout Mark Mowers – New Hampshire (1994-98)
ECHL Assistant Coach Brett Boeing – Michigan Tech (2015-16), Massachusetts (2016-19)
Montreal Canadiens
Head Coach Martin St. Louis – Vermont (1993-97)
Coach Consultant Roger Grillo – Maine (1982-84)
Director, Player Evaluation/Amateur Scout Billy Ryan – Maine (2004-08)
Assistant Director, Hockey Development Scott Pellerin – Maine (1988-92)
Player Development Consultant Marie-Philip Poulin – Boston University (2010-15)
Pro Scout Gordon Clark – New Hampshire (1971-74)
Pro Scout Teddy Purcell – Maine (2006-07)
Scout Mark Mullen – Boston University (2000-04)
Chief North American Scout Albie O’Connell – Boston University (1995-99)
Ambassador Chris Nilan – Northeastern (1976-79)
Ottawa Senators
Professional Scout Steve Stirling – Boston University (1968-71)
ECHL Assistant Coach Lily Martinson – Providence (2021-25)
Philadelphia Flyers
Special Advisor, Hockey Operations John LeClair – Vermont (1987-91)
Special Advisor, Hockey Operations Patrick Sharp – Vermont (2000-02)
AHL Head Coach Terrence Wallin – UMass Lowell (2011-15)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vice President, Player Personnel Wes Clark – Maine (2004-08)
Assistant Coach Nick Bonino – Boston University (2007-10)
Special Assignment Scout Kevin Stevens – Boston College (1983-87)
AHL Assistant Coach Nick Luukko – Vermont (2011-15)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Pro Scout Stephen Gionta – Boston College (2002-06)
Pro Scout Brian Putnam – New Hampshire (1993-97)
AHL Assistant Coach J.D. Forrest – Boston College (2000-04)
Utah Mammoth
Assistant General Manager John Ferguson – Providence (1985-89)
Pro Scout Eric Boguniecki – New Hampshire (1993-97)
Amateur Scout Teal Fowler – Merrimack (1989-93)
AHL Goaltender Development Coach Jeff Hill – Vermont (2004-08)
Vegas Golden Knights
Head Coach John Tortorella – Maine (1978-81)
Assistant Coach Dominique Ducharme – Vermont (1991-95)
European Scout Peter Ahola – Boston University (1989-91)
