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Photo by: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Former Gophers Prepped for NHL Playoff Run
4/17/2023 12:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
14 competing for the Stanley Cup
MINNEAPOLIS - Fourteen former Minnesota men's hockey players are set to begin the 2023 National Hockey League playoffs as the quest for the Stanley Cup begins tonight at 6 p.m. Teammates from the Golden Gophers 2013-14 and 2014-15 teams, Hudson Fasching and Brady Skjei, battle against each other for the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively, in the first game of the playoffs.
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Erik Johnson is the latest representing the Maroon and Gold to hoist the NHL's ultimate prize when he won the title a season ago with the Colorado Avalanche. Alex Goligoski (2009) and Phil Kessel (2016 & 2017) also won the trophy in their careers with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a total of 12 former Gopher players or coaches hold the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion.
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Minnesota has sent an NCAA-record 123 players to the NHL in team history, including 26 this season alone, which is more than any other collegiate program. Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks) and Sammy Walker (Minnesota Wild) all made their professional debuts this year.
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Golden Gophers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Ben Meyers, Colorado Avalanche
Nick Bjugstad, Edmonton Oilers
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Alex Goligoski, Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Hudson Fasching, New York Islanders
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Justin Holl, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets
Nate Schmidt, Winnipeg Jets
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Golden Gophers on the Stanley Cup
Year     Player                             Team
1977     Mike Polich                     Montreal
1991     Frank Pietrangelo      Pittsburgh
1991Â Â Â Â Â Bob Johnson (Coach)Â Â Â Â Pittsburgh
1992Â Â Â Â Â Bob Johnson (Coach)Â Â Â Â Pittsburgh
1995     Tom Chorske                  New Jersey
1995     Neal Broten                     New Jersey
1995     Chris McAlpine              New Jersey
2004     Ben Clymer                     Tampa Bay
2009     Alex Goligoski                 Pittsburgh
2013     Nick Leddy                       Chicago
2016     Phil Kessel                       Pittsburgh
2017     Phil Kessel                       Pittsburgh
2020Â Â Â Â Â Todd Richards (Coach)Â Â Tampa Bay
2020     Erik Johnson                  Colorado
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Erik Johnson is the latest representing the Maroon and Gold to hoist the NHL's ultimate prize when he won the title a season ago with the Colorado Avalanche. Alex Goligoski (2009) and Phil Kessel (2016 & 2017) also won the trophy in their careers with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a total of 12 former Gopher players or coaches hold the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion.
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Minnesota has sent an NCAA-record 123 players to the NHL in team history, including 26 this season alone, which is more than any other collegiate program. Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks) and Sammy Walker (Minnesota Wild) all made their professional debuts this year.
Â
Golden Gophers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Ben Meyers, Colorado Avalanche
Nick Bjugstad, Edmonton Oilers
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Alex Goligoski, Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Hudson Fasching, New York Islanders
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Justin Holl, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets
Nate Schmidt, Winnipeg Jets
Â
Golden Gophers on the Stanley Cup
Year     Player                             Team
1977     Mike Polich                     Montreal
1991     Frank Pietrangelo      Pittsburgh
1991Â Â Â Â Â Bob Johnson (Coach)Â Â Â Â Pittsburgh
1992Â Â Â Â Â Bob Johnson (Coach)Â Â Â Â Pittsburgh
1995     Tom Chorske                  New Jersey
1995     Neal Broten                     New Jersey
1995     Chris McAlpine              New Jersey
2004     Ben Clymer                     Tampa Bay
2009     Alex Goligoski                 Pittsburgh
2013     Nick Leddy                       Chicago
2016     Phil Kessel                       Pittsburgh
2017     Phil Kessel                       Pittsburgh
2020Â Â Â Â Â Todd Richards (Coach)Â Â Tampa Bay
2020     Erik Johnson                  Colorado
Highlights: Gophers 5, Ohio State 6
Friday, December 05
Highlights: Gophers 6, Ohio State 3
Thursday, December 04
Highlights: Gophers 6, Denver 5
Saturday, November 29
Highlights: Gophers 1, Penn State 2
Saturday, November 22