|
Stanley Cup winners from Division I hockey |
|
|
|
Everyone's engaged in an argument about hockey at one time or another where through attrition, tiredness, beverage consumption or pure lack of agreement on any particular point, it degenerates to the lowest common denominator: which team and/or player has won the most Stanley Cups.
I've found it's the same when considering discussions between the merits of Canadian juniors and American college as the best/quickest path to success in the National Hockey League. The chicken and the egg very rarely cross paths unless we're talking about special cases like that of Flyers goaltending prospect Anthony Stolarz or Blue Jackets forward prospect Sonny Milano.
I've decided to take some of the edge off and produce an exhaustive list of every single player from every university who have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup, broken down by college and number of players from each.
The "winner" is none other than the Big Ten's University of Wisconsin. The Badgers boast an amazing 12 different players who have gone on to win hockey's ultimate prize starting with Brian Engblom in 1979 during the last of four straight Cups won by the Montreal Canadiens.
Also on the ledger are Chris Chelios (1986 Canadiens, 2002 and '08 Red Wings), David Maley ('86 Habs), Gary Suter (1989, Calgary), Paul Stanton (1991-92 Penguins), Sean Hill (1993 Canadiens), Mike Richter (1994 Rangers), Bruce Driver (1995 Devils), Brian Rafalski (2000, '03 Devils and 2008 Red Wings) Steve Reinprecht (2001 Avalanche), Adam Burish (2010 Blackhawks) and Davis Drewiske (2012 Kings).
Quite appropriately, there is a tie for second place as Boston College and North Dakota each boast 10 Cup champions.
For the Eagles, it began with Joe Mullen (1989 Flames, 1991-92 Penguins), and progressed to Kevin Stevens (1991-92 Penguins), Brian Leetch (1994 Rangers), Bill Guerin (1995 Devils), Doug Brown (1997-98 Red Wings), Brian Gionta (2003 Devils), Ryan Shannon (2007 Ducks), Rob Scuderi (2009 Penguins, 2012 Kings), Brooks Orpik (2009 Penguins) and Ben Smith (2013 Blackhawks).
The Fighting Sioux have been represented by: Craig Ludwig (1986 Canadiens, 1999 Stars), Geoff Smith (1990 Oilers), Jay Caufield (1991-92 Penguins), Troy Murray (1996 Avalanche), Tony Hrkac and Ed Belfour (1999 Stars), Brad Bombardir (2000 Devils), Mike Commodore (2006 Hurricanes), Jonathan Toews (2010, '13 Blackhawks) and Matt Greene (2012, '14 Kings).
Minnesota clocks in at fourth, having trained eight different NHL champions. Mike Polich was the first, winning with Montreal in 1977, then there was a big jump to Frank Pietrangelo (1991 Penguins) before that Gopher magic showed its stuff. Chris McAlpine, Neal Broten and Tom Chorske all won with the '95 Devils, Ben Clymer found glory with Tampa Bay in 2004, Alex Goligoski hit the height of his career in Pittsburgh five years back and Nick Leddy was a 2013 victor in Chicago.
Bitter rivals Michigan and Michigan State each lay claim to seven titlists, but the Wolverines take the cake by counting the earliest Cup winner in their ranks: John Sherf of the 1937 Detroit Red Wings.
Other Maize and Blue winners of the Silver: Red Berenson (1965 Canadiens), Pat Hughes (1979 Canadiens, 1984-85 Oilers), Aaron Ward (1997-98 Red Wings, 2006 Hurricanes), Mike Knuble ('98 Red Wings), Blake Sloan (1999 Stars) and John Madden (2000, '03 Devils, 2010 Blackhawks).
Green and White knights of the oldest championship trophy in North America include Craig Simpson (1988, 1990 Oilers), Joe Murphy ('90 Oilers), Danton Cole (1995 Devils), Andrew Hutchinson and Rod Brind'Amour (2006 Hurricanes), Drew Miller (2007 Ducks) and Duncan Keith (2010, '13 Blackhawks).
Boston University, Minnesota Duluth and Vermont are next on the list, having each produced six different winners.
The Terriers ledger features Scott Young (1991 Penguins, 1996 Avalanche), Shawn McEachern (1992 Penguins), Ed Ronan (1993 Canadiens), Jay Pandolfo (2000, '03 Devils) and Joe DiPenta (2007 Ducks).
The Bulldogs' path to glory began with Chico Resch (1980 Islanders) and continued on with Dave Langevin (1980-83 Islanders), Tom Kurvers (1986 Canadiens), Derek Plante and Brett Hull (1999 Stars), Hull again in 2002 with Detroit and Shjon Podein (2001 Avalanche).
Burlington's pride includes John LeClair (1993 Canadiens), Eric Perrin and Martin St. Louis (2004 Lightning), Patrick Sharp (2010, '13 Blackhawks), Tim Thomas (2011 Bruins) and Viktor Stalberg ('13 Blackhawks).
At five each are New Hampshire: Rod Langway (1979 Canadiens), Dave Lumley (1984-85 Oilers), Norm Lacombe (1988 Oilers), Kevin Dean (1995 Devils) and Bryan Muir (2001 Avalanche), and Clarkson: Colin Patterson (1989 Flames), Erik Cole (2006 Hurricanes), Kent Huskins and Todd Marchant (2007 Ducks) and Willie Mitchell (2012, '14
Kings).
Bowling Green: Ken Morrow (1980-83 Islanders), Brian MacLellan (1989 Flames), Greg de Vries and Rob Blake (2001 Avalanche).
Lake Superior State: Brian Rolston and Jim Dowd (1995 Devils), John Grahame (2004 Lightning) and Doug Weight (2006 Hurricanes).
Notre Dame: Bill Nyrop (1976-78 Canadiens), Don Jackson (1984-85 Oilers), Brett Lebda (2008 Red Wings), Mark Eaton (2009 Penguins).
Providence: Steve Rooney (1986 Canadiens), Peter Taglianetti (1991-92 Penguins), Chris Terreri (1995, 2000 Devils), Hal Gill (2009 Penguins).
St. Cloud State: Frank Brimsek (1939 Bruins), Bret Hedican and Matt Cullen (2006 Hurricanes), Joe Motzko (2007 Ducks).
Miami (Ohio): Alec Martinez (2012, '14 Kings), Dan Boyle (2004 Lightning), Kevyn Adams (2006 Hurricanes).
Michigan Tech: Tony Esposito (1969 Canadiens), Bob Lorimer (1980-81 Islanders), Randy McKay (1995, 2000 Devils).
Alaska-Fairbanks: Shawn Chambers (1995 Devils, 1999 Stars) and Jordan Hendry (2010 Blackhawks).
Cornell: Ken Dryden (1971, 1973, 1976-79 Canadiens) and Joe Nieuwendyk (1989 Flames, 1999 Stars, 2003 Devils).
Denver: John MacMillan (1962-63 Maple Leafs) and Glenn Anderson (1984-85, 1987-88, 1990 Oilers, 1994 Rangers).
Princeton: George Parros (2007 Ducks) and Kevin Westgarth (2012 Kings).
St. Lawrence: Rich Peverley (2011 Bruins) and Brandon Bollig (2013 Blackhawks).
Western Michigan: Glenn Healy (1994 Rangers) and Jamal Mayers (2013 Blackhawks).
Alaska-Anchorage: Mike Peluso (1995 Devils).
Army: Dan Hinote (2001 Avalanche).
Bemidji State: Joel Otto (1989 Flames).
Colgate: Andy McDonald (2007 Ducks).
Colorado College: Doug Lidster (1994 Rangers).
Ferris State: Chris Kunitz (2007 Ducks, 2009 Penguins).
Gonzaga: Frank McCool (1945 Maple Leafs).
Harvard: Craig Adams (2006 Hurricanes, 2009 Penguins).
Maine: Dustin Penner (2007 Ducks, 2012 Kings).
Massachusetts: Jonathan Quick (2012, '14 Kings).
Minnesota State: Ryan Carter (2007 Ducks).
Northeastern: Chris Nilan (1986 Canadiens).
Northern Michigan: Dallas Drake (2008 Red Wings).
Ohio State: Jamie Macoun (1989 Flames, 1998 Red Wings).
RPI: Mike McPhee (1986 Canadiens).
UMass-Lowell: Craig MacTavish (1987-88, 1990 Oilers, 1994 Rangers).