1956–57 Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey season

The 1956–57 Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team represented Colorado College in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Tom Bedecki, the team compiled a 25–5–0 record, outscored opponents 205 to 106, and won the 1957 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The Tigers defeated Michigan 13–6 in the championship game at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CC tied the record for the most goals scored in a championship game (1950) and combined with the Wolverines for the most total goals in a title game (19). As of 2018 this is the last time Colorado College has won the national title in ice hockey.

1956–57 Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey season
National Champion
WIHL Champion
1957 NCAA Tournament, Champion
Conference1st WIHL
Home iceBroadmoor World Arena
Record
Overall25–5–0
Home19–1
Road4–4
Neutral2–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachTom Bedecki
Captain(s)Don Wishart[1]
Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey seasons
« 1955–56 1957–58 »

Season

After appearing in the first five national tournaments Colorado College had made the championship once in the next four years. CC's fortunes turned the year before when Bill Hay, a standout junior player from Saskatchewan hitchhiked down to Colorado Springs and was able to talk both himself and his fried Bob McCusker into athletic scholarships.[2] Both players made their varsity debut in 1956–57, as did much of the team, and the Tigers quickly jumped to the top of the standings. After opening the regular season against two junior teams from Canada, CC welcomed four different collegiate opponents into their building and won every single game.

With the Tigers sporting a 12-0 record they hit the road for the first time but didn't have to leave the state when they travelled to Denver to face the Pioneers. Colorado College's perfect record was spoiled with a 3–6 defeat but the returned the favor the next night at home, beating their in-state rival 8–7 in overtime. The Tigers hosted another pair of Canadian junior teams before heading north to face an improving Fighting Sioux team and lost both matches. Two days later CC finally won its first road game of the season, beating Minnesota twice before returning to Colorado to take the second home-and-home series against Denver. After redeeming themselves against North Dakota in two home wins the Tigers split a road series with Michigan Tech to close out their season.

Despite CC's struggles on the road the team was able to win the WIHL title handily and, with a superb 19–1 home record, post the best season in team history (As of 2018). Colorado College was led back to the NCAA tournament by Hay and McCusker who finished first (tied) and third in scoring in the nation. Both players earned their way onto one of the two All-American Teams as did team captain Don Wishart and all three players were first-team All-WIHL.

Befitting the western champion, Colorado College was selected as the #1 seed in the west and opened the tournament against Clarkson who had compiled an undefeated season the year before and followed that up with a stellar 18–2 mark. Despite the two teams' success the Golden Knights were completely outmatched by older and larger CC team. While the final score was relatively close, 5–3 with a hat-trick from Bob McCusker, the Tigers nearly tripled the number of shots from Clarkson (60–21) and the Green and Gold couldn't score enough to reward the valiant effort from the goaltender Eddie MacDonald.

In the title tilt CC found itself pitted against two-time defending champion Michigan who had won five of the six national titles since CC earned its first championship in 1950. The Wolverines had utterly dominated the series between the two teams over the previous decade and won all three games the pair played in the NCAA Tournament despite every game being played at the Broadmoor World Arena. None of those losses, however, had come with Hay and McCusker on the team and the two sophomores combined to score the first three goals of the contest. Showing the championship mettle, Michigan responded with three of their own before the first period was over and erased the CC advantage. CC goalie Bob Southwood settled down in the second period and when the Tigers scored three more times the Wolverines could only muster one in response. Even with a two-goal lead the Tigers didn't pull back in the third and after McCusker opened the scoring with his third of the game the rest of the team followed suit and score five more times before Michigan got its fifth but by then it was far too late and the Tigers eventually cruised to a 13–6 victory, winning their second National Title.

Bob McCusker tied the NCAA records for goals (4) and points (6) in a championship game and was the logical choice for Most Outstanding Player. McCusker was accompanied by Bill Hay and Don Wishart on the All-Tournament First Team while Dick McGhee and John Andrews made the Second Team.

Standings
1956–57 Western Intercollegiate Hockey League
Conference Overall
GP W L T PCT PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Colorado College†181440.778199369302550199105
Michigan181341.75016½765525185211279
North Dakota221390.591138272291811012699
Michigan Tech20884.50012½807628149513397
Denver186111.361964742812142121105
Minnesota247152.3338699229121529696
Michigan State205150.250642682271506271
† indicates conference regular season champion
Note: All games played between league members counted in the standings. When teams played each other twice, two points were awarded for a win, one point for a tie.

When teams met each other four times, one point was awarded for a win, one-half point for a tie. Maximum 24 points available.[3]

Schedule

Conference games against Michigan State, Michigan Tech and Minnesota were only worth 1 point in the standings.

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Exhibition
November 30 vs. Colorado College Alumni* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 2–1 
December 1 vs. Colorado College Alumni* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 9–5 
Regular Season
December 6 vs. Humboldt Indians* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 8–4  1–0–0
December 8 vs. Humboldt Indians* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 12–3  2–0–0
December 13 vs. St. Boniface Canadiens* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 12–2  3–0–0
December 15 vs. St. Boniface Canadiens* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 15–5  4–0–0
December 18 vs. Michigan Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 5–4  5–0–0 (1–0–0)
December 19 vs. Michigan Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 7–5  6–0–0 (2–0–0)
December 21 vs. Michigan State Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 8–2  7–0–0 (3–0–0)
December 22 vs. Michigan State Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 7–1  8–0–0 (4–0–0)
January 1 vs. Yale* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 10–0  9–0–0 (4–0–0)
January 2 vs. Yale* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 17–3  10–0–0 (4–0–0)
January 4 vs. Minnesota Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 4–1  11–0–0 (5–0–0)
January 5 vs. Minnesota Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 5–3  12–0–0 (6–0–0)
January 11 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 3–6  12–1–0 (6–1–0)
January 12 vs. Denver Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 8–7 OT 13–1–0 (7–1–0)
January 26 vs. Regina Pats* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 5–3  14–1–0 (7–1–0)
January 28 vs. Regina Pats* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 8–1  15–1–0 (7–1–0)
February 2 vs. Flin Flon Bombers* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado L 3–5  15–2–0 (7–1–0)
February 4 vs. Flin Flon Bombers* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 4–2  16–2–0 (7–1–0)
February 8 at North Dakota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota L 3–6  16–3–0 (7–2–0)
February 9 at North Dakota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota L 4–5  16–4–0 (7–3–0)
February 11 at Minnesota St. Paul Auditorium • Saint Paul, Minnesota W 3–2 OT 17–4–0 (8–3–0)
February 12 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota W 5–2  18–4–0 (9–3–0)
February 15 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 6–4  19–4–0 (10–3–0)
February 16 vs. Denver Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 4–3  20–4–0 (11–3–0)
February 19 vs. North Dakota Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 6–4  21–4–0 (12–3–0)
February 20 vs. North Dakota Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 7–6 OT 22–4–0 (13–3–0)
March 2 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan L 3–4  22–5–0 (13–4–0)
March 3 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan W 5–4  23–5–0 (14–4–0)
NCAA Tournament
March 14 vs. Clarkson* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National Semifinal) W 5–3  24–5–0 (14–4–0)
March 16 vs. Michigan* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National Championship) W 13–6  25–5–0 (14–4–0)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[4]

Roster and scoring statistics
No.NameYearPositionHometownS/P/CGamesGoalsAssistsPtsPIM
Bill HaySophomoreCSaskatoon, SK30284573–
Bob McCuskerSophomoreFSaskatoon, SK–472471–
Ike ScottSophomoreRWGravenhurst, ON–252146–
Harry HarasynSophomoreCYorkton, SK–211738–
Don WishartSeniorD/FRosetown, SK–102737–
John AndrewsSophomoreLWFort William, ON–62935–
Bud HubchikSeniorFGrandview, MB–21930–
George deRappardSeniorLWWestlock, AB–121426–
Harley PattersonSophomoreLWHythe, AB–16622–
Ron LaughlinSophomoreCDrumheller, AB–61622–
Murray DeaSophomoreRWEdmonton, AB–61218–
Gary HughesSeniorDRed Deer, AB–51318–
Gerry CapelloSophomoreD/COttawa, ON–41317–
Ron VilleneuveSophomoreDCornwall, ON–279–
Dick McGheeSophomoreDCalgary, AB–279–
Bob TannerSophomoreRWTrail, BC–145–
Ernest RotondoSophomoreDSouth Porcupine, ON–––––
Total212264476
  • Colorado College players are reported to have collectively scored 212 goals over the course of the season but the team only scored 199 times (during the regular season).

[5]

Goaltending statistics
No.NameGamesMinutesWinsLossesTiesGoals AgainstSavesShut OutsSV %GAA
Bob Southwood17–––––––––
Howard Viger14–––––––––
Total30–––––––––

1957 Championship Game

(W1) Colorado College vs. (W2) Michigan
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st CC Bob McCusker Scott and McGhee 3:15 1–0 CC
CC Bill Hay McCusker 8:04 2–0 CC
CC Bob McCusker Hay and Capello 11:39 3–0 CC
UM Dick Dunnigan unassisted 13:14 3–1 CC
UM Neil McDonald unassisted 17:30 3–2 CC
UM John Hutton McDonald 17:57 3–3
2nd CC Murray Dea Laughlin 24:52 4–3 CC
CC John Andrews Hubchik 26:18 5–3 CC
UM Ed Switzer Dunnigan 30:18 5–4 CC
CC Bill Hay McCusker and McGhee 34:05 6–4 CC
3rd CC Bob McCusker – GW Dea 41:23 7–4 CC
CC Harley Patterson Harasyn 46:20 8–4 CC
CC Don Hersack Hubchik and Andrews 49:10 9–4 CC
CC Harry Harasyn Patterson 52:59 10–4 CC
CC Bob McCusker Hay 53:47 11–4 CC
CC Don Hersack Hubchik 54:53 12–4 CC
UM Tom Rendall Starr 55:15 12–5 CC
CC Don Wishart deRappard 56:11 13–5 CC
UM Neil McDonald Switzer 56:36 13–6 CC
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st CC Bob Southwood 2:00
CC Bunt Hubchik 2:00
2nd UM Bob Schiller 2:00
UM Bob Schiller 2:00
CC Gary Hughes 2:00
3rd UM Dick Dunnigan 2:00
UM Tom Rendall 2:00
CC Bob McCusker 2:00
CC Gerry Capello 2:00


See also

References
  1. "Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame". Colorado College Tigers. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  2. "Bill "Red" Hay". Greatest Hockey Legends. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  3. "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 97-112" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  4. "Colorado College 2017-18 Hockey Media Guide". Colorado College Tigers. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  5. "Colorado College 1956-57 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  6. "Colorado College 2013-14 Media Guide" (PDF). CC Tigers. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
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