LAS VEGAS — Judd Caulfield skated onto the ice at T-Mobile Arena on Friday night wearing a No. 28 Anaheim Ducks jersey and no helmet.
He completed a couple of rookie laps — an NHL tradition for those playing in their first game in the league.
The Grand Forks native made it.
Caulfield made his NHL debut for the Anaheim Ducks against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The former Central standout became the sixth player from Grand Forks to play in the NHL, joining Fido Purpur, Ryan Potulny, Luke Johnson, Paul LaDue and Jon Lizotte.
Caulfield also became the 115th former UND player to play in the NHL.
“It’s something I dreamed about my whole life,” Caulfield said.
Caulfield played 16 shifts for a total of 13:17 in ice time. He registered a plus-1 rating and delivered two hits.
The Ducks won 4-3.
“He had a real good camp,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. “He looks like he’s improved his quickness and pace to his game. He’s an up-and-down winger who plays hard. He took advantage of an opportunity based on his performance.”
Caulfield was on an American Hockey League contract last season, but had a breakout campaign with the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim’s top affiliate.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound winger tallied a career-high 17 goals and 38 points for San Diego.
“His last couple years down there,” Quenneville said. “He’s consistently gotten better and better. We’re looking forward to him helping us.”
In the offseason, Anaheim signed Caulfield to an NHL contract, then he made the big club out of camp.
Caulfield’s parents and one brother made it to Vegas for the game.
Anaheim returns home for its second game of the season against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.
Schlossman has covered college hockey for the Grand Forks Herald since 2005. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the top beat writer for the Herald’s circulation division four times and the North Dakota sportswriter of the year twice. He resides in Grand Forks. Reach him at bschlossman@gfherald.com.