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1967–68 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season

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1967–68 Denver Pioneers
men's ice hockey season
National champion
WCHA, champion
WCHA Tournament, co-champion
NCAA Tournament, champion
Conference1st WCHA
Home iceDU Arena
Record
Overall28–5–1
Conference15–3–0
Home19–0–0
Road6–3–0
Neutral3–2–1
Coaches and captains
Head coachMurray Armstrong
Captain(s)Jim Wiste
Cliff Koroll[1]
Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey seasons
« 1966–67 1968–69 »

The 1967–68 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team represented University of Denver in college ice hockey. In its 12th year under head coach Murray Armstrong the team compiled a 28–5–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the seventh time. The Pioneers defeated North Dakota 4–0 in the championship game at the Duluth Arena Auditorium in Duluth, Minnesota, the third championship meeting between he two teams. Gerry Powers recorded the first shutout in the championship game and tied the record for lowest tournament goals against average (0.50).

Season

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Denver opened their season looking for revenge against North Dakota who had ended their campaign the year before. After earning a split on the road the Pioneers went east, winning a game against Minnesota–Duluth before continuing onto Houghton to take on perennial power Michigan Tech. The Huskies stymied Denver in both games, holding the Pioneers to single goal in each and putting Denver under .500 both overall and in conference. Denver returned home and began to climb out the hole the following week with a pair of wins over Michigan followed by an easy win over NAIA Bemidji State.

Denver spent their winter holiday playing in the Broadmoor World Tournament against four different national teams who were gearing up for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Denver went 1–2–1 in the series but acquitted themselves well against strong competition. The experience against the national teams helped the Pioneers go on a streak unparalleled in the history of the program. Denver won two games against the visiting Alberta Golden Bears before returning to their conference schedule and began to run roughshod over the opposition. Denver's offence, which had played well over the first part of the season, exploded after the new year and would score no fewer than 3 goals in their remaining 22 contests. The defense too buckled down and the Gerry Powers would only surrender more than three goals once in their remaining contests.

Denver would spend the final five weeks of the regular season at home and use that to their advantage by winning 17 straight games to enter the WCHA playoffs as the top seed, having defeated North Dakota and Michigan Tech by a combined 27–6 to guarantee their WCHA championship. Denver opened the conference tournament at home against UMD and dispatched the bulldogs 11–4 before hosting Minnesota in the second round. This was the first meeting between the two all season due to the Gopher's continued refusal to play Denver because of their recruiting conflict[2] but the lack of familiarity didn't hamper Denver in the slightest and the Pioneers won the series 16–3.

With another WCHA championship under their belt Denver was given the top western seed in the 1968 NCAA Tournament and opened against Boston College at the Duluth Arena Auditorium. Powers showed up to play in the National Tournament and held BC to a single goal, ensuring that Denver's 4 goals would send the program to its 6th title game. In the final Denver met North Dakota once more and two western powers battled for the championship. Powers and his counterpart Mike Curran both kept the game scoreless through two periods of play but Bob Trembecky broke the tie with a power play marker early in the third. Denver kept its attack going, firing a total of 14 shots in the final frame with three more finding the back of the net, while North Dakota faltered and was unable to score. Denver's 4–0 win was their fourth championship and the first time that any team was shutout in the title game. The win was also Denver 22nd straight victory, a program record both overall and for one season.

For tying the NCAA record by allowing only 1 goal in the tournament, Gerry Powers won the tournament MOP and was named to the All-Tournament first team along with Keith Magnuson and Trembecky. Tim Gould, Jim Wiste and Tom Gilmore made the second team. Magnuson and Wiste were named to the AHCA All-American West Team and the All-WCHA First Team while Powers and Cliff Koroll made the All-WCHA Second Team. Magnuson was named as the WCHA Most Valuable Player while Murray Armstrong won his second WCHA Coach of the Year award.

Standings

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1967–68 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PCT GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Denver†* 18 15 3 0 .833 84 32 34 28 5 1 183 65
Michigan Tech 20 15 5 0 .750 76 47 32 22 9 1 131 82
North Dakota* 22 13 8 1 .614 78 57 33 20 10 3 113 80
Michigan 18 11 7 0 .611 83 60 27 18 9 0 152 84
Minnesota 22 13 9 0 .591 98 71 31 19 12 0 132 109
Michigan State 20 6 13 1 .325 57 82 29 11 16 2 92 111
Colorado College 20 4 16 0 .200 40 106 29 9 20 0 84 108
Minnesota-Duluth 24 4 20 0 .167 54 109 28 5 23 0 71 144
Championship: North Dakota, Denver
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule

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Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Exhibition
November 10 vs. DU Hilltoppers* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 11–1 
November 11 vs. DU Hilltoppers* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 11–2 
Regular Season
November 17 at North Dakota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 5–1  1–0 (1–0)
November 18 at North Dakota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota L 1–3  1–1 (1–1)
November 20 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota W 6–1  2–1 (2–1)
December 1 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan L 1–6  2–2 (2–2)
December 2 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan L 1–4  2–3 (2–3)
December 8 vs. Michigan DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 5–2  3–3 (3–3)
December 9 vs. Michigan DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 2–1 OT 4–3 (4–3)
December 16 vs. Bemidji State* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 12–0  5–3 (4–3)
December 26 vs. Finnish National Team* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) T 2–2  5–3–1 (4–3)
December 28 vs. US National Team* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) L 4–5  5–4–1 (4–3)
December 29 vs. Italian National Team* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) W 5–2  6–4–1 (4–3)
December 30 vs. Soviet National Team* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) L 1–8  6–5–1 (4–3)
January 5 vs. Alberta* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 4–2  7–5–1 (4–3)
January 6 vs. Alberta* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 8–0  8–5–1 (4–3)
January 12 at Michigan State Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan W 3–2  9–5–1 (5–3)
January 13 at Michigan State Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan W 3–1  10–5–1 (6–3)
January 15 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota W 5–1  11–5–1 (7–3)
January 19 vs. Colorado College DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 3–1  12–5–1 (8–3)
January 20 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 6–0  13–5–1 (9–3)
January 26 at Minnesota Nationals* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 5–2  14–5–1 (9–3)
January 27 at Minnesota Nationals* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 10–3  15–5–1 (9–3)
January 31 vs. Wisconsin* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 7–1  16–5–1 (9–3)
February 9 vs. Minnesota–Duluth DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 10–2  17–5–1 (10–3)
February 10 vs. Minnesota–Duluth DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 6–1  18–5–1 (11–3)
February 16 vs. North Dakota DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 7–0  19–5–1 (12–3)
February 17 vs. North Dakota DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 8–2  20–5–1 (13–3)
February 23 vs. Michigan Tech DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 7–2  21–5–1 (14–3)
February 26 vs. Michigan Tech DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 5–2  22–5–1 (15–3)
March 1 vs. Saskatchewan* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 6–0  23–5–1 (15–3)
WCHA Tournament
March 5 vs. Minnesota–Duluth* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA First Round) W 11–4  24–5–1 (15–3)
March 8 vs. Minnesota* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA Second Round Game 1) W 9–0  25–5–1 (15–3)
March 9 vs. Minnesota* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA Second Round Game 2) W 7–3  26–5–1 (15–3)
NCAA Tournament
March 14 vs. Boston College* Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota (National Semifinal) W 4–1  27–5–1 (15–3)
March 16 vs. North Dakota* Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota (National championship) W 4–0  28–5–1 (15–3)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[1]

Roster and scoring statistics

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No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Points PIM
14 Jim Wiste Senior C Moose Jaw, SK Saskatchewan 34 21 36 57 25
15 Bob Trembecky Junior C Drumheller, AB Alberta 29 24 30 54 -
17 Craig Patrick Sophomore RW Detroit, MI Michigan 34 23 26 49 12
8 Tom Miller Junior F Kitchener, ON Ontario 34 20 27 47 16
10 Cliff Koroll Senior RW Canora, SK Saskatchewan 34 18 22 40 55
16 Jim Shires Senior LW Edmonton, AB Alberta 34 15 23 38 43
12 Tom Gilmore Sophomore F Flin Flon, MB Manitoba – 8 20 28 -
9 Al Genovy Sophomore C Flin Flon, MB Manitoba – 12 11 23 -
3 Tim Gould Junior D Saskatoon, SK Saskatchewan 34 4 18 22 56
2 Keith Magnuson Junior D Saskatoon, SK Saskatchewan 34 5 15 20 59
13 Don Thiessen Sophomore F Saskatoon, SK Saskatchewan – 4 6 10 -
11 Steve Keeler Sophomore RW Toronto, ON Ontario 5 0 0 0 7
4 Randy Ward Junior D Calgary, AB Alberta 22 6 – – –
6 Dale Zeman Junior D Saskatoon, SK Saskatchewan – 0 – – 76
7 Gerry Jonasson Sophomore F Winnipeg, MB Manitoba – – – – –
5 Ed Hamilton Sophomore D Winnipeg, MB Manitoba – – – – –
11 Rich Blanche Sophomore F Hamilton, ON Ontario – – – – –
18 Terry Leifson Junior F Leinan, SK Saskatchewan – – – – –
1 Frank Daly Junior G Reading, MA Massachusetts 0 – – – –
1 Gerry Powers Junior G Brampton, ON Ontario 34 – – – –
Total

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Goaltending statistics

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No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
1 Gerry Powers 34 – 28 5 1 – – 7 .919 1.91
1 Frank Daly 0 – – – – – – – – –
Total 34 – 28 5 1 – – 7 – –

1968 championship game

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(W1) Denver vs. (W2) North Dakota

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March 16 Denver 4 – 0 North Dakota Duluth Arena Auditorium


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st None
2nd None
3rd DEN Bob Trembecky – GW PP Wiste and Magnuson 42:44 1–0 DEN
DEN Bob Trembecky Patrick 53:16 2–0 DEN
DEN Al Genovy Gilmore 58:06 3–0 DEN
DEN Tom Gilmore unassisted 58:25 4–0 DEN

References

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  1. ^ a b "Denver Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 129-144" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "Denver Pioneers 1967-68 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
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