UND Hockey’s cup runneth over

Carter Rowney becomes 13^th alum to hoist Lord Stanley’s iconic trophy with latest Pittsburgh Penguins’ victory over the Nashville Preds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Carter Rowney is a Stanley Cup champion.

The Pittsburgh rookie forward became the latest University of North Dakota product to hoist the Cup after his Penguins defeated Nashville 2-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Rowney was even and had one hit in 7:40 of ice time and was a regular on a Pittsburgh penalty-killing that went 4-4. He played 2:24 of his 7:40 while the Penguins were shorthanded.

It was the 18th time a UND player has won the Stanley Cup and Rowney became the 13th different alum to do so.

“It’s a dream,” Rowney told CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada following the game. “It’s been a long road and to get it my first crack at it and be a champion at the end, it’s pretty unbelievable.”

Rowney appeared in 20 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and was a plus-3 with three assists. He tied for second in the NHL with 80 hits during the playoffs, a total topped only by Nashville’s Austin Watson (106).

A native of Sexsmith, Alberta, Rowney became UND’s first undrafted free agent to win the Stanley Cup since Ed Belfour in 1998-99 with Dallas and its first alum to win it as a rookie since Geoff Smith did it in 1989-90 with Edmonton.

Rowney played at UND from 2009-13 and amassed 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points in 150 career games. He made his NHL debut this season at age 27 after having spent parts of five seasons in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League.

Rowney and his wife Danielle (Luetzen), a former UND volleyball letter winner, celebrated the birth of their first child, son Anders, three weeks ago.

“I can’t wait to put him inside that Cup!” said Rowney.

UND’s STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS:

* – indicates Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP

— Jayson Hajdu, UND Athletic Media Relations