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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TWENTY-TWO WCHA ALUMNI DOT NHL ROSTERS AS 2020-21 SEASON OPENS Nine current WCHA teams represented on 14 NHL squads

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Jan. 15, 2021 – Twenty-two alumni representing nine current Western Collegiate Hockey Association member institutions appear on rosters as the NHL opens the 2020-21 season.

The total includes 14 players on active rosters, six players on taxi squads and two on injured reserve. Fourteen of the 31 NHL teams feature at least one WCHA alum.

“We are so proud of the many accomplishments of our men’s WCHA student-athletes who have risen to the high-level success of the National Hockey League,” WCHA Commissioner Bill Robertson said. “The conference continues to produce top-level players and the WCHA is a solid foundation to their NHL careers. We wish them all nothing but success during this unique NHL season.”

Michigan Tech and State boast the most alumni with five players each. Bowling is next with four players while Bemidji State and Lake Superior State have two. Alabama Huntsville, Alaska, Alaska Anchorage and Ferris State are represented by one player.

WCHA Alumni on NHL Rosters Player Pos. NHL Team WCHA School G Alabama Huntsville Colton Parayko D St. Louis Blues Alaska Jay Beagle F Alaska Anchorage D Minnesota Wild Bemidji State Zach Whitecloud D Bemidji State F Bowling Green Mark Friedman D Bowling Green Andrew Hammond (TS) G Minnesota Wild Bowling Green Sean Walker (IR) D Bowling Green F Minnesota Wild Ferris State Buddy Robinson (TS) F Flames Lake Superior State Zach Trotman (IR) D Lake Superior State Pheonix Copley (TS) G Michigan Tech Tanner Kero F Stars Michigan Tech Jujhar Khaira F Oilers Michigan Tech Joel L’Esperance F Michigan Tech D Los Angeles Kings Michigan Tech (TS) F Minnesota State Teddy Blueger F Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota State Connor Mackey (TS) D Minnesota State Marc Michaelis (TS) F Minnesota State Tyler Pitlick F Minnesota State (IR)- Injured Reserve/ (TS)- Taxi Squad - MORE –

Four players are members of the Minnesota Wild, the most of any team in the NHL. Five teams - Calgary, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are home to a pair of WCHA players while Anaheim, Arizona, Chicago, Edmonton, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Vegas and Washington opened the season with one former WCHA player.

About the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s League The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, among the most historic, tradition-rich and successful conferences in all of collegiate athletics, is marking its 69th season of men’s competition in 2020-21. The 10-team NCAA Division I conference consists of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Chargers), the University of Alaska Anchorage (Seawolves), the University of Alaska (Nanooks), (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), Ferris State University (Bulldogs), Lake Superior State University (Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State University (Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University (Wildcats). For more information, visit wcha.com.

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