25 NHL Players You Didn’t Know Came From Upstate New York

Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers battles Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the puck at Madison Square Garden in 2011. Photo: Debby Wong / Shutterstock

When fans debate the great geographic pipelines of American hockey, the conversation often turns to Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Michigan. Yet the snow belts along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, the North Country, the Finger Lakes, Rochester, Syracuse, and the Capital Region have also produced an impressive group of National Hockey League players.

For this list, “came from Upstate New York” means a player was born in the region or spent substantial formative years developing his hockey there. That distinction matters because a few players on the list were born in Upstate New York but raised elsewhere, while others were born outside the region and grew up on Upstate rinks. From Stanley Cup champions and team captains to Olympians and long-time NHL regulars, these 25 players all have a genuine connection to Upstate New York.

1. Patrick Kane – Buffalo (Erie County)

Patrick Kane was born in Buffalo and developed his game in Western New York before becoming the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. Kane won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, captured the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013, and in 2016 became the first American-born player to win both the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy. By 2026, he had become the NHL’s all-time leading U.S.-born scorer and returned to Chicago after three seasons with Detroit.

2. Dustin Brown – Ithaca (Tompkins County)

Dustin Brown was born and raised in Ithaca before leaving for major junior hockey in Canada. He spent his entire 18-season NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, playing 1,296 regular-season games. Brown captained Los Angeles to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship in 2012 and another in 2014, becoming one of the most accomplished American captains in NHL history.

3. Brian Gionta – Rochester (Monroe County)

Brian Gionta was born and raised in the Rochester area and played at Aquinas Institute before starring at Boston College. The 5-foot-7 winger played 1,026 NHL games, scored 291 goals, won the 2003 Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils, and set a Devils single-season record with 48 goals in 2005–06. He later served as captain of both the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres and captained the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

4. Ryan Callahan – Rochester (Monroe County)

Ryan Callahan was born in Rochester and developed in the Syracuse Jr. Crunch program before the New York Rangers selected him in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL Draft. Known for his defensive commitment and physical style, Callahan played 757 NHL games with the Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He served as captain of the Rangers from 2011 until his trade to Tampa Bay in 2014.

5. Alex Tuch – Syracuse / Baldwinsville (Onondaga County)

Alex Tuch was born in Syracuse and grew up in Baldwinsville as a Buffalo Sabres fan. Minnesota selected the 6-foot-4 forward in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft, and he later became an important member of the Vegas Golden Knights during their run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Tuch spent five seasons with Buffalo before being traded to the Washington Capitals in June 2026.

6. Todd Marchant – Buffalo / Williamsville (Erie County)

Todd Marchant was born in Buffalo and attended Williamsville East High School before playing at Clarkson University. He built a long career as a fast, dependable two-way center, appearing in 1,195 NHL games. Marchant scored the overtime winner for Edmonton in Game 7 against Dallas in the 1997 playoffs and later won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

7. Zach Bogosian – Massena (St. Lawrence County)

Zach Bogosian was born in Massena near the Canadian border and became one of the highest-drafted players ever produced by the North Country when Atlanta selected him third overall in 2008. The physical defenseman has played for Atlanta, Winnipeg, Buffalo, Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and reached 970 career NHL games by the end of the 2025–26 season.

8. Craig Conroy – Potsdam (St. Lawrence County)

Craig Conroy was born in Potsdam and played college hockey at Clarkson University before beginning a 1,009-game NHL career. A smart defensive center, Conroy became a two-time Selke Trophy finalist and a key leader for the Calgary Flames during their run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. He later moved into management and became general manager of the Flames.

9. Erik Cole – Oswego (Oswego County)

Erik Cole was born in Oswego and went on to play college hockey at Clarkson University. The powerful left wing played 892 NHL games over 13 seasons, scoring 265 goals and 532 points. Cole won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and also played for Edmonton, Montreal, Dallas, and Detroit.

10. Lee Stempniak – West Seneca (Erie County)

Lee Stempniak was born in West Seneca and attended St. Francis High School before playing at Dartmouth. He became one of the NHL’s most reliable journeyman wingers, playing 911 regular-season games for ten franchises. Stempniak finished his career with 203 goals and 469 points.

11. Jimmy Howard – Syracuse / Ogdensburg (Onondaga and St. Lawrence Counties)

Jimmy Howard was born in Syracuse and raised in Ogdensburg before playing college hockey at the University of Maine. Detroit selected him in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft, and he spent his entire NHL career with the Red Wings. Howard won 246 games, recorded 24 shutouts, and represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

12. Tim Connolly – Syracuse (Onondaga County)

Tim Connolly was born in Syracuse and became one of the region’s most highly regarded young playmakers before the New York Islanders selected him fifth overall in the 1999 NHL Draft. Connolly played 697 NHL games with the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs, finishing with 131 goals, 300 assists, and 431 points.

13. Robert Esche – Whitesboro (Oneida County)

Robert Esche was born in Whitesboro in the Mohawk Valley and reached the NHL as a goaltender with Phoenix and Philadelphia. Esche appeared in 186 regular-season NHL games and won 78 of them. In 2002–03, he shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Roman Cechmanek, and he later represented the United States as the primary goaltender at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

14. Patrick Kaleta – Angola (Erie County)

Patrick Kaleta grew up in Angola in Erie County and became one of the Buffalo Sabres’ best-known hometown players. Drafted by Buffalo in 2004, Kaleta played 348 NHL games, all with the Sabres. His physical style, willingness to block shots, and ability to agitate opponents made him a memorable checking-line presence during his career.

15. Jordan Greenway – Canton (St. Lawrence County)

Jordan Greenway was born and raised in Canton, where he grew up playing on North Country ice before attending Shattuck-St. Mary’s and Boston University. He made history at the 2018 Winter Olympics as the first Black player to represent the United States men’s Olympic hockey team. The 6-foot-6 winger has played in the NHL for Minnesota, Buffalo, and Chicago.

16. Brooks Orpik – Amherst (Erie County)

Brooks Orpik was born in San Francisco but grew up in Amherst, where his formative hockey years began. The defenseman went on to play 1,035 NHL regular-season games and won two Stanley Cups: with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and the Washington Capitals in 2018. Orpik also represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.

17. Stephen Gionta – Rochester (Monroe County)

Stephen Gionta was born in Rochester and followed his older brother Brian through Aquinas Institute and Boston College. Undrafted, he still carved out a 301-game NHL career with the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. Gionta played an important checking and penalty-killing role during New Jersey’s run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

18. Rory Fitzpatrick – Rochester (Monroe County)

Rory Fitzpatrick was born in Rochester and developed into a dependable NHL defenseman who played 287 regular-season games for Montreal, St. Louis, Nashville, Buffalo, Vancouver, and Philadelphia. He became nationally known during the 2006–07 season when the grassroots “Vote for Rory” campaign nearly sent him to the NHL All-Star Game as a write-in selection.

19. Shane Prince – Rochester (Monroe County)

Shane Prince was born in Rochester and became a second-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL Draft. The forward played 128 NHL games with Ottawa and the New York Islanders, recording 38 regular-season points. He also scored three goals during the Islanders’ 2016 playoff run.

20. Marcus Foligno – Buffalo (Erie County)

Marcus Foligno was born in Buffalo while his father, Mike Foligno, was playing for the Sabres, although Marcus was largely raised in Sudbury, Ontario. Buffalo drafted him in 2009, bringing him back to his birthplace to begin his NHL career. Foligno later became a long-time Minnesota Wild forward and alternate captain and had played more than 900 NHL games by the end of the 2025–26 season.

21. Tom Sestito – Rome (Oneida County)

Tom Sestito was born in Rome and built a 154-game NHL career as a rugged left wing with Columbus, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh. During the 2013–14 season with the Canucks, Sestito led the NHL with 213 penalty minutes, making him one of the last prominent heavyweight enforcers of his era.

22. Tim Sestito – Rome (Oneida County)

Tim Sestito, Tom’s older brother, was also born in Rome. A hard-working center, he appeared in 101 NHL games with Edmonton and New Jersey, contributing primarily in defensive and checking roles. The Sestito brothers remain an unusual example of two siblings from the same Upstate New York city both reaching the NHL.

23. Miles Wood – Buffalo (Erie County)

Miles Wood was born in Buffalo while his father, Randy Wood, was playing for the Sabres, although Miles was raised primarily in Massachusetts. The speedy winger reached the NHL with the New Jersey Devils and later played for Colorado and Columbus. He passed the 500-game NHL mark in 2025.

24. Rich Brennan – Schenectady (Schenectady County)

Rich Brennan was born in Schenectady and played college hockey at Boston University before beginning a professional career that included 50 NHL games. The defenseman appeared for Colorado, San Jose, the New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Boston during parts of six NHL seasons.

25. Craig Darby – Oneida (Oneida County)

Craig Darby was born in Oneida and played college hockey at Providence College before Montreal selected him in the second round of the 1991 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4 center appeared in 196 NHL games with Montreal, the New York Islanders, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, finishing with 56 points.

Upstate New York NHL Pipeline: Quick Reference

For more New York hockey history, read our Complete History of the New York Rangers, Complete History of the New York Islanders, and New York Rangers History, 90 Years of Excitement and Heartbreak. For a broader look at notable people from the region, see 25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Upstate New York.