Worcester Hockey Alums Participating in Stanley Cup Final
When the NHL resumed play with the start of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on August 1st, 55 days ago, 24 teams had the chance to become the next Stanley Cup Champion. More importantly, nine former Worcester hockey alums were vying for the most coveted trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup. As we have seen the bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, the qualifying rounds, first rounds, second rounds, conference finals, and now the Stanley Cup Finals, four of the nine former Worcester hockey alums have a chance at saying “I am a Stanley Cup Champion.” Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde of the Tampa Bay Lightning as well as Joe Pavelski and Taylor Fedun of the Dallas Stars are looking to become Stanley Cup Champions for the first time in their career.
Barclay Goodrow, 27, skated with the Worcester Sharks during the 2014-15 season, appearing in six games registering four points (one goal, three assists) and also appearing in four playoff games during that year tallying one assist in four games. The 6-foot-2, 215lb forward spent his first six professional seasons with the San Jose Sharks organization from 2014-20 before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 23, 2020 in exchange for forward Anthony Greco and the Lightning’s 2020 first-round pick. Goodrow has been a staple in the Lightning’s run for the Cup, appearing in all 22 games this postseason tallying six points (one goal, five assists) along with 14 penalty minutes and a plus seven rating.
Joe Pavelski, 36, appeared in just sixteen games with the Worcester Sharks during the 2006-07 season, logging 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists). The 5-foot-11, 195lb forward spent 13 NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks from 2006-19 where he ranks third all-time in franchise history with 761 points (355 goals, 406 assists) in 963 regular season games. The Plover, WI native appeared in the playoffs 12 of 13 seasons with the Sharks, which included four trips to the Western Conference Final and one trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 when San Jose was defeated four games to two vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pavelski is tied for the playoff lead with 10 goals and has played in all 24 of the Dallas Stars’ playoff games totaling 16 points (10 goals, six assists).
Taylor Fedun, 32, spent just one season with the San Jose Sharks organization, skating in 7 games with San Jose during 2014-15 logging four assists and playing 65 games with Worcester tallying 34 points (six goals, 28 assists). The 6-foot-1, 200lb defenseman has not played in a game since September 2nd during the second round vs. the Colorado Avalanche. Fedun has appeared in 11 playoff games this postseason registering 14 shots, but only played 27 NHL regular season games with Dallas this year. Rules are rules… if Dallas wins the Cup and Fedun does not play in the Stanley Cup Final, it will be interesting to see if he gets his named engraved on the Cup or not. Time will tell.
Yanni Gourde, 28, is having quite the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ranking fifth on the Lightning in scoring with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in all 22 of Tampa’s playoff games. The 5-foot-9, 175lb forward spent parts of three seasons in Worcester from 2011-14, totaling 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 87 games. Gourde has been paired on a line with Barlcay Goodrow and Blake Coleman for all of the playoffs. In my opinion, this has been one of the best lines we have seen since it all started on August 1st.
Schedule For Stanley Cup Playoffs
Game #1, Saturday, Sep 19: Dallas (4) Tampa (1)
Game #2, Monday, Sep 21: Dallas (2) Tampa (3)
Game #3, Wednesday, Sep 23: Tampa (5) Dallas (2)
Game #4, Friday, Sep 25 8pm (EST)
Game #5, Saturday, Sep 26 8pm (EST)
Game #6, Monday Sep 28 8pm (EST)
Game #7, Wednesday Sep 30 8pm (EST)
