1973–74 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season

The 1973–74 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Minnesota in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach Herb Brooks the team compiled a 22–11–6 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the fifth time. The Golden Gophers defeated Michigan Tech 4–2 in the championship game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts to win their first national championship.

1973–74 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season
National Champion
Big Ten, co-Champion
WCHA Tournament, co-Champion
NCAA Tournament, Champion
Conference2nd WCHA
1st (tied) Big Ten
Home iceWilliams Arena
Record
Overall22–11–6
Conference14–9–5
Home11–4–3
Road8–7–3
Neutral3–0–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachHerb Brooks
Captain(s)Brad Shelstad
Alternate captain(s)John Matschke
John Perpich
Cal Cossalter
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey seasons
« 1972–73 1974–75 »

Season

Stumbling Out of the Gate

After a poor year in his first season as head coach, hopes were high for Herb Brooks in year two. In 1973 the NCAA had finally cracked down on teams importing over-aged players from Canada and had gone so far as to vacate Denver's participation in the national tournament.[1] While the majority of Canadian players who were already on NCAA teams were grandfathered into the new policy and allowed to play, no incoming players were permitted if they had played in any top-tier Canadian Junior League. Because Minnesota's team had been almost exclusively made up of native players for the past two decades the result of the renewed enforcement gave the Golden Gophers an advantage; because they had been actively recruiting players from Minnesota they were the primary destination for the best players in the state. However, because many NCAA teams were still made up of a majority of Canadians this advantage would not yet be realized.

Regardless of the recruiting practices, Minnesota went into the season looking to recover from a losing season and returned many players from the previous year. Senior netminder Brad Shelstad was named team captain and led the Golden Gophers against an improving Minnesota–Duluth squad in their season opener on the road. Minnesota dropped the contest 3–4 and then headed home to host defending National Champion Wisconsin and dropped to 0–3 on the season after losing both games. The Gophers then welcomed another Big Ten rival in Michigan and ended the weekend with an 0–4–1 record.

Recovery

This was a disaster for the Gophers, who were looking for more out of the young coach, but the next team up for Minnesota was North Dakota, who were in the midst of their second worst season since World War II.[2] The Golden Gophers dominated UND, outscoring the Fighting Sioux 18–6 in the two games. The following weekend Minnesota hit the road and played Michigan State. While the series was closer in score Minnesota once again won both games and pulled their record back to even. The golden Gophers returned home and played their first non-conference games of the season, taking another set of close matches against rising Saint Louis. After a week off Minnesota–Duluth arrived in Minneapolis and the Gophers were able to just finish ahead of the Bulldogs, tying the first game before winning the second.

At the end of December Minnesota played in the St. Louis Holiday Tournament. After opening with a win over Harvard, Minnesota faced the Billikens for the third time that season who were able to repay the Gophers with their 6–2 victory, leaving Minnesota as the runner-up. A day after the final Minnesota played the Czech National Team and through they lost the game 1–7 the contest was an exhibition match and did not count towards their record.

.500 Hockey

Minnesota began the second half of their regular season at North Dakota, taking both games to improve to 10–5–2 in the WCHA despite being held to two goals in both games. The Gophers continued their road swing against Minnesota–Duluth and lost both games, a trend that would mostly continue for the next month. After splitting two consecutive series Minnesota faced Wisconsin in mid-February with the Big Ten Championship up for grabs. Despite the Gophers' bad start Wisconsin had faltered down the stretch and the two were now tied for the lead.[3] The teams ended up tying both games to finish with identical 5–4–3 records.

With only WCHA games left on their schedule Minnesota had plenty of opportunity to finish atop the conference standings but they would need help. On February 14, Minnesota was behind Denver and Michigan Tech with Wisconsin trailing by one point. The Gophers, however, had an advantage in that they still had six conference games to play while Wisconsin had four and Denver had two. Michigan Tech was far in the lead with a 15–5–2 record and six WCHA games to play, but because the conference tournament would crown two co-Champions Minnesota could ensure home ice so long as they finished in the top two spots.

Minnesota's played two series against bottom-feeding teams in Notre Dame and Colorado College, winning three games and tying the other. The seven points put Minnesota firmly in the 2nd spot with 33 points while Michigan Tech being 5 points ahead ensured the Huskies with the Conference title. because the two teams could not meet in the WCHA tournament the regular season finale between the two would be the only meeting other than possibly for the national championship. With both team only playing for pride Michigan Tech used home ice to their advantage and easily defeated the Gophers, outscoring their opponents by 3 goals in each game. The poor end to the regular season, however would not put a damper on Minnesota's playoff hopes as they were set up to host each WCHA playoff round they could reach.

WCHA Tournament

Minnesota met Michigan in the opening round and got off to a good start in the first game, capturing the match 5–1. with a 4-goal advantage for the two-game aggregate series Minnesota had a comfortable lead but that did not stop them from winning the second contest, albeit with a much closer score. In the second round Minnesota welcomed Denver to Minneapolis. The Gopher's victory against the Pioneers in the regular season was their first since 1958 and Minnesota had to beat Denver once again if they wanted to make the NCAA tournament. The two heated rivals fought to a 3–3 tie in the first game leading to a decisive second game where Brad Shelstad held Denver to a single goal and gave Minnesota its third WCHA Tournament Championship (shared with Michigan Tech).

NCAA Tournament

The NCAA had altered its classification system in the summer of 1973[4] making the 1974 tournament the first official Division I championship. The renaming, however, meant nothing as far as any of the teams were concerned. The format and selection remained unchanged and, with their #2 western seed assured, Minnesota faced ECAC champion Boston University. The Terriers had knocked Minnesota out in its last tournament appearance but this time the Gophers were up for the challenge and eked out a narrow 5–4 win. The following night Michigan Tech won their game against Harvard in overtime to match the two WCHA teams in the final. While the Huskies had easily handles Minnesota two weeks earlier, the team had started to show cracks, tying once against the weak Notre Dame team and losing one of their games to Michigan State in the WCHA tournament. Even with the experienced John MacInnes at the helm Michigan Tech wasn't playing particularly well and Minnesota took advantage early. The Gophers outshot MTU 17–11 in the opening frame, with John Sheridan scoring the game's first goal in the 16th minute. John Perpich added a second marker early in the second but the two-goal lead seemed to wake up the Huskies who proved a much stiffer test in the middle period. George Lyle cut the lead in half and sent the match into the third with Minnesota clinging to a narrow margin. The Huskies, however, fell apart in the last 20 minutes, allowing Minnesota to outshoot them 14–3 and score twice more to gain a three-goal edge. High-scoring sophomore Mike Zuke netted MTU's second goal of the game but it came with less than a minute remaining and Minnesota won its first National Title.

Team Captain Brad Shelstad was named as the Tournament MOP and found himself on the All-Tournament Team along with teammates Les Auge and Mike Polich. Minnesota had none of its players make the AHCA All-American West Team[5] while Shelstad was the only member of the Gophers to make an All-WCHA Team,[6] earning first-team honors.

Minnesota had not been expected to compete for a national championship and even after the win Pat Phippen was at a loss for how to explain their surprise title.[7] This was due in part to Minnesota being the first team since Boston College in 1949 to win a championship with a team made up of primarily American players and were one Eric Lockwood game away from playing an entire season with only native Minnesotans. The All-American team was one of the most important wins for USA Hockey as it demonstrated that American players could compete with Canadians and gave professional teams one more reason why they should give US players a chance. The win by Minnesota was felt in the 1974 NHL amateur draft when Minnesota went from have no players taken in either of the previous two years to eight alumni selected in 1974.

Standings

1973–74 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Michigan Tech†*2820624215595402893218135
Minnesota*281495331251003922116171143
Denver2815112321261223822133171156
Michigan State2815121311501403823141207177
Wisconsin2812115291241053618135170141
Minnesota-Duluth2813141271131263821161167155
Michigan2812151251071313618171147162
Notre Dame2811161231251213614202159154
Colorado College2810162221201383213172155157
North Dakota28820016801473410231103169
Championship: Michigan Tech, Minnesota
indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Wisconsin125431355453618135170141
Minnesota125431350473922116171143
Michigan State125611161633823141207177
Michigan125611147593618171147162
indicates conference regular season champion

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Regular Season
October 27 at Minnesota–Duluth* Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota L 3–4  0–1
November 2 vs. Wisconsin Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 2–3  0–2 (0–1 / 0–1)
November 3 vs. Wisconsin Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 2–8  0–3 (0–2 / 0–2)
November 9 vs. Michigan Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota T 4–4 OT 0–3–1 (0–2–1 / 0–2–1)
November 10 vs. Michigan Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 3–4  0–4–1 (0–3–1 / 0–3–1)
November 16 vs. North Dakota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 7–3  1–4–1 (1–3–1 / 0–3–1)
November 17 vs. North Dakota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 11–3  2–4–1 (2–3–1 / 0–3–1)
November 23 at Michigan State Demonstration HallEast Lansing, Michigan W 6–3  3–4–1 (3–3–1 / 1–3–1)
November 24 at Michigan State Demonstration HallEast Lansing, Michigan W 4–3  4–4–1 (4–3–1 / 2–3–1)
November 30 vs. Saint Louis* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 3–2  5–4–1 (4–3–1 / 2–3–1)
December 1 vs. Saint Louis* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 7–5  6–4–1 (4–3–1 / 2–3–1)
December 14 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota T 3–3 OT 6–4–2 (4–3–2 / 2–3–1)
December 15 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 6–5  7–4–2 (5–3–2 / 2–3–1)
St. Louis Holiday Tournament
December 27 vs. Harvard* St. Louis ArenaSt. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Holiday Tournament) W 6–3  8–4–2 (5–3–2 / 2–3–1)
December 28 at Saint Louis* St. Louis ArenaSt. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Holiday Tournament) L 2–6  8–5–2 (5–3–2 / 2–3–1)
December 29 vs. Czech National Team* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota (Exhibition) L 1–7  8–5–2 (5–3–2 / 2–3–1)
January 4 at North Dakota Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 2–1  9–5–2 (6–3–2 / 2–3–1)
January 5 at North Dakota Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 2–1  10–5–2 (7–3–2 / 2–3–1)
January 11 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota L 3–4  10–6–2 (7–4–2 / 2–3–1)
January 12 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota L 2–5  10–7–2 (7–5–2 / 2–3–1)
January 18 vs. Michigan State Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 9–4  11–7–2 (8–5–2 / 3–3–1)
January 19 vs. Michigan State Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 6–3  12–7–2 (9–5–2 / 4–3–1)
January 25 at Michigan Yost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, Michigan W 4–2  13–7–2 (10–5–2 / 5–3–1)
January 26 at Michigan Yost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, Michigan L 3–6  13–8–2 (10–6–2 / 5–4–1)
February 1 vs. Denver Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 5–6  13–9–2 (10–7–2 / 5–4–1)
February 2 vs. Denver Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 10–2  14–9–2 (11–7–2 / 5–4–1)
February 8 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin T 3–3 OT 14–9–3 (11–7–3 / 5–4–2)
February 9 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin T 4–4 OT 14–9–4 (11–7–4 / 5–4–3)
February 15 vs. Notre Dame Athletic & Convocation CenterNotre Dame, Indiana W 7–2  15–9–4 (12–7–4 / 5–4–3)
February 16 vs. Notre Dame Athletic & Convocation CenterNotre Dame, Indiana W 6–3  16–9–4 (13–7–4 / 5–4–3)
February 22 at Colorado College Broadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado W 2–1  17–9–4 (14–7–4 / 5–4–2)
February 23 at Colorado College Broadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado T 6–6 OT 17–9–5 (14–7–5 / 5–4–3)
March 1 at Michigan Tech Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 2–5  17–10–5 (14–8–5 / 5–4–2)
March 2 at Michigan Tech Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 1–4  17–11–5 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
WCHA Tournament
March 5 vs. Michigan* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota (WCHA First Round Game 1) W 5–1  18–11–5 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
March 6 vs. Michigan* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota (WCHA First Round Game 2) W 5–4  19–11–5 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
Minnesota Wins Series 10-5
March 9 vs. Denver* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota (WCHA Second Round Game 1) T 3–3 OT 19–11–6 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
March 10 vs. Denver* Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota (WCHA Second Round Game 2) W 2–1  20–11–6 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
Minnesota Wins Series 5-4
NCAA Tournament
March 14 vs. Boston University* Boston GardenBoston, Massachusetts (National Semifinal) W 5–4  21–11–6 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
March 15 vs. Michigan Tech* Boston GardenBoston, Massachusetts (National Championship) W 4–2  22–11–6 (14–9–5 / 5–4–3)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[8]

Roster and scoring statistics

No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
7Mike PolichJuniorCHibbing, MN4019335236
20John HarrisSeniorCRoseau, MN391727444
24Buzz SchneiderSophomoreLWGrand Rapids, MN4024153938
9John SheridanFreshmanCMinneapolis, MN3824143842
14John MatschkeSeniorFWhite Bear Lake, MN3715233820
19Rob HarrisJuniorFRoseau, MN4020173722
6Les AugeJuniorDSaint Paul, MN408283658
11Pat PhippenFreshmanLWRoseville, MN407233016
Calvin CossalterJuniorCEveleth, MN3910192918
10Warren MillerSophomoreFSouth Saint Paul, MN4011162734
8Dick SpannbauerSophomoreDSaint Paul, MN402161890
2Brad MorrowSophomoreDAnoka, MN40391244
4John PerpichSeniorDHibbing, MN40291126
5Doug FallsJuniorDMinneapolis, MN37191028
23Thomas DahlheimJuniorRWBloomington, MN393692
3Joe MichelettiFreshmanD / CInternational Falls, MN2125710
12Bruce CarlsonSeniorLWEdina, MN4025710
15Tom VannelliFreshmanCSaint Paul, MN170334
21Tim CarlsonJuniorCEdina, MN111012
22Mike PhippenFreshmanFRoseville, MN20000
Eric LockwoodFreshmanGRegina, SK10000
30Bill MoenFreshmanGProctor, MN60000
1Brad ShelstadSeniorGMinneapolis, MN340000
Total

[9]

Goaltending statistics

No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
30Brad Shelstad34214811110750.9063.10
1Bill Moen6357251520.8594.20
30Eric Lockwood1606260.8136.00
Total40221161430

1974 Championship Game

(W1) Michigan Tech vs. (W2) Minnesota

Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MIN John Sheridan Miller, Phippen 15:26 1–0 MIN
2nd MIN John Perpich Morrow and Polich 23:24 2–0 MIN
MTU George Lyle D'Alvise 33:40 2–1 MIN
3rd MIN Robby HarrisGW Matschke 44:45 3–1 MIN
MIN Pat Phippen Sheridan 57:17 4–1 MIN
MTU Mike Zuke Steele and Stamler 59:12 4–2 MIN

Players drafted into the NHL/WHA

1974 NHL amateur draft

= Did not play in the NHL
RoundPickPlayerNHL Team
346Dick SpannbauerAtlanta Flames
693Tom SundbergCalifornia Golden Seals
696John SheridanMinnesota North Stars
698Buzz SchneiderPittsburgh Penguins
6100Bill Moen (ice hockey)Atlanta Flames
7123Joe MichelettiMontreal Canadiens
13211Brad MorrowPhiladelphia Flyers
21241Warren MillerNew York Rangers

[8]

1974 WHA Amateur Draft

= Did not play in the WHA
RoundPickPlayerWHA Team
115Dick SpannbauerHouston Aeros
567Paul HolmgrenEdmonton Oilers
573Buzz SchneiderMinnesota Fighting Saints
797Tom SundbergEdmonton Oilers
8106Joe MichelettiCincinnati Stingers
9121John SheridanIndianapolis Racers
11161Warren MillerNew England Whalers
13188Robin LarsonMinnesota Fighting Saints
14201Joe BakerMinnesota Fighting Saints
15212Tony DornMinnesota Fighting Saints
16220Reed LarsonMinnesota Fighting Saints

† Incoming Freshman.
‡ Sundberg played for Minnesota in 1972–73.

[8]

References

  1. "Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship History". NCAA. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  2. "North Dakota Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  3. "Wisconsin Hockey 2018-19 Record Book" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. "NCAA Classifications". College Hockey Historical Archive. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  5. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  6. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. "Herb Brooks: The Inside Story of a Hockey Mastermind". MVP Books. 27 September 2010. ISBN 9780760339954. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  8. "Minnesota men's hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  9. "Minnesota Golden Gophers 1973-74 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
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