USHL Alumni Competing for Stanley Cup
Published on May 29, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Chicago, IL - As the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils take the ice for Game One of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, there will be a USHL presence in the best-of-seven series. Four USHL alumni players and for the first time ever, one former USHL official are set to be part of hockey's biggest stage.
The Los Angeles Kings have five USHL alumni on their roster, the most of any NHL team this season. Three of those players have appeared in all 14 playoff games to help the Kings reach the Stanley Cup Final series for the first time since 1993. Defensemen Matt Greene (Green Bay Gamblers, 2001-02) and Alec Martinez (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2004-05) along with forward Trevor Lewis (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2004-06) have played key roles in leading the eighth-seeded Kings to four victories away from the organization's first Stanley Cup. Kings' forward Scott Parse (Tri-City Storm, 2002-03) and defenseman Davis Drewiske (Des Moines Buccaneers, 2003-04) have also played for the team this season but have not appeared in the playoffs.
Martinez and Lewis have championship experience as both were part of Clark Cup winning teams during their time in the USHL. Martinez helped the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders capture the first Clark Cup in team history in 2005 while he was just a 17-year-old before moving on to a college career at Miami University. One year later, Trevor Lewis led the Des Moines Buccaneers in scoring during both the regular season and the playoffs on the way to winning the fourth Clark Cup title in team history. A few weeks later, Lewis was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2006 NHL Draft by the Kings.
Both Martinez and Lewis could join elite company as only two former USHL players have won the Clark Cup before going on to also win the Stanley Cup - Gary Suter (Dubuque Fighting Saints, 1981-83) with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and Shjon Podein (Rochester Mustangs, 1986-87) with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.
On the opposite side of the ice in the Stanley Cup Final, New Jersey Devils forward Ryan Carter (Green Bay Gamblers, 2002-04) is looking to win hockey's most coveted prize for the second time as he was part of the Anaheim Ducks team that won the championship in 2007. Only two other USHL alumni have had their name etched on the Stanley Cup more than once - Brian Rafalski (Madison Capitols, 1990-91) was part of three championship teams, including twice with the New Jersey Devils (2003 and 2000) and once with the Detroit Red Wings (2008) while Ruslan Fedotenko (Sioux City Musketeers, 1998-99) won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2004). Carter followed his two seasons in the USHL with a two-year collegiate career at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Carter and Matt Greene were briefly teammates in the USHL as Carter played one game with the Green Bay Gamblers during the 2001-02 season before Greene would move on to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota the next season. That Gamblers team included another future Stanley Cup champion in Adam Burish who won the championship with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Regardless of the outcome of the series between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, it will mark the ninth consecutive season that a former USHL player will be part of the Stanley Cup champion. A total of 16 USHL alumni already have their name on the historic trophy.
USHL alumni who have won the Stanley Cup
Steven Kampfer (Sioux City Musketeers, 2004-06) - Boston Bruins (2011)
Adam Burish (Green Bay Gamblers, 2001-02) - Chicago Blackhawks (2010)
Patrick Sharp (Thunder Bay Flyers, 1998-2000) - Chicago Blackhawks (2010)
Mark Eaton (Waterloo Black Hawks, 1995-97) - Pittsburgh (2009)
Ruslan Fedotenko (Sioux City Musketeers, 1998-99) - Pittsburgh (2009), Tampa Bay (2004)
Alex Goligoski (Sioux Falls Stampede/Omaha Lancers, 2002-04) - Pittsburgh Penguins (2009)
Brian Rafalski (Madison Capitols, 1990-91) - Detroit Red Wings (2008), New Jersey Devils (2000, 2003)
Ryan Carter (Green Bay Gamblers, 2002-04) - Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Drew Miller (Omaha Lancers, 2002-03) - Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Joe Motzko (Omaha Lancers, 1998-99) - Anaheim Ducks (2007)
Erik Cole (Des Moines Buccaneers, 1996-97) - Carolina Hurricanes (2006)
Chad LaRose (Sioux Falls Stampede, 1999-2001) - Carolina Hurricanes (2006)
John Grahame (Sioux City Musketeers,1993-94) - Tampa Bay Lightning (2004)
Shjon Podein (Rochester Mustangs, 1986-87) - Colorado Avalanche (2001) *won 1987 USHL Clark Cup
Derek Plante (Madison Capitols, 1988-89) - Dallas Stars (1999)
Gary Suter (Dubuque Fighting Saints, 1981-83) - Calgary Flames (1989) *won 1983 USHL Clark Cup
The Stanley Cup Final series will also feature a first as referee Chris Rooney has earned the assignment to be part of the officiating staff for the championship series. He is the first former USHL official to work in the Stanley Cup Final.
United States Hockey League Stories from May 29, 2012
- USHL Alumni Competing for Stanley Cup - USHL
- Seeler Named to All-Rookie Team - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Gamblers Promote Pat Mikesch - Green Bay Gamblers
- Phantoms Forward Austin Cangelosi Named to 2011-2012 USHL All-Rookie Team - Youngstown Phantoms
- Cammarata, Wittchow Make Rookie Team - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Netminder Lyon Named to USHL All-Rookie Team - Omaha Lancers
- USHL Names All-Rookie Team - USHL
- Lancers Annual Tryout Camp Set for June 7-10 - Omaha Lancers
- Former Bucs in Stanley Cup Finals - Des Moines Buccaneers
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