Granted, UMass isn’t exactly a powerhouse in the Hockey East conference. Starting play at the Division 1 level in the early 1990s, the Mass Attack aren’t quite yet on par with their contemporaries: Boston College, Boston University, University of New Hampshire, and Maine. As training camps conclude in Canada and the United States this week, we’ll take a look at former Minutemen on NHL rosters, and those vying for spots.
Jonathan Quick, Goalie (Los Angeles Kings) – Make no bones about it, Quick is the preeminent UMass alum in the NHL. The 2011-2012 season will mark his fourth in the NHL, and his third firmly entrenched as the Kings’ number one goalie. The 25 year-old Connecticut native has backstopped the up-and-coming Kings to two straight playoff appearances and sports a 96-66-12 career record with the Kings. Quick earned a Silver medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver with Team USA. He is the UMass Amherst career record-holder with a 2.40 goals against average or GAA and a .926 save percentage from 2005-2007.
Casey Wellman, Right Wing (Minnesota Wild) – In Wellman, the Wild find a more recent byproduct of Coach Toot Cahoon’s program at UMass. In 2010, Wellman, a California native, was signed as an undrafted free-agent by the Wild after the conclusion of his sophomore season. Per NHL rules, he was sent straight to the big league club, bypassing the minor leagues on his way to netting a goal and three assists for the Wild to finish out his 2010 season. Wellman split last season between Minnesota and the AHL’s Houston Aeros, adding another NHL goal and an assist to bring his career line heading to this year at two goals and four assists in 27 games.
Justin Braun, Defense (San Jose Sharks) – Braun was selected in the seventh round of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Sharks. However, he chose to complete his degree and finished out a four-year career at UMass with 23 goals and 65 assists. After his 2010 graduation, his rights were retained by the Sharks, who promptly sent him to their AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. Last season Braun, not unlike Wellman, split his time between the minors and the big league squad. He ended up potting two goals and dishing out nine assists in 28 Games. Expect him to start the year in Worcester and find his way to work on San Jose’s third line.
Outside of those three, only a handful of other Minutemen have a realistic shot at seeing time in the NHL in 2011-2012. Greg Mauldin, class of ’03, currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche, after seeing action with the team last year. He has the look of a fringe-NHL player, and currently has 10 points in 36 career NHL games with the Avalanche, the Islanders, and the Blue Jackets. Mike Kostka, Class of ’10, currently in the Florida Panthers organization, has no NHL appearances to his credit.
As far as Organizations go, the San Jose Sharks currently have four former Minutemen in their system. The New Jersey Devils are second, with three former Minutemen in their employ. We can only hope the former Minutemen will do UMass proud in their 2011-2012 seasons.
Mark Bruso can be reached for comment at [email protected]
