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LA Kings' goalie prospect Hampton Slukynsky has helped lead his Western Michigan University Broncos into the NCAA Frozen Four and may someday end up joining the ranks of LA Kings who have made their mark on collegiate hockey.
The Kings fourth round pick in the 2023 Entry Draft had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Broncos, posting a record of 17-5-1 with a .923% save percentage.
However, in order to take Western Michigan to its first NCAA championship game, Slukynsky will have to get through the powerhouse that is the University of Denver. Interestingly enough, Denver sports two LA King prospects on its roster: forward Jared Wright (6th round, 2022) and James Reeder (7th round, 2024). Of course, no mention of Denver hockey would be complete without a quick shoutout to Trevor Moore, who played three seasons for the Pioneers (2013-2016) before becoming a 30-goal scorer for the Kings.
A further look into LA Kings collegiate player history reveals two players that have pulled off the rare feat of winning both the NCAA championship and the Stanley Cup: Davis Drewiske, NCAA champion with the University of Wisconsin Badgers in 2006/Stanley Cup winner with LA in 2012, and Rob "Scuds" Scuderi, NCAA champion with Boston College in 2001 and Stanley Cup winner in 2012.
Although he never won a NCAA championship, Jonathan Quick played two years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2005-2007) and led the Minutemen to their first NCAA championship game appearance.
Of course, no discussion of LA Kings collegiate players would be complete without mentioning two legends: Dave Taylor and Rob Blake.
Before going on to score 1,069 points in LA as part of the legendary Triple Crown Line alongside Marcel Dionne and Charlie Simmer, Taylor was a star at Clarkson University from 1973-1977. Taylor set a team record with 251 career points (93 G, 158 A) and led the NCAA in scoring with 108 points (41 G, 67 A) in 1977.
Hall of Famer, Norris Trophy winner, and Stanley Cup champ, Rob Blake was once upon a time a complete stud for Bowling Green University. In fact, the current LA Kings general manager registered 104 points (39 G, 65 A) in 131 career games. In the 1989-90 season, Blake set a school record for goals scored by a defenseman with 23, a record that still stands today.
Thus, if you are a fan of the LA Kings, you should probably be rooting for Hampton Slukynsky, Jared Wright, or James Reeder to join Davis Drewiske and Rob Scuderi as the next dual NCAA championship/Stanley Cup winner in town.
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