Former Amarillo Bulls Goalie Wins Stanley Cup

Sometimes, we get a really cool sports story out of Amarillo. We've had plenty of players from Amarillo go on to do big things in professional sports, and we've had others who have just been passing through in their journey.

Now, we can say that one of those passing through people is a Stanley Cup Champion.

Get our free mobile app

Former Amarillo Bulls Player A Champ

Brandon Bussi is a goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes. I'm sorry, the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. Bussi has had what I like to call a "grind it" career. He wasn't a top prospect, wasn't drafted to the NHL, and had to earn every opportunity he ever got.

One of those opportunities was a chance to play with our very own Amarillo Bulls from 2016 to 2018. He was looking for an opportunity to play college hockey, and the NAHL is a wonderful place to showcase skills. He did just that, and after a couple of years in net, he landed at Western Michigan University, where he was a very solid goalie.

Bussi's Journey To The NHL

In 2022, he announced he would forgo his final year of college eligibility to sign with the Boston Bruins of the NHL. They assigned him to their AHL affiliate, where he had a very successful season after being extended from a short run. His stats dipped a bit in Providence, but they were still good enough for the Bruins to extend him again. After three years with the organization, he left and signed a two-way contract with the Florida Panthers in 2025.

That stint was short-lived as just three months later, he was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes. That became the turning point in his career. The Hurricanes' backup goalie suffered an injury, and he made the opening night roster as the team's backup goalie. He ended up seeing action in 39 games, posting solid numbers.

As the Hurricanes entered the playoffs, he was named the backup goalie. His chance came during game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals when starting goalie Frederik Andersen was pulled after allowing 4 goals. Bussi never looked back. He was named the starter for game 4, where he helped deliver a 5-3 victory. Bussi found himself back in net for game 5, where he delivered a shutout performance to bring the Stanley Cup to the Hurricanes.

30 famous people you might not know were college athletes

Stacker dug deep to find 30 celebrities who were previously college athletes. There are musicians, politicians, actors, writers, and reality TV stars. For some, an athletic career was a real, promising possibility that ultimately faded away due to injury or an alternate calling. Others scrapped their way onto a team and simply played for fun and the love of the sport. Read on to find out if your favorite actor, singer, or politician once sported a university jersey.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli

LOOK: Biggest underdog victories in March Madness

Every spring, legions of sports fans turn their attention to college basketball when March Madness takes the national spotlight. Using aggregated Associated Press data, BestOdds has come up with 10 of the biggest—and most unlikely—underdog wins in March Madness history.

Gallery Credit: Brian Budzynski

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman

Filed Under: Amarillo Texas