The Wisconsin Badgers hold a record no other NCAA team can boast. There are now 15 Badgers with their name etched on the Stanley Cup thanks to the latest addition from K'Andre Miller, a Carolina defenseman who played at Wisconsin for two seasons. The Carolina Hurricanes were able to take down the Las Vegas Knights to win Lord Stanley's Cup and also give Wisconsin the record for most NCAA players on the cup from one team.
The date range for Wisconsin players goes all the way back to 1979 on the cup to the current 2026. If we take a jog down memory lane, here are the 15 champions:
1978 and 1979 - Brian Engblom - Montreal Canadiens
Engblom may be most known for his broadcasting career in the NHL, but he first played for Wisconsin. He went on to play for the Canadian national team, and eventually had an 11-year NHL Career in which he was able to win the Stanley Cup not just once but twice with the Montreal Canadiens.
1986 - Dave Maley - Montreal Canadiens
It took a while for the second Wisconsin Badger to get their name on the Stanley Cup. Dave Maley helped Wisconsin win an NCAA National Championship in 1983 and just three years later hoisted the Cup. He was the first to accomplish this double championship as a Badger, but not the last.
1986, 2002, and 2008 - Chris Chelios - Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings
Chelios is one of the most recognized Wisconsin hockey players of all time. He has an NCAA National Championship with Wisconsin, a gold medal for the United States (1996), and obviously three Stanley Cups. He was one of the oldest players in the league by the time he won his final one.
1989 - Gary Suter - Calgary Flames
Gary Suter was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and is part of a hockey royal family for Wisconsin. He helped the Flames win it just a few years after Maley.
1991 and 1992 - Paul Stanton - Pittsburgh Penguins
Another first on this list is that Paul Stanton was the first rookie to win the Stanley Cup after leaving Wisconsin. He not only won it in his first year in the NHL, but again in 1992. He eventually wouldn't last long in the NHL and finished his professional career in Europe.
1993 - Sean Hill - Montreal Canadiens
Our guy Sean Hill also has a first to add to this list. He was the first to ever score a goal for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. A new expansion team in a win over the Detroit Red Wings. He eventually won the Stanley Cup in 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens.
1994 - Mike Richter - New York Rangers
played for only one team throughout his career, the New York Rangers, from 1989 to 2002. He was instrumental in the Stanley Cup victory of 1994 when he posted four different shutouts during that playoff run.
1995 - Bruce Driver - New Jersey Devils
A defenseman who won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, but was also part of two different NCAA Championships for the Wisconsin Badgers.
2000, 2003, 2008 - Brian Rafalski - Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils
There are only two Badgers on this list that have won the cup three times, and both of them also won it with two different teams: Brian Rafalski and Chris Chelios. Rafalski was an impressive Badger, and in his senior year, he recorded 45 points in 43 games. In his senior year, he recorded 45 points in 43 games.
2001 - Steve Reinprecht - Colorado Avalanche
Reinprecht went undrafted out of college, but signed a deal with the Los Angeles Kings in 2000, and was part of a big trade that sent him to Colorado.
2010 - Adam Burish - Chicago Blackhawks
Burish is also a native of Madison, Wisconsin and was born to where the Wisconsin red and white.
2012 - Davis Drewiske - Los Angeles Kings
Was never able to break the dam in Wisconsin and help the Badgers get another championship, but was the leading goal-scorer among the defensmen his senior season.
2016 and 2017 - Justin Schultz - Pittsburgh Penguins
Schultz may be best remembered for being a star on a team that struggled at Wisconsin. He remained loyal when he probably should have left due to the level of Wisconsin hockey at that point.
2020 and 2021 - Ryan McDonagh - Tampa Bay Lightning
McDonagh played for three seasons with the Badgers and went on to have a great NHL career. He's still a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he's hoping to help find a third Stanley Cup.
2026 - K'Andre Miller - Carolina Hurricanes
This leads us to the 15th name and the most recent, newly crowned champions of the NHL, K'Andre Miller and the Carolina Hurricanes.
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