Five former University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey players will take the ice for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Saturday, April 20. UMD is one of twenty NCAA schools to have multiple alumni competing. 

The Bulldogs are most represented on the Winnipeg Jets roster, with defensemen Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg, joined by forward Alex Iafallo. Both Pionk (5-28-33) and Iafallo (11-16-27) have played in all 82 regular season games for the Jets this season. Samberg totaled 18 points in 78 games. 

As the No. 2 Seed in the Central Division, Winnipeg will take on the No. 3 Colorado Avalanche. Game One is set for Sunday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. CT.

In the Eastern Conference, former Bulldogs Mikey Anderson and Carson Soucy will wear the LA Kings and Vancouver Canucks jerseys respectively. In 55 games for LA this season, Anderson combined five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. Carson (2-4-6) played 40 games for Vancouver. The two could meet in the second round for a battle of the Bulldog alumni. 

The No. 1 Pacific Conference seed Canucks begin the playoff campaign against the Nashville Predators on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. CT, following the Jets game. For the No. 3 Kings, they have to wait until Monday, April 22 to match up against the Edmonton Oilers, another 9:00 p.m. start.

The Bulldogs are also well-represented in the AHL. Potential playoff call-ups include Cole Koepke (Tampa Bay), Dominic Toninato (Winnipeg), Riley Tufte (Colorado), and Hunter Shepard (Washington). 

UMD has had seven former players hoist the Stanley Cup. Most recently, Matt Niskanen with the Washington Capitals (2018). He joined Brett Hull (1999, 2002), Tom Kurvers (1986), Dave Langevin (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984), Derek Plante (1999), Shjon Podein (2001), and Glenn Resch (1980). 

Three other alumni – Norm Maciver (Chicago Blackhawks Assistant General Manager; 2010, 2013, 2015), Tony Gasparini (LA Kings Amateur Scout; 2014), and Wayne Smith (Boston Bruins Director of Scouting; 2011) – were members of Stanley Cup Champion organizations.