Getting Cup Crazy
May 22, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Twelve members of Wisconsin men's hockey alumni have their names engraved on the sports' world's most celebrated trophy ' the Stanley Cup. A pair of Badgers who already have their names decorating the trophy have a chance to add their names for a third time with the start of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday.
Detroit Red Wings' defensemen Chris Chelios and Brian Rafalski have helped put the Red Wings into their first Cup finals since the team won in 2002.
Rafalski, who won the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003 with the New Jersey Devils, ranks fourth this season among NHL defensemen in playoff scoring with two goals and 10 points. Chelios, the oldest U.S. born player to ever skate in the NHL, won his two Cups in 1986 with the Montreal Canadiens and in 2002 with the Red Wings.
Detroit will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the finals. The Red Wings advanced to the finals with a 4-2 series victory over the Ryan Suter-led Nashville Predators in the first round, a four-game sweep over the Colorado Avalanche and a 4-2 series victory over the Dallas Stars and Brad Winchester.
Goaltender Wayne Thomas was the first Badger to be part of a Cup-winning team as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in 1973. Brian Engblom, currently a studio analyst for Versus' NHL playoff coverage, currently holds the most Stanley Cup rings among former Badgers with titles in 1977, '78 and '79 with Montreal. Dave Maley (1986) and Sean Hill (1993) have also won cups with the 'Habs.'
Rafalski's 2003 Cup is the most recent among former Badgers playing in the NHL, but in 2007, the Anaheim Ducks' Dave McNab earned his ring as the team's assistant general manager.
Other former Badgers with their names on the Cup include Steve Reinprecht (Colorado-2001), Bruce Driver (New Jersey-1995), Mike Richter (New York Rangers-1994), Paul Stanton (Pittsburgh-1991, '92) and Gary Suter (Calgary-1989). Former Badger coach Bob Johnson also coached Pittsburgh to the 1991 Stanley Cup championship.
The 2007-08 NHL season saw 19 former Badgers skate in at least one NHL contest. Of those 19, eight skated in a playoff game, including Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Minnesota 's Sean Hill, Calgary's Curtis Joseph, San Jose's Joe Pavelski, as well Nashville's Ryan Suter, Dallas' Winchester and Chelios and Rafalski for Detroit.
