Three former student-athletes from current Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) schools have won the 2023 Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights, defeating the Florida Panthers four games-to-one in a best-of-seven series. Defenseman Zach Whitecloud from Bemidji State University and forward Teddy Blueger of Minnesota State University were joined by President of Hockey Operations George McPhee, who won the 1982 Hobey Baker Award at Bowling Green State University, on the cup-winning squad.

Whitecloud joins Joel Otto (1980-84) as one of two Beavers to raise the Stanley Cup after Otto helped the Calgary Flames reach hockey's summit in 1989.
 
Whitecloud, a native of Brandon, Manitoba, played in every game for the Golden Knights throughout the NHL Playoffs and in 22 games, he recorded eight points off two goals and six assists, 19 shots on goal and held a +14 rating on the ice, the second highest rating among all skaters in the playoffs. He also scored the game-winning goal in the third period of the pivotal game one of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 3. During the Stanley Cup Finals, Whitecloud recorded three points (1g-2a), three shots and averaged 18:35 of ice time for the Golden Knights.

Blueger, who is a native of Riga, Latvia, graduated from Minnesota State in 2016 after a four-year career with the Mavericks. He joins Ryan Carter as the two former Minnesota State skaters to lift the cup.

Playing in 18 games for the Golden Knights this season, he collected two goals and four assists for six points. He also played in six Stanley Cup Playoff contests for Vegas this season, scoring one goal and assisting on another for two points.

McPhee, who hails from Guelph, Ontario, played in 153 games at Bowling Green, tallying 114 goals and 153 assists for 267 points, earning an induction into the school's athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. He went on to play in 115 NHL games over seven seasons, collecting 24 goals and 25 assists for 49 points. He held front office positions with the Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders prior to being named to his current position with Vegas in 2016 and was a finalist for General Manager of the Year following his first season with the Golden Knights in 2018-19.

The Golden Knights claimed their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship in just their fifth season, qualifying for the playoffs in all but one year.