Apr. 19—GRAND FORKS — Troy Stecher won a national championship in junior hockey with the Penticton Vees.
He won an NCAA national championship with UND.
Stecher is about to, once again, chase the biggest prize of all — a Stanley Cup.
He is one of at least seven former UND players who are expected to suit up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Saturday.
Stecher plays for the Edmonton Oilers, who will play the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
The defenseman from Richmond, B.C., was a game away from lifting the Stanley Cup last season. The Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 in the final.
A trio of former UND teammates will chase the Cup with the Ottawa Senators — forward Shane Pinto and defensemen Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven.
Ottawa is making its first playoff appearance since 2017.
The Senators are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.
Two former UND players are on the Carolina Hurricanes — Tyson Jost and Jackson Blake. The Hurricanes are making their seventh-straight playoff appearance.
Carolina plays New Jersey in the first round.
Blake is awaiting his Stanley Cup Playoff debut. Jost last played in the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild in 2022.
Former Warroad High and UND star Brock Nelson will suit up for the Colorado Avalanche. Nelson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Avalanche this season.
Colorado plays Dallas in the first round.
Matt Kiersted recently played a pair of games with the Florida Panthers but was sent to American Hockey League-affiliate Charlotte this week.
T.J. Oshie is with the Washington Capitals but is on injured reserve. Tucker Poolman is in the same situation with the Colorado Avalanche.
GRAND FORKS — Troy Stecher won a national championship in junior hockey with the Penticton Vees.
He won an NCAA national championship with UND.
Stecher is about to, once again, chase the biggest prize of all — a Stanley Cup.
He is one of at least seven former UND players who are expected to suit up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Saturday.
Stecher plays for the Edmonton Oilers, who will play the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
The defenseman from Richmond, B.C., was a game away from lifting the Stanley Cup last season. The Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 in the final.
A trio of former UND teammates will chase the Cup with the Ottawa Senators — forward Shane Pinto and defensemen Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven.
Ottawa is making its first playoff appearance since 2017.
The Senators are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.
Marc DesRosiers / Imagn Images
Two former UND players are on the Carolina Hurricanes — Tyson Jost and Jackson Blake. The Hurricanes are making their seventh-straight playoff appearance.
Carolina plays New Jersey in the first round.
Blake is awaiting his Stanley Cup Playoff debut. Jost last played in the playoffs with the Minnesota Wild in 2022.
Former Warroad High and UND star Brock Nelson will suit up for the Colorado Avalanche. Nelson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Avalanche this season.
Colorado plays Dallas in the first round.
Talia Sprague/Imagn Images
Matt Kiersted recently played a pair of games with the Florida Panthers but was sent to American Hockey League-affiliate Charlotte this week.
T.J. Oshie is with the Washington Capitals but is on injured reserve. Tucker Poolman is in the same situation with the Colorado Avalanche.
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at [email protected].
