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University of Massachusets Athletics
Ten UMass Hockey Alumni Attending NHL Training Camps
September 15, 2017 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. - With National Hockey League teams reporting for preseason this week, the University of Massachusetts hockey program has 10 former Minutemen attending NHL training camps. The list includes seven individuals who played in the NHL in 2016-17: Justin Braun, Joel Hanley, Matt Irwin, Brandon Montour, Jonathan Quick, Conor Sheary and Frank Vatrano. William Lagesson, Shane Walsh and Oleg Yevenko round out the list.
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.
After spending the past two years with the Montreal Canadiens organization, Hanley signed a two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes this past July. Hanley appeared in 17 NHL games over two years with Montreal, including seven in 2016-17.
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.
Lagesson enters his first professional season after signing a three-year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers in April. The defenseman appeared in 63 games over two years with the Maroon and White and was one of just four Minutemen to appear in all 36 games during the 2016-17 season. He completed his UMass career with 15 career points on four goals and 11 assists, including a career best eight points (2g, 6a) in 2016-17.
Walsh begins his third season of professional hockey in 2017-18 and is attending Los Angeles Kings' camp. In 2016-17, the forward totaled 35 points on 14 goals and 21 assists over 54 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
After two years in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, Yevenko is attending Calgary Flames' camp this fall. The defenseman played in 49 games and logged five assists and 90 penalty minutes with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL in 2016-17.
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.
After spending the past two years with the Montreal Canadiens organization, Hanley signed a two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes this past July. Hanley appeared in 17 NHL games over two years with Montreal, including seven in 2016-17.
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.
Lagesson enters his first professional season after signing a three-year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers in April. The defenseman appeared in 63 games over two years with the Maroon and White and was one of just four Minutemen to appear in all 36 games during the 2016-17 season. He completed his UMass career with 15 career points on four goals and 11 assists, including a career best eight points (2g, 6a) in 2016-17.
Walsh begins his third season of professional hockey in 2017-18 and is attending Los Angeles Kings' camp. In 2016-17, the forward totaled 35 points on 14 goals and 21 assists over 54 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
After two years in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, Yevenko is attending Calgary Flames' camp this fall. The defenseman played in 49 games and logged five assists and 90 penalty minutes with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL in 2016-17.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@UMassHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
Players Mentioned
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