50 KINGS – Kevin Westgarth

For a Psychology and Pre-Med major at Princeton University, a professional hockey career would seem like a far-flung dream. Former NHL player and LA Kings alumnus, Kevin Westgarth, should know.

Westgarth played college hockey at Princeton from 2003-2007 before signing with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent during March of 2007.

“As my career progressed and I realized what kind of player I could be, I realized I had a great chance to develop my skills: skating, passing, shooting while playing in college, and in the summer working on the more pugilistic arts – I took some boxing lessons and made sure that part of my game was ready if called upon,” says Westgarth, who remembers seeing fellow Princeton grad and Kings alumnus, George Parros, have success as an enforcer in the NHL.

“I think it just boils down to doing whatever it took to keep playing, and I was very lucky and absolutely thrilled when the Kings came calling and I was able to sign a contract and head right up to Manchester to start my professional hockey career,” says the 32-year-old Westgarth.

Reporting directly to the Kings’ minor-league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, Westgarth was well aware of the Kings’ struggles and significant playoff drought.

“In LA, a lack of success doesn’t particularly lead to a bigger fan base, so I think everybody involved knew and were very cognizant of trying to improve as a team, as an organization. It was exciting to be a part of,” says Westgarth, who cracked the Kings roster during the Fall of 2010.

Although he played in Los Angeles the next two seasons, many of Westgarth’s fondest memories from his time in the Kings organization came during his days with the Monarchs.

“I lived with Quicky in Manchester,” says Westgarth, referring to goalie Jonathan Quick. “It’s kind of crazy to think back on where we were at all those years ago – seems like a lifetime ago and I guess it was in a certain way. But even beyond that, there were a bunch of guys in Manchester that were coming up at the same time and a lot of the guys are still there between Jonathan Quick, Trevor Lewis, Alec Martinez…it’s pretty amazing to have had that time to grow with a number of the guys who have become part of the foundation for the Kings.”

“There were some amazing times in Manchester between all the guys, it was like a second version of college in a way,” Westgarth continues. “Everybody was in town for the same reason – to hopefully live out their dream and make it to the NHL.”

Not only did they live out that dream together, but the crowning moment came in 2012 when that group of guys who had been playing in the minors just two seasons prior, helped …

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