With the Stanley Cup Finals in full swing, the NHL has announced its awards for the 2024-25 season. Among the winners were three former NCAA DI hockey players: Connor Helleick, Cale Makar and Lane Hutson.
Let’s take a look back at the college accomplishments and stats of these NHL stars.
Connor Hellebuyck, G, UMass-Lowell, 2012-2014
Connor Hellebuyck capped the best season of his career by winning his second Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top 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, appearing in 52 games and posting a 38-12-2 record. He collected several awards during his collegiate career, including being the MVP of the 2012 NCAA Tournament Northeast Region and leading the River Hawks to the Frozen Four in his rookie season. In his second season, he won the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the 2013-14 DI NCAA Men’s Hockey Goaltender of the Year.
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Connor Hellebuyck’s College Stats:
| 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 had career highs in points (92) and goals (30) en route to his second James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman. His 2024-25 campaign is the first time a defender has scored 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09. Makar also became the fifth NHL defenseman to record consecutive 90-point seasons.
Makar also finished third in voting for the Ted Lindsay Memorial Trophy for the league’s most outstanding player in voting by the NHL Players’ Association.
Cale Makar has been collecting hardware since he was in college at UMass Amherst. In his sophomore season, Makar won the Hockey East Player of the Year, the 2019 Hobey Baker Award, and was named to the first Hockey East All-Star team.
▶️ Watch Kale Makar’s 2019 Frozen Four highlights
Kale Makar College Stats:
| 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 skating and offensive skills have made a smooth transition to the NHL level, helping him win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie for the 2024-25 season. Hutson led all rookies 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 style of play made him a favorite to watch during his two seasons at Boston University. He was a two-time first-team All-American and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was a two-time first-team All-Star in the Hockey East, among several other honors.
Lane Hutson’s College Stats:
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 39 | 15 | 33 | 48 |
| 2023-24 | 38 | 15 | 34 | 49 |
| TOTAL | 77 | 30 | 67 | 97 |
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