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University of Massachusets Athletics
Six UMass Hockey Alumni Earn Spots On NHL Rosters for Opening Night
October 05, 2017 | Hockey
Braun, Irwin, Montour, Quick, Sheary and Frank Vatrano all earned spots with their respective NHL clubs out of preseason camp.
AMHERST, Mass. – With the National Hockey League beginning the 2017-18 season last night, six University of Massachusetts hockey alumni landed on opening night rosters. Former Minutemen Justin Braun, Matt Irwin, Brandon Montour, Jonathan Quick, Conor Sheary and Frank Vatrano all earned spots with their respective NHL clubs out of preseason camp.
Braun is entering his eighth NHL season with the San Jose Sharks. In 2016-17, he appeared in 81 regular season games and logged 13 points on four goals and nine assists and was +1.
Matt Irwin made a run to the Stanley Cup final in his first season with the Nashville Predators in 2016-17 and is entering his sixth NHL season overall. The defenseman tallied 14 points on three goals and 11 assists in 74 games during the regular season last year with Nashville and logged a pair of assists over 22 games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Montour became the 14th former Minuteman to make his NHL debut when he cracked the Anaheim Ducks lineup on December 29, 2016. He appeared in 27 games with the Ducks during the regular season, contributing two goals and four assists, and also had seven assists over 17 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Quick, who missed significant time due to injury in 2016-17, is back for his 11th NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings. Over 17 games last year, the netminder logged a 2.26 goals against average and a .917 save percentage with a record of 8-5-2.
Sheary re-signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in August after winning his second Stanley Cup in as many seasons with the organization back in June. Sheary saw action in 22 of the Penguins' 25 postseason contests in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering two goals and five assists with three points (2g, 1a) in the Stanley Cup final. The former Minuteman captain became the first UMass player to post a 50-point season in the NHL in 2016-17, logging 23 goals and 30 assists for 53 points, including six game-winning tallies, and was +24 over 61 regular season contests.
Vatrano begins his third NHL season with the Boston Bruins in 2017-18. Despite missing time early in the 2016-17 campaign with an injury, Vatrano went on to post 18 points over 44 regular season games and added a goal, appearing in six postseason contests for the Bruins.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
Braun is entering his eighth NHL season with the San Jose Sharks. In 2016-17, he appeared in 81 regular season games and logged 13 points on four goals and nine assists and was +1.
Matt Irwin made a run to the Stanley Cup final in his first season with the Nashville Predators in 2016-17 and is entering his sixth NHL season overall. The defenseman tallied 14 points on three goals and 11 assists in 74 games during the regular season last year with Nashville and logged a pair of assists over 22 games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Montour became the 14th former Minuteman to make his NHL debut when he cracked the Anaheim Ducks lineup on December 29, 2016. He appeared in 27 games with the Ducks during the regular season, contributing two goals and four assists, and also had seven assists over 17 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Quick, who missed significant time due to injury in 2016-17, is back for his 11th NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings. Over 17 games last year, the netminder logged a 2.26 goals against average and a .917 save percentage with a record of 8-5-2.
Sheary re-signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in August after winning his second Stanley Cup in as many seasons with the organization back in June. Sheary saw action in 22 of the Penguins' 25 postseason contests in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering two goals and five assists with three points (2g, 1a) in the Stanley Cup final. The former Minuteman captain became the first UMass player to post a 50-point season in the NHL in 2016-17, logging 23 goals and 30 assists for 53 points, including six game-winning tallies, and was +24 over 61 regular season contests.
Vatrano begins his third NHL season with the Boston Bruins in 2017-18. Despite missing time early in the 2016-17 campaign with an injury, Vatrano went on to post 18 points over 44 regular season games and added a goal, appearing in six postseason contests for the Bruins.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
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