With the Stanley Cup Finals in full swing, the NHL has announced its awards for the 2024-25 season. Among the winners are three former NCAA DI hockey players: Connor Hellebuyck, Cale Makar and Lane Hutson.
Let’s take a look back at the college achievements and stats of these NHL stars.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, UMass-Lowell, 2012-2014
Connor Hellebuyck capped off a career-best season by winning his second consecutive Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender. He also won his first Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. He finished the 2024-25 season with career-bests in wins (47), goals-against average (2.00), save percentage (.925) and shutouts (8).
In college, Hellebuyck spent two seasons at UMass-Lowell, where he played 52 games and posted a 38–12–2 record. He collected several awards in his college career, including the 2012 NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional MVP, leading the River Hawks to the Frozen Four in his rookie season. In his second season, he received the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the most outstanding goalie in DI NCAA men’s ice hockey in 2013-14.
➡️ More Stanley Cup: former NCAA players in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final
Connor Hellebuyck’s stats in college:
| Season | Record | gaA | sv% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 20-3-0 | 1.37 | .952 | 6 |
| 2013-14 | 18-9-2 | 1.79 | .941 | 6 |
| TOTAL | 38-12-2 | 1.60 | .946 | 12 |
Cale Makar, D, UMass, 2017-2019
Cale Makar posted career highs in points (92) and goals (30) on his way to winning his second James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. His 2024-25 campaign marks the first time a defenseman has scored 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09. Makar also becomes just the fifth NHL defenseman to record back-to-back 90-point seasons.
Makar also finished third in voting for the Ted Lindsay Memorial trophy for the league’s most outstanding player as voted by the NHL Players’ Association.
Cale Makar has been collecting hardware since his college days at UMass Amherst. In his sophomore season, Makar won Hockey East Player of the Year and the 2019 Hobey Baker Award and was selected for the Hockey East First All-Star Team.
▶️ Watch Cale Makar’s 2019 Frozen Four highlights
Cale Makar’s stats in college:
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 34 | 5 | 16 | 21 |
| 2018-19 | 41 | 16 | 33 | 49 |
| TOTAL | 75 | 21 | 49 | 70 |
Lane Hutson, D, Boston University, 2022-2024
Lane Hutson’s excellent skating and offensive skills transitioned seamlessly to the NHL level, helping him to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2024-25. Hutson led all rookies in scoring with 66 points and helped the Montreal Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020-21.
Hutson’s smooth and creative play style made him a hot prospect to watch in his two seasons at Boston University. He was twice named a First Team All-American and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was also a two-time Hockey-East First Team All-Star, among several other honors.
Lane Hutson’s stats in college:
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 39 | 15 | 33 | 48 |
| 2023-24 | 38 | 15 | 34 | 49 |
| TOTAL | 77 | 30 | 67 | 97 |
