UMass alum Cale Makar makes NHL history, earns praise from B's legend

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The Colorado Avalanche are Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 2001, led once again by a star defenseman with local ties.

Former University of Massachusetts standout Cale Makar hoisted the Conn Smythe Trophy on Sunday night as the MVP of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs after his Avs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6 to win the NHL championship.

Makar played two seasons at UMass and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2019 as the best player in college hockey. Three years later, he completed a rare NHL trifecta by capturing the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in addition to the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup.

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At just 23 years old, Makar became the youngest player since Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr to win the Conn Smythe. He also joined Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen to win the Norris Trophy and the Conn Smythe in the same season.

Makar's incredible accomplishments earned him a shoutout from Orr himself Monday morning.

"You grow up and see (the Stanley Cup) as a kid and have pictures of it on your wall," Makar said after Sunday's game. "All I think about is everyone who got me here. My family is in the stands. It’s surreal."

Makar also boasts a surreal résumé after tallying 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in just 20 postseason games. He's just the 20th UMass product to play in the NFL and joins a very short list of Minutemen (Jonathan Quick and Conor Sheary) who have won Stanley Cups.

That said, we probably shouldn't expect a Ray Bourque-style parade in Boston for Makar this week.

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