If you watched a Waterloo Blackhawk game in 2013, you saw a future Stanely Cup champion on the ice.

The NHL season came to an end last night as hockey fans witnessed one of the most exciting championship series of all time. The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 to bring home Lord Stanley's cup.

In a best-of-7 series, Florida jumped out to a quick 3-0 series lead, before Edmonton finally woke up. The Oilers won games 4,5, and 6 to force a game 7. The Florida Panthers were able to hang on last night (June 24), and beat the Oilers 2-1.

Brandon Montour

Brandon Montour is a defenseman for the Florida Panthers and he used to play hockey for the Waterloo Blackhawks. He is now a Stanley Cup champion!

According to the Waterloo Blackhawks, Montour joined the team in 2013 as a 19-year-old. He played in 60 games for the Blackhawks and recorded 14 goals and 48 assists, which made him one of the top 10 scorers in the USHL. At the end of the 2013-2014 season, Brandon was awarded the Defensemen of the Year award as well as the Player of the Year award.

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In 2014, Brandon was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks with the 55th overall pick. He played in his first NHL game on December 9th, 2016, for the Ducks.

In Brandon's NHL career, he's scored 66 goals, recorded 186 assists, and has played in 520 games. This would put him in the top 5 for former Waterloo Blackhawk players.

Waterloo Blackhawks and the NHL

This is the 3rd Waterloo Blackhawk who has gone on to win a Stanley Cup in the NHL. In 2009, Mark Eaton and the Pittsburgh Penguins won a championship, and in 2019, Zach Sanford and the St Louis Blues brought the cup to St Louis.

According to the Waterloo BlackHawks, 15 different former players made at least 1 appearance in an NHL game in 2023-2024. 6 of these players were at one point Brandon's teammates: Brock Boeser played for the Vancouver Canucks, Mark Friedman also played for the Canucks, Tom Novak with the Nashville Predators, Cal Peterson for the Philadelphia Flyers, Rem Pitlick for the Chicago Blackhawks, and Zach Sanford for the Arizona Coyotes/Chicago Blackhawks.

Who said Iowa wasn't a hockey state?! Waterloo Blackhawks have had a huge impact this past season in the NHL! Congratulations to Brandon, a former Waterloo Blackhawk!