Karson Kuhlman, who captained the University of Minnesota Duluth to the NCAA national title last April, made his National Hockey League debut Saturday night with the Boston Bruins. Kuhlman accrued 9:47 of ice time in the Bruins' 4-3 victory over the host Los Angeles Kings -- including 1:10 on the power play. 

Kuhlman, a native of Esko, Minn., native, did not miss a game in his four seasons with the Bulldog. That ironman streak of 166 consecutive appearances equaled a program record (set by Hobey Baker Memorial winner Jack Connolly between 2008-12) and is the seventh longest in NCAA history. As a senior, he ranked third among Bulldogs in goals (a career-high 13) while generating 20 points in 44 outings. Voted the Most Outstanding Player at both the NCAA Frozen Four and the NCAA West Regional, Kuhlman was the winner of the 2017-18 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Sportsmanship Award and a Top Ten Finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (based on achievement in the "Four C's" -- classroom, character, community and competition). Kuhlman, who served as a UMD alternate team captain as a junior, racked up 39 goals and 41 assists as a collegian while going a +41. The four-time NCHC All-Academic Team honoree signed a two-year NHL contract with the Boston Bruins on April 10. 

Kuhlman became the program-record 12th UMD hockey alum to do time in the NHL this season, joining Joey Anderson (New Jersey Devils), J.T. Brown (Minnesota Wild), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricane), Jason Garrison (Edmonton), Alex Iafallo (Los Angeles Kings), Hunter Miska (Arizona Coyotes), Matt Niskanen (Washington), Neal Pionk (New York Rangers), Alex Stalock (Minnesota Wild), Andy Welinski (Anaheim Duck) and Dominic Toninato (Colorado Avalanche).  Goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, but did not see any crease minutes).

In all, some 58 former Bulldogs have gone on to play in the NHL, with first-round draft pick Larry Wright being the first (Philadelphia in 1970-72). Eleven of did so during the 1994-95 season.