As of Jan. 4, 2021 the National Hockey League’s training camp rosters are littered with NCAA products– 400 of them, in fact. But, no other school is represented more than the University of North Dakota, which can boast 25 alums spread out among the NHL’s 31 franchises.
Last season, 19 UND alums saw action in an NHL game with Austin Poganski (St. Louis) and Rhett Gardner (Dallas) making their NHL debuts. Those two gave North Dakota a total of 103 NHL players in its history.
Many former North Dakota players have found new homes this season as Drake Caggiula signed with the Arizona Coyotes while former UND teammates Jordan Schmaltz and Zane McIntyre are on tryout deals with the club, looking to join Nick Schmaltz. Troy Stecher inked a new deal with the Detroit Red Wings, Aaron Dell joined UND alum and former head coach Dave Hakstol (asst. coach) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Derek Forbort is a Winnipeg Jet and Paul LaDue has found a home in Washington with the Capitals. Add in 2019-20 graduates Colton Poolman (Calgary Flames) and Cole Smith (Nashville Predators) and a UND alum is a part of 17 different NHL training camps.
The shortened NHL season is slated for a Jan. 13 opening.
UND ALUMS ON 2021 NHL TRAINING CAMP ROSTERS (as of Jan. 4)
ANA Carter Rowney
ARI Drake Caggiula
ARI Zane McIntyre
ARI Jordan Schmaltz
ARI Nick Schmaltz
CGY Colton Poolman
CHI Jonathan Toews*
COL Tyson Jost
DAL Rhett Gardner
DET Troy Stecher
MIN Luke Johnson
MIN Zach Parise
NJD Travis Zajac
NSH Rocco Grimaldi
NSH Cole Smith
NYI Brock Nelson
OTT Christian Wolanin
STL Austin Poganski
TOR Aaron Dell
VAN Brock Boeser
WPG Derek Forbort
WPG Tucker Poolman
WSH Shane Gersich
WSH Paul LaDue
WSH T.J. Oshie
*not participating
