USPHL And NCDC Alumnus Brandon Bussi Wins Stanley Cup With Carolina Hurricanes

Former P.A.L. Jr. Islanders goaltender Brandon Bussi has reached the pinnacle of hockey, helping the Carolina Hurricanes capture the 2026 Stanley Cup championship.

The USPHL Premier and NCDC alumnus was one of the stories of the Stanley Cup Final, entering the series and immediately making NHL history. Bussi became the first goaltender in NHL history to win his first two career playoff starts with both victories coming in the Stanley Cup Final. He went on to win all three of his starts in the series, including a 22-save shutout in the championship-clinching Game 6 victory.

Bussi finished the Stanley Cup Final with a perfect 3-0 record, stopping 73 of 77 shots for a .948 save percentage, a 1.33 goals-against average, and one shutout. He turned aside 28 of 30 shots in Game 4, 23 of 25 shots in Game 5, and all 22 shots he faced in Game 6 to help the Hurricanes rally for the championship.

Bussi’s journey to the Stanley Cup began in the USPHL Premier before advancing to the NCDC with the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders during the 2017-18 season. Following his junior hockey career, the Sound Beach, N.Y., native moved on to NCAA Division I hockey at Western Michigan University, where he established himself as one of the nation’s top goaltenders before beginning his professional career.

After several standout seasons in the American Hockey League, Bussi earned his NHL opportunity and seized it on hockey’s biggest stage. In a span of three games, he went from making his first career NHL playoff appearance to becoming a Stanley Cup Champion while carving out a unique place in NHL history.

From the USPHL Premier to the NCDC, college hockey, and ultimately the NHL, Bussi’s path serves as another example of the opportunities available through the USPHL.

 

 

Photo Credit: NHL via @NHL on “X”