GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Seven products of the University of North Dakota men's hockey program have qualified for the National Hockey League's 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which get underway tonight.  Five of the eight best-of-seven series will feature former UND players.

Tonight's games feature Jonathan Toews (2005-07) and the Chicago Blackhawks against the Nashville Predators, as well as Brock Nelson's (2010-12) New York Islanders versus the Washington Capitals.

Thursday's series openers will include Drew Stafford's (2003-06) Winnipeg Jets against the Anaheim Ducks, Taylor Chorney's (2005-08) Pittsburgh Penguins versus the New York Rangers, and T.J. Oshie (2005-08), Chris Porter (2003-07) and the St. Louis Blues against Zach Parise's (2002-04) Minnesota Wild. Former UND defenseman Rick Wilson (1969-72) is assistant coach with the Wild coaching staff.

Fifteen UND products have had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup, most recently Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene (2002-05) in 2014 and 2012, and Toews in 2013 and 2010.

UND's Stanley Cup Champions
Gord Sherven, Edmonton, 1983-84
Craig Ludwig, Montreal, 1985-86
Geoff Smith, Edmonton, 1989-90
Jay Caufield, Pittsburgh, 1990-91
Jay Caufield, Pittsburgh, 1991-92
Troy Murray, Colorado, 1995-96
Ed Belfour, Dallas, 1998-99
Tony Hrkac, Dallas, 1998-99
Craig Ludwig, Dallas, 1998-99
Rick Wilson, Dallas, 1998-99 (assistant coach)
Brad Bombardir, New Jersey, 1999-00
Mike Commodore, Carolina, 2005-06
Jonathan Toews, Chicago, 2009-10 (Conn Smythe Trophy winner)
Matt Greene, Los Angeles, 2011-12
Jonathan Toews, Chicago, 2012-13
Matt Greene, Los Angeles, 2013-14

Notes: Fifteen UND alums played in the NHL in 2014-15, the most of any National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) program. Among the 15 were Chorney, Matt Frattin (Toronto), Greene, Rocco Grimaldi (Florida), Corban Knight (Calgary, later traded to Florida), Brad Malone (Carolina), Andrew MacWilliam (Toronto), Nelson, Oshie, Parise, Porter, Stafford, Toews, Chris VandeVelde (Philadelphia) and Travis Zajac (New Jersey) … Grimaldi and MacWilliam both made their NHL debuts this season … Toews became the sixth UND alum to score 500 career points in the NHL, joining Dave Christian (773), James Patrick (639), Troy Murray (584), Parise (566) and Dennis Hextall (503) … Parise led the Wild in scoring with 62 points and his team-leading 33 goals gave him six 30-goal seasons, the most of any former UND player … Toews led the Blackhawks in points (66) and goals (28) and reached the 20-goal plateau for the eighth time in as many NHL seasons … VandeVelde received the Flyers' Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the team's most improved player. VandeVelde established NHL career highs for games played (72), goals (9), assists (6) and points (15) after having previously collected one goal and three assists in 46 games over his first four NHL seasons.