Former DU Players With Stanley Cup Ties

(above) DU alum and NHL Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson won the Stanley Cup six times

With Boston's Stanley Cup victory last night it brings up University of Denver alumni with connections to the Stanley Cup.  For all DU's success on the ice in college hockey, the Stanley Cup has remained an elusive prize for DU Alums.

DU alum and NHL Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson won six Stanley Cup as a player with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers..

DU star John MacMillan played on two Stanley Cup winning teams in Toronto in the early Sixties  and has his name engraved on the Cup. MacMillan is the only DU player to ever win a National Championship at DU and a Stanley Cup.  He won each twice.

DU alum Ron Grahame's son and wife's names are engraved on the Cup.

Incoming Freshman forward Larkin Jacobson's step-father Ruslan Fedotenko has won it twice.

Former DU coach Ralph Backstrom won the Cup six times with Montreal.

Former DU player and head coach Marshall Johnston's name is engraved for being the Director of Pro Personnel for Carolina Hurricanes in 2005.

Former DU star Craig Patrick's name is on the Cup twice as General Manager of the Penguins in '91 & '92. Craig also won two National Championships at DU.  He is probably best remembered for being Herb Brook's assistant coach on the Miracle on Ice Team in 1980.  Craig's father and grandfather are also engraved on the Cup.  All three of them are NHL Hall of Famers.

DU star and current head coach of the Florida Panthers, Kevin Dineen, doesn't have his name on the Cup yet, but one of his brothers and father are on there.

Former DU Captain, Paul Messier's little brother Mark, won the Cup six times.

Former DU player Keith Seabrook's older brother Brent won the Cup with Chicago last season.

DU Alum Patrick Mullen is the son of 3-time Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Famer, Joe Mullen.

Former DU player Alex Shibicky's father, also Alex, won the Cup with the Rangers in 1940.

Danny Talbot's father, Jean-Guy, won 7 Stanley Cups with Montreal between 1956 and 1966.

Jim Bales uncle, Bobby Taylor, won 2 Cups with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975.

Brian Morenz's distant cousin was NHL Hall of Famer Howie Morenz who won 3 Cups with Montreal.

Jim Wiste, Keith Magnuson, Peter McNab & Matt Carle lost Stanley Cup finals.  Peter McNab's father and brother are engraved on the Cup.

There may be others....

Tyler Bozak To Center 1st Line In Toronto

(above) Just one year after leaving DU, Tyler Bozak is the first line center for the Toronto Maple Leafs

From: The Star
by Damien Cox

When Tyler Bozak was eligible for the NHL draft, no team was willing to waste even a low-round pick on him. Clubs were aware of him, just not interested. He left his hometown for Tier Two hockey in B.C., hoping it would help him get to a U.S. college. At the University of Denver, he was viewed as a skilled, smart player, but the stats weren’t overwhelming.

When Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke first saw him perform in a big rivalry game against Colorado College, he came away thoroughly unimpressed.

“He was terrible,” recalled Burke. “A really tough night.”

Yet here we are, poised to begin the 2010-11 NHL season, just 18 months after the talent-hungry Leafs outbid other clubs to sign Bozak as an unrestricted free agent, and Bozak, now 24, will begin the campaign as a No. 1 center in hockey’s best league.

Hard to believe, really. And, until Bozak proves he can do it, hard to believe for the simple reason it may yet prove to be a job this young man can’t fill.

Bozak is the great wild card of this Leaf season, more than how Dion Phaneuf will fit as team captain, more than how long it will take Nazem Kadri to work his way back to the NHL.

Throughout the pre-season, and in glimpses last season, Bozak has shown undeniable evidence of impressive skill and the fact he is one heady hockey player. At the same time, he is a No. 1 center in the NHL by default because he signed with a club that has no bona fide options.

If he can deliver, he will be that rarest of hockey breeds, one that slipped through the cracks not just to find his way to the NHL, but find his way there and become a high-end, big-money player.

It has happened before. There was, of course, Adam Oates, who signed as a college UFA back in 1985 with the Red Wings and went on to become a prolific playmaker. Andy McDonald went undrafted and was signed out of Colgate by Anaheim, and when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007, McDonald centred their top line.

Then there’s the story of Steve Rucchin. Anaheim talent sleuth Dave McNab found the 23-year-old Rucchin at the University of Western Ontario and convinced the Ducks to take him in the 1994 supplemental draft. With, coincidentally, Ron Wilson providing daily encouragement as his first NHL coach, Rucchin blossomed into a consistent 20-goal, 60-point pivot.

In six exhibition games this fall, Bozak had two goals, two assists and a plus-2. He is already the team’s best defensive centre, has looked like an old pro between Kris Versteeg and Phil Kessel, isn’t easily panicked by checking pressure and appears to be a young player confident he is where he belongs.

“It was my goal. When I came here, I wanted to be on the top line. I wanted to play on the power play,” he said. “I’ve always been told I thought the game pretty well, and I think a lot of what happens in this league is you’ve got to be quick, and you’ve got to think quickly.”

He doesn’t need to shock the world and immediately be a 100-point man. Something on the order of 50-60 points would be more than acceptable.

That said, we’re beyond first impressions. The kid can play. Now, he’s got to produce.

DU Hockey Legends

Peter McNab
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In a week when the Pioneers play the Badgers, we look back on one of DU's greatest players who matched up against Wisconsin in the 1973 National Championship game.

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In three seasons for the Pioneers, Center Peter McNab scored 78 goals and 170 points and led DU to three NCAA appearances, two WCHA titles, three WCHA playoff titles and was a WCHA All-Star. To this day, he remains one of the most revered players to ever put on a Pioneer jersey. But it was his exploits in the NHL that stamped McNab as one of the all time greats.

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Peter McNab was blessed with quick hands and a natural feel for the game, which enabled him to play over 950 NHL games during the 1970s and '80s. A consistent producer, the 6'3" centre reached the 20-goal mark ten times in an exemplary career.

Born in Vancouver, B.C., the son of Max McNab was chosen 85th overall by the Buffalo Sabres after three fine years at the University of Denver. He recorded a pair of 20-goal seasons for the club and helped them reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1975. Prior to the 1976-77 season, he was sent to the Boston Bruins as compensation for the Sabres' signing of free agent Andre Savard.

McNab enjoyed nearly nine full years in Beantown. He hit the 40-goal mark twice and was a key figure on the power play. His ability to hold his position in the slot and score his share of "garbage" goals was similar to former Bruins star Phil Esposito. During the late '70s, he formed an excellent forward unit with Terry O'Reilly and Rick Middleton and helped Boston reach the finals in 1977 and 1978.

Late in the 1983-84 season, McNab was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for grinding forward Jim Nill. He scored 23 goals in 1984-85 while forming a solid line with Cam Neely and Moe Lemay. Prior to the 1985-86 season, McNab was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Devils. He scored 19 goals that year then played for the U.S. at the World Championships. The veteran pivot retired in 1987 after playing 46 games for the Devils.

Peter began his broadcasting career for the New Jersey Devils during the 1987-88 season with SportsChannel, which won an Emmy that year for broadcasting excellence. After eight years on the New Jersey airwaves, McNab headed to Colorado for the inaugural season of the Colorado Avalanche.

Peter is in his 11th season as the Colorado Avalanche’s television color analyst, lending his hockey expertise and a unique perspective of the game of hockey. Regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic color analysts in the game, McNab brings 14 years of NHL playing experience to the Avalanche broadcasts.

PRE NHL DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Denver Records: Most goals in a period (4 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971, record shared), most points in a period (5 vs. Colorado College on November 13, 1971 -- 4G, 1A)

Miscellaneous: Moved from Vancouver to San Diego at age 14 when his father took job as coach and general manager of the San Diego Gulls (WHL). ... An outstanding baseball player, he entered Denver on a baseball scholarship and later made hockey team

NHL AWARDS AND HONORS
All-Star Game: 1977
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1975 (Buffalo), 1977 (Boston), 1978 (Bos.)
NHL Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Records: Most points in period of playoff game (4 at Buffalo on April 11, 1982; 1G, 3A) (record shared)
Boston Goals Leader: 1976-77 (38), 1977-78 (41), 1979-80 (40, tie)
Boston Playoffs Points Leader: 1980 (14 points)
Boston Playoffs Goals Leader: 1980 (8 goals), 1981 (3 goals)
Boston Playoffs Assists Leader: 1978 (11 assists, tie)

NON-NHL AWARDS AND HONORS

WCHA All-Star First Team: 1972-73 (Denver)
NCAA All-Tournament Team: 1973 (Denver) (later vacated)
WHA Draft Pick: 1972 (by New York)

Miscellaneous: Led all scorers in points while playing for Denver in 1973 NCAA Tournament, but team was ruled ineligible after the event, and his all-tournament selection as well as all other records were vacated. ... Officially became a U.S. citizen in August 1985.

Personal: Son of former NHL player and executive Max McNab. ... Older brother of NHL executive David McNab. ... Husband of Diana McNab, a psychology professor at Denver University. ... Father of U.S. women's college soccer player Shanon McNab. ... Also known as Pete McNab during his playing days.

Compiled by du78 from The Legends of Hockey, Colorado Avalanche website, hockeydraftcentral.com

Puck Swami's Ranking of Most Famous DU Athletes in History

(Left) Penguins GM Craig Patrick at the NHL's Draft Lottery Board

1. Keith Magnuson (Hockey) - Two time Denver all-American defenseman who won two NCAA titles with Pioneers in 1968 and 69 and went on to long career with Chicago Blackhawks as both a player and coach. Best known of the 50+ NHL players to come out of Denver. Died in 2003 car crash.

2. Glenn Anderson (Hockey) - Played in 1979 for Denver and Canadian Olympic team and went on to a 500+point NHL career, mostly with the Edmonton Oilers glory teams of their Stanley Cup era in the 1980s.

3. Craig Patrick (Hockey) - Captain of an NCAA title team in 1969 with Denver, Patrick played in the NHL for many years, was the assistant coach of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Gold Medal US Hockey team, became AD at Denver, GM of the New York Rangers and is now president and GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

4. Dan Schatzeder (Baseball) - Former Pioneer pitching and hitting star turned journeyman pitcher for a number of MLB teams for 15 years, but won a World Series Ring with the Minnesota Twins (1987). Best known of Denver's six players to make it to major league baseball.

5. Vince Boryla (Basketball) - Was an All-American at Denver in 1949-50 and went on to become a US Olympic and NBA player, head coach and GM all with the New York Knicks, as well as an basketball executive with other teams. Best known of the 5 DU players to play in the NBA.

6. Kevin Dineen (Hockey) - Former Pioneer captain played 20+ years in the NHL, including all-star years with Hartford and Philadelphia. Retired in 2003.

7. Sam Etcheverry (Football) - Was a star QB for many years in the Canadian Football League from the 50s to the 70s and is a member of the CFL Hall of Fame. Brief NFL Stint with St. Louis Cardinals. Probably DU's best known football player.

8. Jerome Biffle (Track and Field) - DU's 1950 NCAA long jump champion who won 1952 Olympic Long Jump Gold Medal at Helsinki Olympics (24 feet, 10 inches). Died in 2002 after three decades coaching at Denver's East High School.

9. Peter McNab (Hockey) - Played long career with Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. Now Broadcaster for Colorado Avalanche

10. Byron Beck (Basketball) - Shooter played 10 years for Denver Nuggets in both ABA and NBA. Had his number retired by the Nuggets.

Honorable Mentions:
DU Basketball: David Adkins is a former Pioneer basketball player now known as "Sinbad" -- a moderately famous comedian. Former DU coach Stan Albeck coached at DU and later with San Antonio, New Jersey and Chicago in the NBA. Current San Antonio coach Greg Popovich has a masters' degree from DU. Denver's NBA players include Byron Beck (Denver Nuggets), Vince Boryla (NY Knicks) Jimmy Darden (Denver Nuggets) Don Putnam (St. Louis Bombers) Winfred Jacobs (St. Louis Bombers) and Bob Warlick (Detroit Pistons, San Fran Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns). Misa Pavlickova played in WNBA (Utah Starzz and Phoenix Mercury) and for the Czech Republic in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

DU Baseball: Six DU players have made it to the big leagues. Henry Bostick (Philadelphia As), Ray Boggs (Boston Braves), Jack Tising (Pittsburgh Pirates) Steve Blateric (Cincinnati Reds, NY Yankees and California Angels), Craig Stimac (San Diego Padres) and Dan Schatzeder (Expos, Tigers, Giants, Phillies, Twins, Indians, Astros, Mets and Royals).

DU Hockey's NHLers: DU has produced about 50 NHLers including Keith Magnuson, Glenn Anderson, Craig Patrick, Kevin Dineen, Peter McNab, Bill Masterton, Bruce Affleck, Erik Andersson, Adam Berkhoel, Doug Berry, Ken Berry, Lyle Bradley, Matt Carle (Current), Cliff Korroll, Pete Lo Presti, Ron Grahame, Rich Preston, Marshall Johnston, Ed Beers, Rick Bragnalo, Mike Busniuk, Mike Christie, Antti Laaksonen (Current), Paul Comrie, Ed Cristofoli, Wade Dubielewicz, Dallas Gaume, Lex Hudson, Chris Kenady, George Konik, Mike Lampman, Jim Leavins, John MacMillan, Tom Martin, Dwight Mathiasen, Derek Mayer, Paul Messier, Gavin Morgan, Rob Palmer, Matt Pettinger (Current), Craig Redmond, Mark Rycroft (Current), Wayne Smith, Paul Stastny (Current), Vic Venasky, Bob Shires, Jim Wiste, Joe Noris, Tom Miller, George Morrison, Lynn Powis

DU's NFL players - Bob Balog (1949 - 1950 Pittsbugh Steelers), Greg Browning (1947 NY Giants), Fred Dreher (1938 Chicago Bears), Sam Etcheverry (1961 - 1962) (St. Louis Cardinals), Tom Fena (1937 Detroit Lions), Bob Gifford (1942 Brooklyn Dodgers), Bob Hazelhurst (1948 Boston Yanks), Ray Johnson (1937 - 1940) (Cleveland Rams, Chi Bears, Chi Cardinals), Mike Jurich (1941 - 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers), Don Stansauk (1950 - 1951 Green Bay Packers), Morgan Tiller (1941 - 1945) (Pittsburgh Steelers, Boston Yanks), John Woudenberg (1940 - 1949) (Pittsburgh Steelers, SF 49ers)

DU Soccer - Nat Borchers plays for the Colorado Rapids, and has appeared with the US National Team.

Administration - Lyman Bingham was the a star multisport athlete at DU from 1911-1915, and eventually become the first executive director of the US Olympic Committee in 1950.