Five Former Dartmouth Players Start 2014-15 With NHL Teams

HANOVER, N.H. – The National Hockey League (NHL) begins its 2014-15 season Wednesday night with four games scheduled across North America. With the announcement of all 30 teams' opening-night rosters, five former members of the Dartmouth men's hockey team saw their names listed.

In 2013-14, seven players who had once called Dartmouth home had appeared in the NHL, more than any other team in ECAC Hockey.

However, it isn't just in the NHL where former Big Green players will be making their mark in 2014-15. Several other professional leagues from both Europe and North America will see Dartmouth alumni suiting up this year.

Here is a complete breakdown of former Big Green players and their professional teams this season.

NHL
David Jones '08 begins his second season with the Calgary Flames, a team that begins the year Wednesday night at home against Vancouver. Jones might be in the same location, but he did make the switch from jersey No. 54 to No. 19 this season. He is set to play alongside 2014 Hobey Baker winner Johhny Gaudreau from Boston College in the season opener.

Beginning his second full season with the Anaheim Ducks is Ben Lovejoy '06. Dartmouth's only defenseman in the NHL ranks gets his 2014-15 campaign underway in familiar territory as the Ducks open the year in Pittsburgh on Thursday evening, a city where Lovejoy began his career, playing parts of five seasons with the Penguins before a trade to Orange County in 2013.

Lee Stempniak '05 and Tanner Glass '07 each made the move from Pittsburgh to the New York Rangers during free agency this July with signings two weeks apart. Both former Big Green captains will make their debut with the Broadway Blueshirts Thursday night in St. Louis against the Blues.

Like Stempniak and Glass, TJ Galiardi '10 also has a new home this fall as he made the jump from his hometown Calgary Flames to the Winnipeg Jets. Despite an eye injury suffered in the preseason that limited his play, Galiardi was named to the Jets' 23-man active roster when it was announced on Tuesday.

AHL/ECHL
Matt Lindblad '14 will start the year in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins after appearing in his first two career NHL games with Boston last year.

Former two-time captain Mike Keenan '13 was signed to a contract with the Orlando Solar Bears of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) following stints with Bridgeport (AHL) and Stockton (ECHL) in 2013-14.

Joe Stejskal '11 is also in the ECHL this year, making his debut with the Gwinnett Gladiators following a one-year stint with the Florida Everblades.

EUROPE
Making the move across the pond over the summer were JT Wyman '08 and Nick Johnson '08. Wyman will play for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in Germany, while Johnson signed with Sweden's Växjö Lakers. Both spent a majority of last winter with AHL teams as Wyman played for Lake Erie and Johnson was in Providence while appearing in nine games for the Boston Bruins.

Connor Goggin '13 also is in Europe, playing for Frisk Asker in Norway. Scott Fleming moved from the AHL to the EIHL and the Fife Flyers — the oldest professional hockey club in the United Kingdom. Also suiting up for Fife is Matt Reber '11, now in his second year with the team.

Hugh Jessiman '06 is in Austria after a season in Russia's KHL, playing this season in Vienna. Former teammate Grant Lewis '07 is back for a second season with EHC München after appearing in 47 games with the club a year ago.

Finally, Adam Estoclet '11 will be in his first season with Rungsted in Denmark after playing in Italy last year with Milan.

Schedules