U SPORTS Players Still Going

The U SPORTS season came to an end a couple of months ago, but that doesn't mean that HBIC isn't keeping up with who is still skating for professional teams after logging time for a U SPORTS school. Lots of players move to teams across the planet, but a select few will land on ECHL, AHL, or NHL rosters and be contributors to a long playoff run just as Levko Koper, a former Alberta Golden Bear, did with the Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades last season. With U SPORTS gaining more traction as a place for teams to find good talent, there are a number of players who are still playing into late May who were once on a U SPORTS roster.

We'll look at the three leagues listed above - the ECHL, AHL, and NHL - since they're all still going. Some teams are on the verge of being eliminated while others are on the precipice of reaching their respective league's final, but the U SPORTS players who are contributing are certainly players who played well at the university level.

ECHL - Idaho Steelheads

The Steelheads hold a 2-0 lead over the Toledo Walleye in their Western Conference Final series after a pair of 3-0 wins on home ice. They have a few U SPORTS players contributing to their run, including:

• Colton Kehler - UBC Thunderbirds 2018-20
• Zane Franklin - Saskatchewan Huskies 2021-22
• Owen Headrick - UPEI Panthers 2018-22
• Patrick Kudla - Guelph Gryphons 2017-18

ECHL - Toledo Walleye

As mentioned above, Toledo trails the Steelheads 2-0 in their best-of-seven series with the series heading to Toledo, Ohio tonight. The only problem is that the Walleye have no U SPORTS players skating for them. I'm not saying that's the reason for them trailing in this series and have yet to score a goal, but the coincidences line up nicely.

ECHL - Newfoundland Growlers

The last Canadian team in the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs are the Newfoundland Growlers, and they trail the Florida Everblades 2-1 after winning 4-1 on Monday. Game Four goes tomorrow, but the Growlers do have a couple of AUS players, including:

• Tyler Boland - UNB Reds 2017-22
• Adam Holwell - StFX X-Men 2018-23

ECHL - Florida Everblades

The defending ECHL champions hold a 2-1 series lead over Newfoundland after winning both games at home to open the series including a double-overtime win in Game Two. The Everblades do have a few U SPORTS players skating for them, including:

• Andrew Fyten - Mount Royal Cougars 2019-23
• Kyle Neuber - Guelph Gryphons 2013-16
• Levko Koper - Alberta Golden Bears 2011-16
• Olivier Leblanc - UNB Reds 2017-20

AHL Teams

It's Hershey and Rochester in the Eastern Conference Final, and Coachella Valley and Milwaukee in the Western Conference Final. Two of the most successful AHL franchises in the history of the league meet in the east while the newest team in Coachella Valley meets one of the more successful IHL franchises that the AHL absorbed. The key for all of these teams? None of them have a U SPORTS alum skating for them in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

NHL Teams

After careful scouring of rosters, there is only one team who has a U SPORTS alum on their roster: the Vegas Golden Knights. As you probably know, Logan Thompson's time at Brock University as a member of the Badgers lasted just one season in 2018-19, but he made the most of it as he was named OUA Goalie of the Year. He's been injured during these playoffs, but his 37 games this season should earn him a little recognition and a ring if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup.

With Vegas being one win fron the Stanley Cup Final, we could have both a Stanley Cup champion alumnus and potentially a number of Kelly Cup champion alumni this season. Personally, a Florida-Idaho Kelly Cup Final would produce the most ECHL champions as both teams sport four former U SPORTS players, but we'll see how those series go in that ECHL bracket.

While I still feel that U SPORTS doesn't get the recognition it should, it's nice to see three of four ECHL teams with former U SPORTS players still in the mix while Logan Thompson is the lone U SPORTS alumnus in the NHL playoffs. Potentially, a number of schools could see a visit from either the Stanley Cup or Kelly Cup, but which schools will need to be decided by the players!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!