BOSTON -- With the Dallas Stars opening their season tonight, the Northeastern men's ice hockey team boasts six alumni part of the 2020-21 National Hockey League (NHL) opening night rosters.
Zach Aston-Reese (2013-17) -- Pittsburgh
Forward Zach Aston-Reese scored his first two NHL goals Feb. 13, 2018 and had one assist in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games in his debut season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 57 games last season, the former Husky star totaled 13 points (six goals, seven assists). The New York native remains one of the most prolific scorers in Northeastern program history with 148 career points (66 goals, 82 assists).
Matt Benning (2013-16) -- Nashville
After finishing his fourth season with the Edmonton Oilers, defenseman Matt Benning ended his 2019-20 campaign with eight points (one goal, seven assists) and recorded a +8 rating in 43 games. He owns an all-time +33 rating in 251 career NHL games with 15 goals and 46 assists. Benning will be sporting a Predators jersey this year as the 26-year-old defenseman signed a two-year contract with Nashville as a free agent back in October. The former Northeastern assistant captain had nine goals and 47 assists during his time on Huntington Avenue.
Anthony Bitetto (2010-12) -- New York Rangers
Defenseman Anthony Bitetto scored his first NHL goal March 9, 2016, against the Calgary Flames, and made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut April 15, 2016, against the Anaheim Ducks. Bitetto played five seasons with the Nashville Predators (2014-2019) before the Minnesota Wild (2018-2019) claimed him on waivers. He became a free agent and signed with the Winnipeg Jets in July 2019 before joining his current team, the New York Rangers in October 2020. Bitetto has tallied two goals and 25 assists throughout his NHL career. During his time at Northeastern, Bitetto had seven goals and 48 assists in 72 games.
Adam Gaudette (2015-18) -- Vancouver
Forward Adam Gaudette put up 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 59 games played last season for the Vancouver Canucks. The Hobey Baker Award winner has 18 goals and 28 assists in 126 career NHL games. The Braintree, Mass. native played three seasons at Northeastern University where he scored 142 points (68 goals, 74 assists) in 116 games. As a junior, he led the NCAA in points (60) and points per game (1.62). Gaudette also won the Hockey East Player of the Year, was named to the America Hockey Coaches Association East First-Team All-American and ended his collegiate career as Northeastern's leader in power-player goals (32)
Josh Manson (2011-14) -- Anaheim
Defenseman Josh Manson finished with nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 50 games during the 2019-20 season for the Anaheim Ducks. The Illinois native blocked a total of 65 shots, third most by any player on his team, and laid down 113 hits. In 388 career NHL games, Manson has 21 goals, 76 assists and is a +40. One of the first recruits by Fernie Flaman Head Coach Jim Madigan, Manson helped lead the Huskies with six goals, 15 assists and a +12 in 99 career games.
Jamie Oleksiak (2010-11) -- Dallas
Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak finished last season with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 69 regular season games before going on an impressive playoff run where he tallied five goals and four assists while helping lead the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final. He previously totaled 11 points for the Pittsburg Penguins before being dealt in 2019 to the team that initially drafted him, the Dallas Stars. He was averaging 15:52 minutes of ice time in 36 games for the Penguins, showing off an impressive 11.4 shot percentage that was over two points higher than the league average. In total between the two teams, the blueliner tallied four goals and eight assists with a plus-five rating in 57 games. Oleksiak became the highest NHL draft pick in Northeastern program history in 2011 when he went 14th overall following his freshman year. In 313 NHL games, Oleksiak has 18 goals with 40 assists.
The Huskies overall had 14 alumni invited to NHL training camps this season: Aston-Reese (Pittsburgh), Benning (Nashville), Bitetto (New York Rangers), Jeremy Davies (Nashville), Matt Filipe (Boston), Gaudette (Vancouver), Tyler Madden (Los Angeles), Manson (Anaheim), Oleksiak (Dallas), Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Ryan Shea (Dallas), Dylan Sikura (Las Vegas), Nolan Stevens (St. Louis) & Brad Thiessen (Columbus).
Eight current Huskies have been drafted to NHL teams: Sam Colangelo (Anaheim), Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (Nashville), Jordan Harris (Montreal), Riley Hughes (New York Rangers), Michael Kesselring (Edmonton), Devon Levi (Florida), Aidan McDonough (Vancouver) and Jayden Struble (Montreal).
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