Alumni

30+ alumni have laced up the skates at the professional level, including four players with the hometown Columbus Blue Jackets and five with their AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters.

When it comes to firsts, it was Dublin native Trent Vogelhuber that pioneered the hockey pathway for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program. A member of the inaugural AAA team in 2004, Vogelhuber was able to advance his career with the NAHL's St. Louis Bandits where he recorded 26 points in 31 games during the 2006-07 season and accepted a scholarship offer from Miami University.

In the summer of 2007, Vogelhuber made more history when he became the first native of Central Ohio to ever be selected in the NHL Draft when he was taken in the 7th round (211 overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was also selected in the 1st round (5th overall) in the USHL Draft by the Des Moines Buccaneers.

From 2008-2012, Vogelhuber enjoyed a successful college career at Miami University where he recorded 51 points in 149 career games. Vogelhuber played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and back-to-back Frozen Fours. He was a key member of the RedHawks 2009-10 CCHA regular season title and 2011 Mason Cup playoff championship. In 2009, Vogelhuber scored a 3rd period goal to give Miami a 3-1 lead in the Division I national championship game.

Following his time at Miami, Vogelhuber played seven professional seasons in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Falcons, Lake Erie Monsters and San Antonio Rampage scoring 24 goals and 89 points in 301 career professional games. In 2015-16, Trent helped the Monsters capture their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

Since retiring in 2018, he spent four seasons developing the Blue Jackets' top prospects as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Monsters. On June 8, 2022, Vogelhuber was named the 7th head coach in Monsters history.

A native of Dublin, Connor Murphy is entering his 10th NHL season and serves as an assistant captain with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2021, he signed a 4 year extension with the Blackhawks. A veteran of more than 600 NHL games, Murphy made history on November 6, 2013 when he became the first member of the AAA Blue Jackets program to play and score in an NHL game. In 2022, Murphy was nominated for the NHL's prestigious King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented to "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."

In 2011, Murphy became the first OBJ alumnus to be selected in the 1st round of the NHL Draft when he was selected 20th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes. Following the draft, Murphy signed his first NHL contract and played his junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting. In two seasons in Sarnia, Murphy scored 14 goals and tallied 44 points in 68 games and served as an assistant captain during the 2012-13 season.

Murphy is a graduate of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and has enjoyed an incredible amount of success on the international stage. In 2011, Murphy scored the game-winning goal in overtime vs. Sweden to give the American the gold medal at the U18 World Championships. He also helped Team USA to the gold medal at the 2013 U20 World Junior Championship alongside his former OBJ teammate Sean Kuraly. The duo also won silver together at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Murphy has represented the United States at the World Championships on FIVE occasions, winning bronze medals in 2015 and 2018. In 2016, he led the entire tournament in goals by a defenseman and was named a Top 3 Player of the Team. Perhaps his biggest honor was in 2017, when he was named captain of Team USA.

A native of Dublin, Kuraly signed with his hometown Blue Jackets on July 28, 2021 after 5 successful seasons with the Boston Bruins. Kuraly thrived in his first season with CBJ, setting career highs with 14 goals and 30 points in 77 games. He also led the team and was 11th in the NHL in hits (240). During his time in Boston, he developed the reputation as a clutch performer and helped lead the Bruins to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. His clutch moments include scoring the game-winning goal at the 2019 Winter Classic, a critical 3rd period goal in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and the winner in double overtime in Game 5 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. In 2022-23, he was named an assistant captain with the Blue Jackets.

Prior to beginning his NHL career, Kuraly was a 4-year standout and captain at Miami University, where he tallied 93 points in 154 career games and helped lead the RedHawks to the 2012-13 CCHA regular season championship and the 2015 NCHC playoff title. His senior season, he was the recipient of the NCHC's Best Defensive Forward award.

A 5th round selection of the San Jose Sharks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Kuraly tallied 102 points during 2 seasons with USHL's Indiana Ice and was a member of the all-USHL 2nd team in 2011-12 after finishing 4th in the league in scoring with 70 points.

Kuraly has also enjoyed significant success on the international stage highlighted by winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 U20 World Junior Championship. He also won a bronze medal and led the World Jr. A Challenge in scoring with 6 points in 5 games in 2011 and won silver at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Additionally, Kuraly was a call-up with the National Team Development Program during the 2009-10 while playing for the 18U AAA Blue Jackets.

A native of Columbus, Jack Roslovic was acquired by the Blue Jackets along with Patrik Laine on January 23, 2020. Since returning home to Columbus, Roslovic has set career bests in all offensive categories in each of his first 2 seasons. In 2020-21, he finished tied for second in team scoring with 34 points in 48 games. In 2021-22, he tallied a career high 22 goals and 45 points. He was also the recipient of the Blue Jackets' Community MVP Award and was nominated for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy for establishing his foundation, Rosie's Gear for Goals, which has a mission to support aspiring Central Ohio hockey players by equipping them with the gear they'll need to succeed, while also building a strong community around the sport to help players see through their goals on and off the ice.

On February 4, 2019, Roslovic was named the NHL's 1st Star of the Week after recording 5 goals and 6 points in a 4 goal stretching, including his first career hat trick. Now in his fifth full NHL season, Roslovic was named an AHL All-Star in his first professional season after leading the Manitoba Moose in scoring. He made his NHL debut on April 17, 2017 at Nationwide Arena against the Blue Jackets.

In 2015, Roslovic was selected in the 1st round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets and signed his first professional contract after playing one season at Miami University where he was named to the NCHC's All-Rookie Team. He also helped leaded Team USA to a gold medal at the 2017 U20 World Junior Championship.

Roslovic is a graduate of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program where he tallied 111 points in 119 career games. In 2018, Jack was named one of the top three players on Team USA while helping the team win a gold medal at the U18 World Championship. He also helped the Americans win gold at the 2014 World Hockey Challenge and Four Nations Tournament.

A native of New Albany, Kiefer Sherwood is currently in his sixth professional season. He signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018 and owned a 6-7-13 line in 60 games with the Ducks before signing with the Colorado Avalanche in 2020. He played in 27 regular season games with the Avalanche and made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in 2021. In the summer of 2022, Sherwood signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators and made their opening night roster, scoring the first goal of the NHL season vs. the San Jose Sharks.

Sherwood has been a dominant force in the American Hockey League with both the San Diego Gulls and Colorado Eagles. In 2021-22, Sherwood was an AHL All-Star and finished the season 3rd in the league in goals (36) and 5th in points (75) in just 57 games.

Sherwood played college hockey at Miami University where he scored 34 goals and 86 points in 3 seasons with the RedHawks. He was a member of the NCHC All-Academic Team.

Prior to Miami, Sherwood played two full seasons in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms where he racked up 90 points in 126 games. In 2014-15, he helped guide the Phantoms to the league's best record en route to winning the Anderson Cup.

In 2012-13, Sherwood earned a call-up with Team USA's National Team Development Program while playing for the AAA Blue Jackets 18U team. He was selected in the 7th Round (No. 99 overall) in the 2012 USHL Draft following his 16U season.

On July 7, 2015, Kole Sherwood became the first player to sign an NHL contract directly from the AAA Blue Jackets program when he signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The previous season, he led the T1EHL in goals (22) and helped the AAA Blue Jackets win its first ever league championship. Four years later, on February 16, 2019, Sherwood became the first central Ohio product to play for the Blue Jackets.

Prior to making his pro debut, Kole spent three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights, Flint Firebirds and Kitchener Rangers. He notched 75 goals and 179 points in 180 career OHL games and was a member of the 2015-16 London Knights squad that won the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup.

Sherwood is currently in his fifth professional season. He has played 12 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Predators, and more than 150 games in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, Belleville Senators and Milwaukee Admirals.

Justin Richards became the sixth AAA Blue Jacket alumnus to play an NHL game on May 8, 2021 when he recorded an assist and +1 rating in a 5-4 win over Sean Kuraly and the Boston Bruins. In 2022-23, he signed with his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets and tallied one assists while appearing in two games. He finished second on the AHL"s Cleveland Monsters in scoring with a 10-29-39 line in 61 games.

Richards signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers in 2020 after three incredibly successful seasons as the University of Minnesota-Duluth. During his collegiate career, Richard helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2019 NCHC playoff championship and back-to-back National Championships in 2018 & 2019. He served as an assistant captain and notched 66 points and a +40 rating in 120 career games. In 2018-19, Richards was a member of the All-NCHC 2nd team and was a two-time winner of the league's Defensive Forward of the Year award. In 2019, he was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.

Prior to UMD, Richards spent one season in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars where he tallied 30 points in 52 games.

On April 4, 2022, Carson Meyer became the 7th alumnus of the program to play in an NHL game and the fourth to play for his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets when he debuted vs. the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena. He went on to finish the season with the Blue Jackets, playing in 13 games and tallying 3 points. He recorded his 1st NHL goal and assist on April 5 vs. the Philadelphia Flyers.

Meyer spent his college career playing 2 seasons at Miami University and 2 seasons at Ohio State where he totaled 42 goals and 89 points in 137 career games. Following his freshman season at Miami, Meyer was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 6th round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. As a Buckeye, Meyer won a B1G regular season championship in 2018-19 and recorded a career high 17 goals and 31 points as a senior before the season was ended by COVID-19.

Prior to college, Meyer racked up 32 goals and 52 points in 58 games in the USHL and helped lead the Tri City Storm to a Clark Cup championship. He also was named to Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge and won a bronze medal.

A member of perhaps the most accomplished age group in program history, Meyer led the T1EHL in scoring in 2014-15 as the AAA Blue Jackets won their first ever league championship.

A total of 12 alumni have had the honor of representing their country having won a combined 13 medals (7 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze) in international play. In 2013, Connor Murphy and Sean Kuraly (pictured above) helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the World Junior Championship. Four years later, Jack Roslovic followed suit as he helped Team USA capture gold in a dramatic shootout win over Canada.

The program has also proven to have a great relationship with the National Team Development Program over the years. While Murphy and Roslovic are both full-time graduates of the program, seven others have received NTDP call-ups while playing for the AAA Blue Jackets (Sean Kuraly, Henry Dill, Kiefer Sherwood, Haydn Gould, Will Elger, Nathan McBrayer and Ethan Perrault). In addition, former Director of Player Development & Advancement Jimmy Mullin was hired as an assistant coach with Team USA in 2021.

More than 150 alumni have played college hockey, with over 40 at both the Division I and Division III levels.

Justin Richards has had the most decorated college career of any OBJ alumnus. In three seasons at Minnesota-Duluth, Richards was a key part of two National Championship teams and an NCHC playoff championship. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 2019 and was a 2-time recipient of the NCHC's Best Defensive Forward Award.

The AAA Blue Jackets have a rich history of producing leaders at the next level. In the 2020-21 season alone, four Division I programs featured an OBJ alumnus wearing the "C". All three Division I programs in Ohio (Bowling Green, Miami and Ohio State) have had a member of our program serve as their captain.

Eric Dop has won more than 50 career Division I games. From 2017-21, he posted a 45-27-7 record, 2.22 GAA and .914 save percentage at Bowling Green and helped lead the Falcons to the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He is currently manning the crease at Boston College as a graduate transfer.

Chase Gresock was a member of the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 with Merrimack. In three seasons with the Warriors, he was a 2-time captain and tallied 26 goals and 54 points. He is now playing as a graduate transfer at Miami University.

200+ alumni have made the jump to junior hockey after playing with the AAA Blue Jackets

Playing in our program is much bigger than just hockey. The life skills and character traits that the game teaches you have a major impact on every aspect of a person's life. Our alumni continue to excel and achieve success even after their playing days are over.

A goaltender in the program from 2006-2008, Jeff Michael is currently a principal at BHMS Investments, where he is the head of business development for the private equity firm. Jeff was an entrepreneur from a young age, owning and operating a handful of businesses. As a manager with Ernst & Young's consulting practice, he was awarded the EY Empower Award for his leadership abilities.

Jeff graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business. As a a member of the the varsity men's hockey team, he was a 4-time recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award and received the Student-Athlete Study Abroad scholarship

Max DeCoursey graduated cum laude from Ohio State with a degree in air transportation and now works as a commercial pilot and flight instructor.