Ferris State Hockey Alum Chris Kunitz Becomes THREE-TIME Stanley Cup Champion!

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University Hockey alum and legend Chris Kunitz officially became a three-time Stanley Cup Champion as the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the San Jose Sharks in game six on Sunday (June 12) night to win the National Hockey League's (NHL) biggest prize.

Kunitz and the Penguins, who previously advanced to the finals by knocking off the Tampa Bay Lightning to capture the Prince of Wales Trophy as the NHL's Eastern Conference Champions, finished off the Sharks by a 3-1 score to win the best-of-seven series.

The Stanley Cup Championship was Kunitz's third overall and second with the Penguins in his stellar professional career, which also includes an Olympic Gold Medal.

With the Penguins, Kunitz tallied 40 points on 17 goals and 23 assists in 80 outings regular-season outings this campaign. He also had a game-winning goal and nine power-play markers on the year while establishing a +2 plus/minus efficiency rating. 

In the postseason, Kunitz lifted his play for Pittsburgh. The standout wing produced 12 points on four goals and eight assists in 24 playoff contests this year with 50 total shots and two power-play markers with a +2 rating. He netted six points in the series' against Tampa Bay with three goals and three assists and then notched a pair of assists in the Stanley Cup finals, including one in Sunday's victory.

Kunitz claimed NHL First-Team All-Star recognition for the first time in his professional career at the end of the 2012-13 campaign. Although he didn't establish any career highs due to the abbreviated season, Kunitz enjoyed perhaps his best season in '12-13, leading the team in goals (22) and power-play goals (t-9), while placing second in points (52), rating (plus-30) and game-winning goals (t-5). He became the first player not named Crosby or Malkin to lead the team in goal scoring since Ryan Malone in 2003-04.

Kunitz, who is midst a three-year contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2016-17, became Ferris State Hockey's first-ever Olympic Gold Medal Champion when he helped Canada to a victory in the gold medal game in 2014 in Sochi, Russia. The 6-foot, 195-pound Kunitz also became the first Penguins player since 2000 to score four goals in a single game when he accomplished the feat at Washington in 2012-13.

A key member of the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup championship squad, Kunitz was acquired by the Penguins from the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 26, 2009. He went on to register 14 points (1G-13A) in 24 playoff contests that year, helping the Penguins defeat the Detroit Red Wings in the Cup Final.

Prior to joining the Penguins Kunitz played four-plus seasons with Anaheim and the Atlanta Thrashers between 2003-09. He was instrumental in helping the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007, scoring six points (1G-5A) in 13 playoff games.

Originally signed by Anaheim as an undrafted free agent on April 1, 2003, Kunitz has appeared in 813 career NHL regular-season games with Pittsburgh, Anaheim and Atlanta, totaling 241 goals, 310 assists and 551 points. He has added 81 points (25G-56A) in 141 playoff games.

As a collegian at Ferris State, Kunitz excelled during his 2002-03 senior season by garnering American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-America First-Team honors and was among the final three 2003 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player. A two-time (2001-02 and 2002-03) CCHA First-Team pick, Kunitz became the first Bulldog skater to earn Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Player of the Year honors after leading the league in points, goals, assists, and plus/minus for the 2002-03 campaign.

Kunitz concluded his stellar career ranking tied for sixth in career points (175), second in goals (99) and 18th in assists (76) in 152 contests. He played an integral role in leading the 2002-03 Bulldogs to a school-best 31-10-1 overall record, the school's first-ever CCHA Regular-Season Championship title and the program's first-ever NCAA Division I Championship Tournament appearance. Kunitz was also recognized as the male student-athlete recipient of the 2002-03 Bulldog of the Year Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State student-athlete. 

Kunitz was also chosen to the CCHA's All-Decade Team for his work as a collegian at Ferris State. Previously, he a member of Canada's squad that won a silver medal at the 2008 World Championships before winning Olympic Gold.