Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Cup Final Features 13 NCAA Alums

Cup Final Features 13 NCAA Alums
Jonathan Quick (left) and Zach Parise are among the former college players in the Stanley Cup Final.

For the 36th straight season, college hockey will be represented among the players who hoist the Stanley Cup. Between Los Angeles (six) and New Jersey (seven), 13 collegians have been among the regular playoff lineup for the two Cup finalists as they enter Game 1 of the series Wednesday in Newark, N.J.

Former Collegians on the Stanley Cup

Jonathan Quick and Zach Parise are among the Conn Smythe Trophy candidates, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the last two winners, Jonathan Toews and Tim Thomas, who both played college hockey.

You can find details on each player’s college background in our NHL Matchup Tool. Meanwhile, a few more notes on the NCAAers involved:

  • Both teams were built by men with college hockey backgrounds. Lou Lamoriello was the legendary Providence coach before moving on to the NHL. Hockey East – a conference he helped form – awards the Lamoriello Trophy to its tournament champion each year. Dean Lombardi played at Elmira College as a freshman before transferring to the University of New Haven and playing there. Both teams have extensive college hockey ties on their scouting staffs.
  • Rob Scuderi of LA is the one regular who won an NCAA title as a player, helping lead Boston College to the 2001 NCAA crown.
  • Eight colleges are represented among the 13 players.
  • Boston College, Miami and North Dakota are represented on both teams and assured of a Cup winner.
  • Jonathan Quick is seeking to become the first former UMass player to get his name on the Cup.
  • Several college teammates will face off: Matt Greene and Zach Parise played together (and were roommates) at North Dakota, while Travis Zajac and Greene were also teammates for a year. Andy Greene and Alec Martinez played together at Miami.
  • Stephen Gionta and Peter Harrold were classmates at BC; Harrold was the team captain as a senior while Gionta wore the ‘A’.

Related Stories

Former RedHawks to Meet in Stanley Cup Finals – MURedHawks.com
Former Roommates Parise and Green Go for the Stanley Cup – Grand Forks Herald
Zajac Proves Doubters Wrong – Grand Forks Herald
Quick’s Former UMass Teammates Enjoying his Playoff Success – Daily Hampshire Gazette