12 Plymouth Whaler Alums Make 2011-12 NHL Opening Night Rosters

The press release from the NHL's Minnesota Wild on Monday was typical:

HOUSTON (OCTOBER 3, 2011) --- Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled goaltender Matt Hackett from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL). 

Hackett, 21 (3/7/90), went 23-16-4 with two shutouts, a 2.37 GAA and a .916 SV% in 45 regular season games for Houston in his rookie season of 2010-11. He helped lead the Aeros to the Calder Cup Finals, going 14-10-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .903 SV%. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound native of London, Ont., was Minnesota’s third-round pick (No. 77 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Hackett wears No. 31 with the Wild.

Hackett's re-call to Minnesota means 12 Plymouth Whalers alums will start the 2011-12 season in the National Hockey League.

The Whaler alums in the NHL range from Hackett - who received a call up last season as an emergency backup but did not play - to Nashville's David Legwand, who has been a regular with the Predators since the start of the 1999-00 season and has played 768 NHL games.

Here's the list of Plymouth alums who will start the 2011-12 season in the National Hockey League, linked to NHL.com for their overall career records:

Gregory Campbell and Tyler Seguin, Boston.

Chad LaRose, Carolina.

Jared Boll and James Wisniewski, Columbus.

Stephen Weiss, Florida.

Justin Williams, Los Angeles.

Matt Hackett, Minnesota.

David Legwand, Nashville.

James Neal, Pittsburgh.

Michal Neuvirth, Washington.

Chris Thorburn, Winnipeg.

In addition, there are plenty of Plymouth Whaler alums in the minor leagues. Who will be the next alum to be called up?  Stay tuned.