Kuemper is Bellevue University/ECHL Alumnus of the Month

Former Ontario Reign and Orlando Solar Bears’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper of the Colorado Avalanche is the Bellevue University ECHL Alumnus of the Month for March.

The 32-year-old went 5-3-1 in 10 appearances during the month with two shutouts, a 2.05 goals-against average and a save percentage of .940. He posted his shutouts in back-to-back games - stopping 46 shots on March 13 against Calgary and making 23 saves on March 15 at Los Angeles - and he made at least 35 saves in four appearances during the month. In 47 games with Colorado this season, Kuemper is 31-9-3 with five shutouts, a 2.37 goals-against average and a save percentage of .924.

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kuemper appeared in 11 career ECHL games with Ontario and Orlando with an overall record of 7-3-1 with a 1.98 goals-against average and a save percentage of .937.

Kuemper has seen action in 289 career NHL games with Colorado, Arizona, Los Angeles and Minnesota posting a career record of 197-92-35 with 25 shutouts, a 2.45 goals-against average and a save percentage of .918.

There have been 724 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including 26 who have made their debut in 2021-22. The ECHL has had 532 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 468 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last 17 seasons for an average of more than 27 per year.