UPDATE: This article was updated May 3 to reflect additional player recalls.
No fewer than 130 former NCAA Division I hockey players will be chasing the National Hockey League’s holy grail when the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway Monday.
Seven of the eight first-round series feature at least a dozen college hockey products (rosters as of May 1), topped by the combined 28 in the Penguins-Rangers showdown.
Rostered NCAA Alumni by Series:
28 – Pittsburgh (14) vs. NY Rangers (14)
18 – Boston (11) vs. Carolina (7)
16 – Nashville (5) vs. Colorado (11)
15 – Los Angeles (9) vs. Edmonton (6)
15 – St. Louis (7) vs. Minnesota (8)
14 – Washington (10) vs. Florida
12 – Dallas (6) vs. Calgary (6)
12 – Tampa Bay (5) vs. Toronto (7)
See the Matchups: NHL Matchup Tool
The Pittsburgh-New York series will also pit two sets of former collegiate teammates against each other: former Harvard defensemen John Marino and Adam Fox, as well as ex-Boston College teammates Brian Dumoulin and Chris Kreider.
Other series featuring former collegiate teammates facing off include:
In all, 40 NCAA schools had alumni see action for the 16 playoff teams during the regular season.
In addition to the 130 NCAA alumni listed on NHL playoff rosters, half of the 16 qualifying teams were assembled by general managers who played college hockey: Boston’s Don Sweeney (Harvard), Carolina’s Don Waddell (Northern Michigan), Florida’s Bill Zito (Yale), Los Angeles’ Rob Blake (Bowling Green), Minnesota’s Bill Guerin (Boston College), Nashville’s David Poile (Northeastern), New York’s Chris Drury (Boston University) and Washington’s Brian MacLellan (Bowling Green).
Four of the qualifying teams are coached by ex-NCAA standouts: Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour (Michigan State), Edmonton’s Jay Woodcroft (Alabama-Huntsville), Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan (Boston University) and Washington’s Peter Laviolette (Westfield State).
Take part in the NHL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win free College Hockey Inc. gear. Click HERE to join the College Hockey group and try to accurately predict the playoff bracket.