THIS IS HOCKEY EAST
22
THIS IS HOCKEY EAST the NCAA title game at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hockey East Association enters its 38th season on the Hockey East has proven to be an equally strong presence off ice in 2021-22 as it has consistently proven as the strongest the ice and in the classroom. League athletes continue to demonNCAA Division I college hockey conference from top to bottom, strate their commitment to overall excellence, as the Hockey East boasting 118 NCAA Tournament berths, more than any other All-Academic Team honored a record 187 student-athletes for conference since Hockey East’s inception. More recently, outstanding academic achievement during the 2020-21 acaHockey East led the way at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft where demic year, including 18 players with perfect 4.0 GPAs during more of its athletes, current and committed, were chosen than a COVID-challenged academic season. any other conference once again. In 2021, the University of However, it is the quality of its individual players as leading Massachusetts captured its first-ever NCAA National Chamathletes that most sets Hockey East apart from the rest. Eleven pionship, the league’s 10th national crown. Hockey East players have won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hockey East has seen a steady rise to prominence since as the top player in college hockey, most recently Massachusetts’ its founding charter on July 11, 1983, when the possibility of sophomore defenseman Cale Makar in 2019, the first Minuteman an apparent Ivy League departure threatened the ECAC. In to claim the nation’s highest individual response, the athletics directors honor. Dozens more have been named from Boston College, Boston as finalists and hundreds of other Hockey 2021-22 PRESEASON POLL University, New Hampshire, NorthEast players have moved on to play in eastern and Providence unveiled the NHL. a new Division I men’s ice hockey Rk. Team Pts A total of 737 Hockey East student-athconference. Together, Bill Flynn 1. Massachusetts (8) 107 letes have been selected in the NHL Entry of Boston College, John SimpDraft in the 37-year history of the league, son of Boston University, Andy 2. Boston University (1) 95 and 94 Hockey East alumni appeared Mooradian of New Hampshire, Joe 3. Boston College (2) 89 on NHL rosters in 2020-21, more than Zabilski of Northeastern and Lou 4. Northeastern 86 any other college hockey conference. Lamoriello of Providence launched Annually, nearly one-third of all college 5. Providence 75 Hockey East with Lamoriello ashockey alumni that play in the NHL skatsuming the role of the league’s 6. UConn 66 ed in Hockey East. first commissioner 7. UMass Lowell 58 An impressive showing at the 2021 Later that summer, the Board of 8. New Hampshire 46 NHL Entry Draft, one which saw 17 curDirectors added the University of rent players and recruits selected in the Maine and the University of Low9. Merrimack 37 2021 National Hockey League Entry Draft ell (now UMass Lowell). Official 10. Maine 32 was once again the most of any college conference competition of the 11. Vermont 24 hockey conference and represent nearly seven-team league began with the one third of the 56 NCAA players and 1984-85 season. Soon after, the recruits chosen. league expanded to nine teams first-place votes in parentheses The draft concluded a record-breaking with the additions of Merrimack 2020-21 NHL season for Hockey East College (1989) and the University alumni. The Hockey East Association was of Massachusetts (1993). The enonce again the most well-represented try of the University of Vermont for college hockey conference in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 2005-06 season raised the conference membership to 10 as 108 league alumni, including 54 players, entered the NHL teams before Hockey East’s newest program, the University Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each of the 16 NHL clubs that qualified for of Connecticut, began league play in 2014-15. the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs boasted at least one Hockey East Hockey East has set new competitive standards for college alumnus on roster. Last season nearly 100 Hockey East alumni hockey success, annually compiling an impressive collective appeared in at least one NHL game, comprising nearly a third of winning percentage against non-conference opponents, inthe over 300 NCAA alumni who appeared in the NHL this season. cluding a record .705 during the 2002-03 season and a .669 The 2021 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning won win percentage during the 25th anniversary season of 2008with the help of three league alumni, including Vermont forward 09. Over the last 25 years, Hockey East has cemented itself Ross Colton (2016-18), who scored the championship-winning as the nation’s elite college hockey league, having earned goal. In addition, the Lightning employ Boston College’s Stephen 37 of the 104 berths in the NCAA Frozen Four and boasting Gionta (2002-06) as a pro scout and New Hampshire’s Brian ten NCAA title winners: the University of Maine in 1993 and Putnam (1993-97) as an amateur scout in its front office. 1999, Boston University in 1995 and 2009, Boston College in The reach of Hockey East continues to grow as new state2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012, Providence College in 2015, and of-the-art facilities are constructed, increasing capacities and Massachusetts in 2021. amenities for college hockey fans. In turn, fans have responded In its most impressive NCAA postseason showing, Hockey with over one million spectators coming out to watch Hockey East boasted three of the four Frozen Four participants in East teams during each of the past 15 years outside, except 1999, as Maine triumphed over UNH, 3-2, in overtime in an for 2020-21 when fans were not allowed in buildings due to the All-Hockey East final, the second time in five seasons that COVID-19 pandemic. had occurred. Hockey East has sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament in marking 18 times in the last 19 seasons that three or more Hockey East teams have qualified. In 2015, two of those squads, Boston University and Providence, clashed in
