1980–81 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season

1980–81 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
DurationOctober 1980–
March 28, 1981
NCAA tournament1981
National championshipDuluth Arena
Duluth, Minnesota
NCAA championWisconsin
Hobey Baker AwardNeal Broten
(Minnesota)
List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey seasons
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

The 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1980 and concluded with the 1981 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 28, 1981 at the Duluth Arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This was the 34th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 87th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

For the first time the Hobey Baker Award was conferred after the conclusion of the regular season.

After the season four teams from the WCHA left to join the CCHA. As a result of dividing the four Big Ten schools that had previously been in the WCHA the Big Ten stopped declaring a conference ice hockey champion until the formation of a separate conference in 2013–14.

Season Outlook

Pre-season poll

The top teams in the nation voted on by coaches before the start of the season. The poll was compiled by radio station WMPL.

WMPL Poll
Rank Team
1 Minnesota
2 Michigan Tech
3 Providence
4 Boston College
5 Wisconsin
6 North Dakota
7 Northern Michigan
8 Michigan
9 (tie) Denver
9 (tie) Minnesota Duluth

Regular season

Season tournaments

Tournament Dates Teams Champion
Elmira Invitational November 14–15 4 St. Lawrence
North Country Thanksgiving Festival November 27–29 4 Clarkson
Empire Cup December 20–21 4 Colgate
I Love New York Tournament November 22–24 4 St. Lawrence
Great Lakes Invitational December 27–28 4 Michigan Tech
First National Hockey Tournament December 27–29 4 Cornell
Western Michigan Tournament December 28–29 4 Western Michigan
Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 28–30 4 Maine
Auld Lang Syne Classic December 30–31 4 Dartmouth
Yale Invitational January 2–3 4 North Dakota
Colonial Bank Hockey Invitational January 3–4 4 Clarkson
Beanpot February 2, 9 4 Harvard

Standings

1980–81 Big Ten standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T Pct. GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota† 10 9 1 0 .900 61 35 45 33 12 0 261 174
Wisconsin 10 5 5 0 .500 45 45 42 27 14 1 218 155
Michigan 12 4 8 0 .333 42 54 40 23 17 0 185 161
Michigan State 8 2 6 0 .250 23 37 36 12 22 2 116 144
† indicates conference regular season champion
1980–81 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Northern Michigan†* 22 18 4 0 36 115 81 44 27 14 3 201 158
Ohio State 22 15 6 1 31 107 82 39 24 12 3 189 149
Ferris State 22 13 9 0 26 101 92 36 20 14 2 166 144
Bowling Green 22 10 12 0 20 98 99 39 13 24 2 153 188
Western Michigan 22 8 13 1 17 99 107 36 15 19 2 178 165
Lake Superior State 22 6 15 1 13 101 134 36 14 21 1 183 202
Miami^ 12 0 11 1 1 42 68 35 16 17 2 174 142
Championship: Northern Michigan
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
^ Only Miami's road games were counted for conference standings
1980–81 ECAC Hockey standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T Pct. GF GA GP W L T GF GA
East Region
Boston College 22 13 6 3 .659 85 72 31 20 8 3 126 100
Maine 21 12 9 0 .571 101 93 34 23 11 0 197 147
Northeastern 21 12 9 0 .571 118 104 26 13 13 0 140 139
Providence* 22 12 9 1 .568 106 90 33 17 15 1 165 143
New Hampshire 24 13 10 1 .563 128 100 33 19 13 1 166 129
Boston University 22 10 12 0 .455 87 88 29 14 15 0 115 116
West Region
Clarkson† 20 17 2 1 .875 119 65 37 26 7 4 202 119
Colgate 20 12 7 1 .625 99 84 35 21 12 2 194 150
Rensselaer 21 10 11 0 .476 98 83 29 16 13 0 158 118
St. Lawrence 22 9 12 1 .432 77 87 33 15 16 2 137 126
Vermont 22 4 16 2 .227 81 114 34 9 23 2 136 173
Ivy Region
Cornell 22 12 9 1 .568 95 79 31 19 11 1 144 110
Yale 21 11 9 1 .548 96 101 26 13 12 1 127 137
Princeton 21 10 11 0 .476 78 99 25 12 13 0 93 111
Harvard 21 8 12 1 .405 79 98 26 11 14 1 103 119
Dartmouth 22 8 14 0 .364 87 115 26 10 16 0 100 138
Brown 22 3 18 1 .159 67 125 26 5 20 1 83 144
Independent
Army^ - - - - - - - 35 21 13 1 230 160
Championship: Providence
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
^ Army had been accepted into ECAC Hockey but had not begun a conference schedule
1980–81 NCAA Division I Independent ice hockey standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Air Force 0 0 0 0 - - - 26 13 13 0 103 128
Kent State 0 0 0 0 - - - 35 17 18 0
US International 0 0 0 0 - - - 21 8 13 0
1980–81 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota†* 28 20 8 0 40 152 104 45 33 12 0 261 174
Wisconsin 28 17 11 0 34 131 101 42 27 14 1 218 155
Michigan Tech* 28 17 11 0 34 118 102 44 29 14 1 195 155
Denver 28 15 11 2 32 120 111 40 23 15 2 233 197
Michigan 28 15 13 0 30 138 122 40 23 17 0 185 161
North Dakota 28 14 12 2 30 133 134 38 21 15 2 186 168
Colorado College 28 12 16 0 24 128 142 36 17 19 0 174 183
Minnesota-Duluth 28 11 17 0 22 120 150 39 17 21 1 165 197
Notre Dame 28 9 18 1 19 100 137 36 13 21 2 139 166
Michigan State 28 7 20 1 15 82 119 36 12 22 2 116 144
Championship: Michigan Tech, Minnesota
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

[1][2][3]

Final regular season polls

The final top 10 teams as ranked by coaches (WMPL) before the conference tournament finals.

WMPL Coaches Poll
Ranking Team
1 Minnesota
2 Clarkson
3 Wisconsin
3 (tie) Michigan Tech
5 Northern Michigan
6 Denver
7 Boston College
8 North Dakota
9 Colgate
10 Michigan
10 (tie) New Hampshire

1981 NCAA Tournament

Main article: 1981 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
Quarterfinals
March 19–21 		Semifinals
March 25–26 		National championship
March 27
           
E1 Clarkson 2 6 8
W4 Wisconsin 3 6 9
W4 Wisconsin 5
W2 Northern Michigan 1
W2 Northern Michigan 7 3 10
E3 Cornell 3 4 7
W4 Wisconsin 6
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 9 5 14
E4 Colgate 4 4 8
W1 Minnesota 7 Third-place game
W3 Michigan Tech 2
E2 Providence 3 5 8 W2 Northern Michigan 2
W3 Michigan Tech 7 6 13 W3 Michigan Tech 5

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

[4]

Player stats

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM
Aaron Broten Sophomore Minnesota 45 47 59 106 24
Steve Ulseth Senior Minnesota 45 41 52 93 18
Steve Bozek Junior Northern Michigan 44 35 55 90 46
Jeff Pyle Junior Northern Michigan 40 35 53 88 20
Bryan Erickson Sophomore Minnesota 44 39 47 86 30
Troy Murray Freshman North Dakota 38 33 45 78 28
Scott Lecy Senior Wisconsin 42 26 49 75 44
Ross Fitzpatrick Junior Western Michigan 36 28 43 71 22
Neal Broten Sophomore Minnesota 36 17 54 71 56
Dan Fridgen Junior Colgate 33 37 31 68 164
Bryan Cleaver Senior Clarkson 37 24 44 68 38

[5]

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Class Team GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA
Don Sylvestri Freshman Clarkson 29 1740 22 3 4 84 2 .904 2.92
Gary Laskoski Junior St. Lawrence 21 1196 10 10 1 64 0 .895 3.21
Frank Krieber Senior Michigan Tech 28 1701 - - - 91 1 .895 3.21
Jeff Poeschl Freshman Northern Michigan 32 1855 20 9 2 101 1 .895 3.27
Marc Behrend Sophomore Wisconsin 16 913 11 4 1 50 0 .909 3.29
Alain Chevrier Freshman Miami 19 1053 8 10 1 73 0 - 3.40
Darren Eliot Sophomore Cornell 18 912 8 7 0 52 1 .908 3.42
Scott Robinson Junior Denver 31 1885 17 12 2 110 0 .882 3.50
Mike Blake Senior Ohio State 37 2098 22 9 3 125 2 .896 3.57
Brian Hayward Junior Cornell 19 967 11 4 1 58 1 .904 3.60

[5]

Awards

1981 NHL Entry Draft

Main article: 1981 NHL Entry Draft
Round Pick Player College Conference NHL team
1 9 James Patrick † North Dakota WCHA New York Rangers
2 27 Dave Donnelly † North Dakota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
2 33 Tom Hirsch † Minnesota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
2 34 David Preuss † Minnesota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
2 37 Rich Costello † Providence ECAC Hockey Philadelphia Flyers
2 40 Chris Chelios † Wisconsin WCHA Montreal Canadiens
4 64 Kirk McCaskill Vermont ECAC Hockey Winnipeg Jets
4 68 Anthony Kellin † Minnesota WCHA Washington Capitals
4 71 Paul Houck † Wisconsin WCHA Edmonton Oilers
4 76 James Malwitz † Minnesota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
4 81 Marty Dallman Rensselaer ECAC Hockey Los Angeles Kings
5 85 Marc Behrend Wisconsin WCHA Winnipeg Jets
5 88 Steve Rooney † Providence ECAC Hockey Montreal Canadiens
5 95 Ed Lee Princeton ECAC Hockey Quebec Nordiques
6 106 Bob O'Connor Boston College ECAC Hockey Winnipeg Jets
6 108 Bruce Driver Wisconsin WCHA Colorado Rockies
6 114 Eric Magnuson Rensselaer ECAC Hockey New York Rangers
6 117 Bill Schafhauser Northern Michigan CCHA Chicago Blackhawks
6 118 Paul Guay † Providence ECAC Hockey Minnesota North Stars
6 119 Bruce Milton Boston University ECAC Hockey Boston Bruins
6 124 Tom Anastos † Michigan State WCHA Montreal Canadiens
7 135 Mike Guentzel † Minnesota WCHA New York Rangers
7 139 Jim Archibald † North Dakota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
7 141 Rick Heppner † Wisconsin WCHA Calgary Flames
7 143 Dan McFall † Michigan State WCHA Winnipeg Jets
7 144 Peter Sawkins † Yale ECAC Hockey Los Angeles Kings
7 145 Tom Kurvers Minnesota–Duluth WCHA Montreal Canadiens
8 149 Rick Zombo † North Dakota WCHA Detroit Red Wings
8 163 Steve Taylor Providence ECAC Hockey Philadelphia Flyers
8 164 Gaetano Orlando Providence ECAC Hockey Buffalo Sabres
8 165 Dan Brennan North Dakota WCHA Los Angeles Kings
8 166 Paul Gess † Lake Superior State CCHA Montreal Canadiens
9 171 Tim Army Providence ECAC Hockey Colorado Rockies
9 172 Jeff Poeschl Northern Michigan CCHA Hartford Whalers
9 173 George White New Hampshire ECAC Hockey Washington Capitals
9 177 Paul Reifenberger † Western Michigan CCHA New York Rangers
9 181 Scott Bjugstad Minnesota WCHA Minnesota North Stars
9 182 Don Sylvestri Clarkson ECAC Hockey Boston Bruins
9 183 George Boudreau † Boston College ECAC Hockey Calgary Flames
9 187 Scott Ferguson † Colorado College WCHA Montreal Canadiens
10 192 John Johannson Wisconsin WCHA Colorado Rockies
10 197 Gord Sherven † North Dakota WCHA Edmonton Oilers
10 198 Mario Proulx Providence ECAC Hockey New York Rangers
10 202 Steve Kudebeh † Rensselaer ECAC Hockey Minnesota North Stars
10 204 Bruce Eakin ‡ Wisconsin WCHA Detroit Red Wings
10 206 Warren Harper † Michigan State WCHA Buffalo Sabres
10 207 Jeff Baikie Cornell ECAC Hockey Los Angeles Kings
10 210 Dave Randerson † Bowling Green CCHA New York Islanders

† incoming freshman
‡ Eakin had left school during the season
[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". CCHA. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "2008-09 ECAC Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  3. ^ "2008-09 WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  4. ^ "NCAA Tournament". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "1980-81 NCAA Division I Statistics". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "CCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  9. ^ "CCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  10. ^ "ECAC Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  11. ^ "ECAC All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "WCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  13. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  14. ^ "1981 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved October 25, 2023.