1953 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament

1953 NCAA men's
ice hockey tournament
Teams4
Finals site
ChampionsMichigan Wolverines (4th title)
Runner-upMinnesota Golden Gophers (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachVic Heyliger (4th title)
MOPJohn Matchefts (Michigan)
Attendance7,450

The 1953 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1952–53 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the sixth such tournament in NCAA history. It was held from March 12 to 14, 1953, and concluded with Michigan defeating Minnesota 7-3. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Michigan's win capped off its third consecutive National Championship. As of 2018 no team has been able to match that achievement. Additionally, their 14 goals in the semifinal game against Boston University were the most ever for an NCAA tournament game, matched only by Minnesota in 1954. The Wolverines' goal differential (+16) is also a record for an NCAA tournament, equaling the record set by Colorado College in 1950 and matched by Wisconsin in 1983.

For the first time since the tournament began the 'Most Outstanding Player' was awarded to someone from the championship team.

Qualifying teams

Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The two best MCHL teams and a Tri-State League representative received bids into the tournament as did one independent school.

East West
Seed School Conference Record Berth type Appearance Last bid Seed School Conference Record Berth type Appearance Last bid
1 Rensselaer Tri-State League 14–3–1 At-Large 1st Never 1 Michigan MCHL 15–7–0 At-Large 6th 1952
2 Boston University Independent 14–5–1 At-Large 3rd 1951 2 Minnesota MCHL 22–5–0 At-Large 1st Never

[1]

Format

The eastern team judged as better was seeded as the top eastern team while the MCHL champion was given the top western seed. The second eastern seed was slotted to play the top western seed and vice versa. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. All matches were Single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game and the losers playing in a consolation game.

Bracket

Semifinals
March 12–13
National championship
March 14
      
E1 Rensselaer 2
W2 Minnesota 3
W2 Minnesota 3
W1 Michigan 7
W1 Michigan 14
E2 Boston University 2 Third-place game
E1 Rensselaer 6
E2 Boston University 3

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

Results

Semifinals

Minnesota vs. Rensselaer

March 12 Minnesota 3 – 2 Rensselaer Broadmoor Ice Palace Recap  
(Yackel, Tschida) Bob Johnson - PP - 08:48 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 02:12 - Frank Chiarelli (unassisted)
(Johnson, Yackel) Dick Meredith - PP - 04:35
(Mayasich, Campbell) Dick Dougherty - GW - 16:02
Third period 17:34 - Frank Chiarelli (unassisted)
Jim Mattson Goalie stats Bob Fox


Michigan vs. Boston University

March 13 Michigan 14 – 2 Boston University Broadmoor Ice Palace Recap  
(Philpott) George Chin - 03:12
(Shave) Ron Martinson - 04:19
(unassisted) John Matchefts - GW - 04:42
(Martinson) Telly Mascarin - 07:51
(Chin, Cooney) Doug Mullen - 13:43
First period No scoring
(unassisted) Burt Dunn - 04:03
(MacLellan) Burt Dunn - 04:16
(MacLellan, Philpott) George Chin - 11:00
Second period No scoring
(Matchefts) Doug Philpott - 02:32
(Cooney, Chin) Doug Mullen - 15:13
(Chin, Mullen) Pat Cooney - 15:44
(unassisted) Ron Martinson - 17:03
(Mullen) Alex MacLellan - 19:36
(unassisted) Ron Martinson - 19:57
Third period 09:01 - Richard Rodenhiser (Denning)
14:57 - Mario Zanetti (Whalen)
Willard Ikola (21 saves / 22 saves) / Bill Lucier (3 saves / 4 shots) Goalie stats


Consolation Game

Boston University vs. Rensselaer

March 14 Boston University 3 – 6 Rensselaer Broadmoor Ice Palace  
No Scoring First period 09:57 - Gordie Peterkin (Paradise)
15:43 - Abbie Moore (unassisted)
(Zanetti, Tutuny) Paul Whalen - 04:45 Second period 10:04 - Ambrose Mosco (Moore)
16:34 - Abbie Moore (unassisted)
(Zanetti) Paul Whalen - 03:21
(Zanetti) Paul Cleary - 17:13
Third period 10:49 - Abbie Moore (unassisted)
14:29 - Abbie Moore (unassisted)


National Championship

Minnesota vs. Michigan

March 14 Minnesota 3 – 7 Michigan Broadmoor Ice Palace


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st UM Jim Haas MacLellan 05:48 1–0 UM
MIN Dick Meredith Yackel 8:39 1–1
MIN Dick Dougherty Campbell 11:34 2–1 MIN
2nd UM Doug Philpott Shave 26:15 2–2
UM Doug Mullen Chin and Cooney 31:08 3–2 UM
3rd UM John MatcheftsGW PP unassisted 43:38 4–2 UM
UM Jim Haas unassisted 47:17 5–2 UM
UM Doug PhilpottPP Haas 49:14 6–2 UM
MIN Ken Yackel Johnson and Dougherty 50:42 6–3 UM
UM John MatcheftsEN Philpott 59:49 7–3 UM

[2]

References

  1. ^ "NCAA Division 1 Tournament". College Hockey Historical Archives. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  2. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  3. ^ "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 17, 2013.