The Washington Capitals celebrated the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 44 years Thursday night, a feat made possible thanks to a variety of contributions from NCAA alumni.
Eight former college players skated with the Cup Thursday in Vegas, while general manager Brian MacLellan, an All-American at Bowling Green, and team president Dick Patrick, who played at Dartmouth, lead a large group of NCAA alumni in the Capitals’ front office.
NCAA Alumni to Win the Stanley Cup
Five of the players are in line to get their names on the Cup, four of them for the first time:
In addition to those five, Travis Boyd (Minnesota), Shane Gersich (North Dakota) and Pheonix Copley (Michigan Tech) skated with the Cup Thursday night.
With MacLellan, eight of the last 12 Stanley Cup-winning general managers have been NCAA graduates. NCAA alumni in the Capitals front office:
President Dick Patrick – Dartmouth (1965-68)
Sr. VP, General Manager Brian MacLellan – Bowling Green (1978-82)
Assistant Coach Todd Reirden – Bowling Green (1990-94)
Director, Hockey Operations Kris Wagner – Bowling Green (1993-97)
Director, Goaltending Mitch Korn – Kent State; Miami (Goaltending Coach)
Video Coach Brett Leonhardt – Oswego State, Neumann (2003-07)
Goaltending Coach Scott Murray – Lake Superior State (1999-2002)
Director, Player Personnel Chris Patrick – Princeton (1995-98)
Director, Player Development Steve Richmond – Michigan (1978-82)
Scout A.J. Toews – Northeastern (1996-98)
Asst., Hockey Operations H.T. Lenz – Vermont (2010-14)
AHL Assistant Coach Reid Cashman – Quinnipiac (2003-07)
AHL Assistant Coach Ryan Murphy – Boston College (2001-05)