.png&type=webp){kind=icon}
University of Massachusets Athletics
Three Former Minutemen Set to Begin Stanley Cup Quests
April 12, 2016 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. - With the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs opening up on Wednesday night, three Massachusetts hockey alumni will begin their quests to hoist the cup with their current NHL squads. Former Minutemen captain Conor Sheary will be in action with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Rangers, while two more former UMass greats will square off in the first round as Justin Braun's San Jose Sharks will face Jonathan Quick's Los Angeles Kings.
Sheary is making his first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after being called up halfway through the season from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In the regular season with the Penguins (NHL), he played in 44 games, recording seven goals and three assists for a total of 10 points. The 2014 UMass grad was one of the top point producers in the AHL during the postseason in 2014 with 11 points (6g, 5a) over 15 games and continued the torrid scoring pace in the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs with 12 points (5g, 7a) in eight games.
Quick has reached the postseason for the sixth time in his NHL career with the Kings. The former Minutemen netminder finished the regular season ranked first among goaltenders in games played (68 games) and minutes played (4,043 minutes), while ranking second with 40 regular season wins. Quick has won two previous Stanley Cups with the Kings in his career (2012, 2014) and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2012.
Braun has reached the postseason for the fifth time in his career in San Jose. He ranks second among Sharks' defensemen in blocked shots (139) and recorded his first career multi-goal game vs. former Minutemen and teammate, Jonathan Quick and the Kings on 3/28.
|
Conor Sheary (UMass Years: 2010-14) - Pittsburgh Penguins
|
|||
|
Regular Season Statistics:
|
44 GP, 7 G, 3 A, 10 Pts, 8 PIM, -1
|
||
|
First Round Playoff Schedule
|
|||
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Time (ET) | TV
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 13
|
NYR at PIT
|
8 p.m. | USA Network
|
|
|
Saturday, April 16
|
NYR at PIT
|
3 p.m. | NBC
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 19
|
PIT at NYR
|
7 p.m. | USA Network
|
|
|
Thursday, April 21
|
PIT at NYR
|
TBD | Sportsnet
|
|
|
Saturday, April 23
|
NYR at PIT (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|
|
Monday, April 25
|
PIT at NYR (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 27
|
NYR at PIT (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|
|
Justin Braun (UMass Years: 2006-10) - San Jose Sharks
Jonathan Quick (UMass Years: 2005-07 ) - Los Angeles Kings
|
|||
|
Regular Season Statistics:
|
Braun: 80 GP, 4 G, 19 A, 23 Pts, 36 PIM, +11
Quick: 68 GP, 3 A, 2.22 GAA, 5 SO, 40 W, 23 L, 0.918 PCT
|
||
|
First Round Playoff Schedule
|
|||
|
Date
|
Opponents
|
Time (ET) | TV
|
|
|
Thursday, April 14
|
SJS at LAK
|
10:30 p.m. | CNBC
|
|
|
Saturday, April 16
|
SJS at LAK
|
10:30 p.m. | NBCSN
|
|
|
Monday, April 18
|
LAK at SJS
|
10:30 p.m. | NBCSN
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 20
|
LAK at SJS
|
10:30 p.m. | USA Network
|
|
|
Friday, April 22
|
SJS at LAK (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|
|
Sunday, April 24
|
LAK at SJS (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 26
|
SJS at LAK (If Nec.)
|
TBD
|
|