BU's Sullivan, Penguins Part Ways

The Mike Sullivan era is over in Pittsburgh. The Boston University graduate and the NHL's Penguins have parted ways after almost 10 full seasons at the helm.

Sullivan, 57, from Marshfield, Mass., served as head coach of Pittsburgh over the past decade, after being appointed during the 2015-16 NHL campaign and leading the Penguins to an overall regular-season record of 409-255-89 (44-38 postseason), and back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. The Pens, however, have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2022. He previously served as head coach with the Boston Bruins from 2003 to 2006, going 70-56-15 (3-4) with his home state team, giving him a career NHL record of 479-311-127 (47-42). 

Drafted 69th overall by the New York Rangers in 1987, Sullivan skated at center for BU from 1986 to 1990, recording 61 goals and 77 assists for 138 points in 141 games. He also captained the Terriers to the NCAA semifinals as a senior before embarking upon a 12-year professional career that saw him play in 709 career regular-season outings with San Jose, Calgary, Boston and Phoenix, where he registered 54-82—136 points in 709 outings, while adding 4-8—12 points in 34 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He also played 95 games combined in the IHL and AHL, and represented the United States in the 1997 IIHF World Championship.

Sullivan briefly served as head coach of Providence (AHL) in 2002-23, before joining Boston as an assistant. He also served as an assistant coach with Tampa Bay, the Rangers, and Vancouver, and as a development coach with Chicago. He also briefly helmed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) before being promoted to Pittsburgh, and coached the U.S. to a second-place finish at this year's inaugural Four Nations Cup.

ADDENDUM: Sullivan was hired on May 2 as head coach of the Rangers, succeeding Peter Laviolette.

NHL, AHL, ECHL Champions Crowned

The Pittsburgh Penguins closed out the 2015-16 hockey season with a 3-1 victory at San Jose on Sunday night to win the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Penguins, who defeated the Sharks in six games, have won all four of their Cups on the road, dating back to 1991.

Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) opened the scoring for the Penguins on a first-period power play, assisted by Nick Schultz (Wisconsin) and Chris Kunitz (Ferris State). Less than two minutes after the Sharks tied the game in the second period, Conor Sheary (UMass) help set up the Cup-winning goal by Kris Letang. Pittsburgh then scored into an empty net late in the third stanza to seal the victory.

Other former NCAA players who starred for Pittsburgh this postseason included the HBK line of Carl Hagelin (Michigan), Nick Bonino (Boston University) and Phil Kessel (Minnesota), who combined for 56 points and a +23 plus-minus rating. The Penguins were led by head coach Mike Sullivan (Boston University), who took the reins in December and then led Pittsburgh to a 16-8 playoff mark.

The Lake Erie Monsters brought Cleveland its first professional hockey title since 1964 with Saturday night's 1-0 overtime victory over the Hershey Bears at Quicken Loans Arena. The Monsters won the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Final in four games.

Lake Erie, the top farm team of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, went 15-2 during the postseason to complete its ninth season in Ohio and the league’s 80th season, according to TheAHL.com. Rookie defenseman Zach Werenski (Michigan) finished among the top scorers in the AHL playoffs with five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 17 games with the Monsters. Hershey forward Carter Camper (Miami) was second overall among AHL postseason scorers with six goals and 17 points in 21 outings.

The Monsters' Calder Cup victory came two nights after the ECHL's Allen Americans won their second consecutive Kelly Cup with a six-game, final-round victory over the Wheeling Nailers. Riley Gill (Western Michigan) backstopped the Americans to the title, his third ECHL crown, with a 12-5-0 playoff record, according to ECHL.com. Allen is the first repeat ECHL champion since the Toledo Storm in 1993-1994.

See you next season.