Welsh scores first NHL goal (w/ videos)

by Ryan Fay

Friday night was one to remember for former Union center Jeremy Welsh.

Welsh after Friday's win

He scored his first goal in the National Hockey League and in the process became the first former Union player to record a goal at that level.

Welsh, who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks, accomplished the feat with 29 seconds left in the third period of Vancouver's 6-2 win over Columbus. He tipped a Ryan Stanton shot past Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

"It feels good," Welsh said on Canucks TV. "It's been a while coming, so it's a milestone in anyone's career. It feels good. I'm glad it's over with."

Entering Friday's contest, Welsh had one assist in 20 career NHL games with Vancouver and Carolina. The helper came in Carolina's 4-2 loss to Montreal on March 7. Vancouver acquired Welsh in a September trade with Carolina.

Welsh surrendered his senior season at Union when he signed with Carolina in the hours after Union's Frozen Four semifinal loss to Ferris State on April 5, 2012.

The Ontario native finished his Union career with 100 points (53 g, 47 a) in 119 games.

VIDEO: Welsh's first NHL goal



VIDEO: Welsh speaks after the game



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