A championship journey
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final concluded with a dominant performance by the Carolina Hurricanes, who blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 3‑0 in Game 3 to clinch the championship, with forward Jackson Blake contributing a goal and an assist.
Blake’s path to the Cup began in Grand Forks, where he captured a Minnesota Class AA state title with Eden Prairie and a U.S. Hockey League Clark Cup with Chicago before committing to the University of North Dakota. Over two seasons he amassed 16 goals and 42 points as a freshman and 22 goals and 60 points as a sophomore, earning a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist nod.
Selected by Carolina in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he made his NHL debut after signing his entry‑level contract and, in his first full season, posted 17 goals and 34 points. This year he tallied 22 goals and 53 points, culminating in an eight‑year, $40.9 million contract that will begin next campaign.
His championship marks the first time a former UND player has hoisted the Stanley Cup since T.J. Oshie and Shane Gersich achieved the feat in 2018, underscoring the program’s growing impact on the NHL.
The victory also highlights the Hurricanes’ depth, linking the franchise to institutions such as the University of North Dakota, whose official site is und.edu.