Matt Benning– A key stalwart on the Huskies’ blue line for the three years he was at Northeastern, Benning saw time on the powerplay, penalty kill, and significant even strength time while roaming the Matthews Arena ice. He was an assistant captain during his junior season, which turned out to be his final season at Northeastern. A 2012 Bruins draft pick, he chose to not sign with Boston, instead signing with his hometown Edmonton Oilers, and made the Opening Night roster after his first preseason in the NHL.
Josh Manson– Former captain and defensive stalwart of the Huskies, Manson played at NU from 2011-2013, converting from forward to defense at the suggestion of former head coach Greg Cronin. Manson is now playing for the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL, debuting during the 2014-15 season. Manson scored his first career goal against Columbus in November 2015, and currently has a line of 5-13-18 heading into his third NHL season.
Jamie Oleksiak– The highest NHL draft pick in Northeastern history (14th overall in 2011), Oleksiak saw fighting for playing time last season with the Dallas Stars. Bouncing between the AHL and NHL in 2015-16, Oleksiak saw action in 19 games, tallying two assists.
Anthony Bitetto– Drafted by Nashville in 2010, Bitetto scored his first NHL goal in March 2016 against Calgary. In 2015-16, Bitetto had the lone goal and five assists for six points in twenty-eight games.
Joe Vitale– Another former captain, Vitale was traded on Day 1 of the NHL draft from Arizona to Detroit for Pavel Datsyuk’s contract, after Datsyuk retired from the NHL to go play back home in Russia. Vitale only played one NHL game in 2015-16, but the years prior was a constant NHL fixture for Arizona and Pittsburgh. For his career, Vitale has a 11-33-44 line in 234 games.
Kevin Roy– Another huskies captain and one of the most talented players to come to Northeastern, Roy played out his four years at Northeastern and ended as the 11th best scorer in program history. He signed a two-year entry-level contract (ELC) with Anaheim in the Spring on 2016, and has thrived in the American Hockey League during his first professional season.
Mike McMurtry– McMurtry saw his best year at Northeastern during 2015-16, totaling a career high 31 points while skating as an assistant captain. After the season he signed a try-out contract with the Texas Stars of the AHL, and did well enough to be signed to a true two-year contract starting in 2016-17. He spent most of the season with Texas, while also saw some time in the ECHL with Idaho.
Brad Thiessen– Heralded as the best goaltender in program history, Thiessen has bounced around the AHL in recent years. Formerly a constant fixture in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, with stints with the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, 2015-16 saw Thiessen bounce between the AHL and ECHL of Columbus, posting sub-2.00 GAAs and .930 save percentages in both leagues. In 2016-17, he spent most of his time with Cleveland in the AHL.
Colton Saucerman– Known for his offensive success at Northeastern, Saucerman signed an ATO with the South Carolina Stingrays after the 2015-16 season, where he scored 3-9-12 in ninteen games, fifteen of which were playoff games. Saucerman played with South Carolina for most of 2016-17, and also saw time with Manchester (ECHL), Hershey (AHL), and Springfield (AHL).
Chad Costello– Costello left Northeastern after two seasons and have thrived in the ECHL, averaging more than a point per game and leading the league in scoring each of the last two seasons. He is the currently playing for the Allen Americans in the San Jose Sharks system, and has notched over 100 points in three straight seasons with Allen.
Wade MacLeod– Beloved in his time at Northeastern, MacLeod has bounced back from a scary injury in 2013 when he had a seizure on the ice following a hit. MacLeod made it as high as the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, last played in the ECHL in 2014-15, where he scored 80 points in 71 games. Last season played for the Starbulls Rosenheim in the DEL2 in Germany. He played in 9 games for the Allen Americans in 2016-17, tallying 8 points.
Tyler McNeely– The last player to be a two-year captain at Northeastern is playing for the same Starbulls Rosenheim in the DEL2 that MacLeod did. McNeely is averaging over a point per game in his career the DEL2.
Braden Pimm– Another Husky trying his hand in Germany, Pimmer last played in the ECHL in 2014-15, scoring 35 points in 47 games for South Carolina. He now,fittingly, plays for EC Kassel Huskies in the DEL2, where he averaged roughly a point-per-game last season.
