The National Hockey League is set to being their 2014-15 season on Wednesday, October 8th, and as the 30 NHL clubs finalized their opening night rosters, a total of 80 USHL alumni are among the players rostered by NHL teams.
At least one graduate of the USHL is on the active roster for 27 of the 30 NHL clubs, led by the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks who each have seven USHL alumni on their 23-man roster, which are the most USHL alumni ever to be on any single NHL team roster to begin the season.
Fourteen current USHL Member Clubs have at least one former player on a NHL roster to begin the 2014-15 season, led by Team USA with 11 alumni that previously competed in the USHL, 10 alumni each for the Omaha Lancers and Sioux Falls Stampede, and seven each for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Des Moines Buccaneers, Green Bay Gamblers, and Lincoln Stars.
Three of the USHL alumni on the opening rosters will be making their NHL debut when they take the ice, including a pair of players for the Boston Bruins. Brian Ferlin spent two seasons with the Indiana Ice (2009-11) and was selected by the Bruins in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft after finishing third in USHL scoring with 73 points (25g, 48a) during the 2010-11 season. Bobby Robins is a free agent signing of the Bruins, and the 32-year-old will make his NHL debut after 10-year professional career in the AHL, ECHL, and stops in Europe. Robins played all 60 games for the Tri-City Storm during the 2001-02 season, scoring 30 points (16g, 14a) and racking up 176 penalty minutes.
A third USHL alum set for his NHL debut is Montreal Canadiens forward Jiri Sekac who spent two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms (2009-11) and led the team in scoring with 45 points (18g, 27a) during the 2010-11 campaign. He signed a free agent contract with Montreal this offseason and will become just the third former Phantoms player to take the ice in the NHL.
In addition to the 80 former players on NHL rosters, one former USHL coach will be behind the bench as Jon Cooper begins his second full season as the head coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He led the Green Bay Gamblers for two seasons (2008-10), compiling an 84-27-9 record, two Anderson Cup titles, and one Clark Cup title.
While 80 USHL alumni are on the opening night rosters, more than 100 other graduates of the League are under NHL contract and could play in the NHL during the 2014-15 season. Last year, 112 USHL alumni appeared in the NHL, the most ever in a single season.
USHL Alumni on NHL 2014-15 Opening Rosters
Anaheim Ducks
John Gibson – Team USA (2009-11), Tim Jackman – Twin Cities Vulcans (1999-00)
Arizona Coyotes
Sam Gagner – Sioux City Musketeers (2005-06), Martin Hanzal – Omaha Lancers (2005-06),
David Moss – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2000-01), Connor Murphy – Team USA (2009-11),
Joe Vitale – Sioux Falls Stampede (2004-05)
Boston Bruins
Matt Bartkowski – Lincoln Stars (2006-08), Brian Ferlin – Indiana Ice (2009-11), Torey Krug – Indiana Ice (2008-09), Bobby Robins – Tri-City Storm (2001-02)
Buffalo Sabres
Zemgus Girgensons – Dubuque Fighting Saints (2010-12)
Calgary Flames
Brandon Bollig – Lincoln Stars (2005-08), Johnny Gaudreau – Dubuque Fighting Saints (2010-11)
Carolina Hurricanes
Justin Faulk – Team USA (2009-10), Nathan Gerbe – Omaha Lancers (2002-03),
Brad Malone – Sioux Falls Stampede (2006-07)
Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon Saad – Team USA (2009-10), Patrick Sharp – Thunder Bay Flyers (1998-00)
Colorado Avalanche
Nate Guenin – Green Bay Gamblers (2000-02), Zach Redmond – Sioux Falls Stampede (2005-07)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jared Boll – Lincoln Stars (2003-05), Corey Tropp – Sioux Falls Stampede (2005-07)
Dallas Stars
Erik Cole – Des Moines Buccaneers (1996-97), Alex Goligoski – Sioux Falls/Omaha (2002-04),
Jamie Oleksiak – Sioux Falls/Chicago (2008-10)
Detroit Red Wings
Justin Abdelkader – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2004-05), Danny DeKeyser – Sioux City Musketeers (2009-10), Drew Miller – Omaha Lancers (2002-03)
Edmonton Oilers
Jeff Petry – Des Moines Buccaneers (2005-07), Teddy Purcell – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2004-06)
Florida Panthers
Jimmy Hayes – Lincoln Stars (2007-08)
Los Angeles Kings
Matt Greene – Green Bay Gamblers (2001-02), Trevor Lewis – Des Moines Buccaneers (2004-06),
Alec Martinez – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2004-05)
Minnesota Wild
Keith Ballard – Omaha Lancers (2000-01), Stu Bickel – Sioux Falls/Green Bay (2004-07),
Christian Folin – Fargo Force (2010-11), Erik Haula – Omaha Lancers (2009-10),
Nate Prosser – Sioux Falls Stampede (2003-06), Thomas Vanek – Sioux Falls Stampede (1999-02), Jason Zucker – Team USA (2009-10)
Montreal Canadiens
Tom Gilbert – Chicago Steel (2001-02), Max Pacioretty – Sioux City Musketeers (2006-07),
Jiri Sekac – Youngstown Phantoms (2009-11), Jarred Tinordi – Team USA (2009-10)
Nashville Predators
Seth Jones – Team USA (2010-12), Craig Smith – Waterloo Black Hawks (2006-09)
New Jersey Devils
Scott Clemmensen – Des Moines Buccaneers (1995-97), Jon Merrill – Team USA (2009-10)
New York Islanders
Matt Donovan – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2007-09), Kyle Okposo – Des Moines Buccaneers (2005-06)
New York Rangers
Ryan Malone – Omaha Lancers (1998-99), J.T. Miller – Team USA (2009-11),
John Moore – Chicago Steel (2007-09)
Ottawa Senators
Alex Chiasson – Des Moines Buccaneers (2008-09), Erik Condra – Lincoln Stars (2004-05),
Eric Gryba – Green Bay Gamblers (2005-06), Patrick Wiercioch – Omaha Lancers (2007-08)
Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Read – Des Moines Buccaneers (2006-07)
St. Louis Blues
David Backes – Lincoln Stars (2001-03), T.J. Oshie – Sioux Falls Stampede (2004-05), Chris Porter – Lincoln Stars (2002-03), Jaden Schwartz – Tri-City Storm (2009-10), Paul Stastny – Omaha Lancers (2002-04)
San Jose Sharks
Justin Braun – Green Bay Gamblers (2004-06), Adam Burish – Green Bay Gamblers (2001-02),
Eriah Hayes – Waterloo Black Hawks (2008-09), Matt Nieto – Team USA (2009-10),
Joe Pavelski – Waterloo Black Hawks (2002-04), Alex Stalock – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2004-06), Tommy Wingels – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2006-07)
Tampa Bay Lightning
J.T. Brown – Waterloo Black Hawks (2008-10), Matt Carle – Omaha Lancers (2002-03)
Washington Capitals
John Carlson – Indiana Ice (2007-08), Jack Hillen – Tri-City Storm (2003-04),
Nate Schmidt – Fargo Force (2009-10)
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Stuart – Rochester Mustangs (1999-00), Jacob Trouba – Team USA (2010-12),
Blake Wheeler – Green Bay Gamblers (2004-05)
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 13th season as the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league in 2014-15. A record 35 players were chosen in the 2014 NHL Draft and more than 300 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s social media platforms, including Facebook (/ushlhockey), twitter (@USHL), and YouTube (/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com).
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
