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1974–75 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season

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1974–75 Michigan Tech Huskies
men's ice hockey season
National champion
Great Lakes Invitational, champion
WCHA Tournament, co-champion
1975 NCAA Tournament, champion
Conference2nd WCHA
Home iceStudent Ice Arena
Record
Overall32–10–0
Conference22–10–0
Home17–5–0
Road11–5–0
Neutral4–0–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachJohn MacInnes
Assistant coachesGlen Weller
Rick Yeo
Captain(s)Bob Lorimer[1]
Alternate captain(s)Bill Steele
Bob D'Alvise
Bruce Abbey
Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey seasons
« 1973–74 1975–76 »

The 1974–75 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team represented Michigan Tech University in college ice hockey. In its 19th year under head coach John MacInnes the team compiled a 32–10–0 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in its history. The Huskies defeated Minnesota 6–1 in the championship game at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, a rematch of the previous season's championship game.

Season

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Streaking

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After coming up just shy in 1973–74 Michigan Tech entered the season with one goal; winning the national championship. Jim Warden, as the only goaltender on the team who wasn't a freshman, was given the opportunity to assume control of the Huskies' crease and played well at the start. With MTU's high-powered offense clicking the Huskies easily won their first four games, outscoring the opposition by a 27–13 margin, winning each contest by at least 3 goals. However, when Tech met their first tough competition they hit a rough patch. Over a three-week span, despite playing four of six contests at home, the Huskies lost five of six games, all against WCHA opponents. Michigan Tech was able to score in most games but their defense surrendered no less than four goals in each match. The losing streak left Tech with a .500 record overall and a 3–5 mark in conference; disastrous numbers for a team hoping to challenge for a national title.

Warden and the defensive corps led by team captain Bob Lorimer needed to raise their game and the weekend series against three week conference opponents couldn't have come at a better time. A six-game winning streak countered their losing skid and the Huskies were back in contention for home ice in the WCHA Tournament. Just before the winter break Tech headed to Minneapolis to take on the defending national champions and saw their rise up the standings halted with two losses to Minnesota.

Holiday Season

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At the end of December Michigan Tech made their way to Detroit and served as host for the 10th Great Lakes Invitational. The Huskies dominated Yale in the first game then squeezed past Michigan with a 3–2 win to capture their first GLI championship in three years.[2] After two weeks off the Huskies resumed their schedule against the Wolverines and split the home series. The win came in the second match and provided Jim Warden with his first shutout of the season.[1] After spending two weeks walking over bottom-feeders Denver and North Dakota Tech made their first appearance in the new Munn Ice Arena. The Huskies housewarming present was to defeat Michigan State twice and raise their record to 20–8.

Down the Stretch

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Michigan Tech held its Winter Carnival at the beginning of February and played host to Minnesota–Duluth. After raising their winning streak to 8 games Tech lost the second contest which left them just two points ahead of Colorado College in the standings.[3] After taking both games at Notre Dame Tech was shutout by Wisconsin before rebounding in the second match.

With only one weekend series remaining, Tech found itself tied with CC as both had identical 20–10 conference records. The Tigers were going to take on 9th-place Denver with the Huskies were faced with Minnesota, who had already won the WCHA championship and guaranteed themselves the top seed. The Gophers were flat in their first game, allowing Tech to easily take the contest 7–0 with Warden tying the school record with his third shutout of the season. CC lost their first game against the Pioneers so all Tech needed was a tie to get the second seed. In their second match Minnesota gave the Huskies all they had but Tech was able to pull out a 5–4 victory and give themselves home ice for the duration of the conference tournament.

Playoffs

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Notre Dame arrived in Houghton for the first round of the conference playoffs just two days after the regular season wrapped up. While both teams were presumably tired the Huskies shut the Irish down, winning both games with Jim Warden setting anew program record with his fourth shutout of the season (still a Michigan Tech record as of 2019). The Huskies were able to rest for a day while both the 3rd- and 4th-seeded teams lost, leaving Michigan State as the Huskies opponent. While the Spartans only had a short way to travel from Madison, they were forced to play games on four consecutive nights while the Huskies were able to get a day off in between the two rounds. The tired Spartan defense was no match for Tech who put up 15 goals in the two games and won both to earn their second consecutive WCHA Tournament championship and 7th overall.[4] Even more impressive was the fact that Michigan Tech produced a 30-win season, only the second such occurrence in the history of college hockey (and the first of only two times they've accomplished that feat as of 2019).

Michigan Tech made their 8th NCAA Tournament appearance as the 2nd western due to Minnesota being the other WCHA winner. As a result, MTU was pitted against ECAC champion Boston University who had the offensive firepower to rival their own. The Terriers opened the scoring in the semifinal and the two teams traded leads in the opening frame before heading to the locker room tied 2-all. When the second period began the Huskies charged out of the gate and scored three times in under six minutes. BU was able to get one goal to close the gap but Bob D'Alvise' second goal of the game restored the 3-goal lead. with just under two minutes to play in the period Mike Fidler was called for a major high-sticking penalty, giving MTU a 5-minutes man-advantage. Bill Steele scored just 21 seconds into the power play while George Lyle and Mike Zuke added their own markers early in the third period. With the score 9–3 as a result the game was essentially over and though the Terriers netted two more before time expired the Huskies had proved themselves the better breed.

National championship

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The championship game became a rematch of the previous year's finale with Tech looking for revenge against Minnesota. Interestingly enough, both Minnesota and Michigan Tech had entered the NCAA tournament as the first teams in 14 years to record 30 wins and with each having won their semifinal meetings both shared the record for the most wins in a season. That record, however, was secondary to the game itself. The two teams played before a crowd of nearly 7,000 people, far below the maximum capacity of the St. Louis Arena but much more than they were used to seeing. Michigan Tech scored first, just past the halfway mark of the opening frame and added a second from Zuke with 64 seconds remaining. Tech's defense held the Gophers to only 7 shots in the period and continued their stifling play throughout the game. The Huskies themselves were held to only 5 shots on goal in the second but they made them count, doubling their lead to 4–0 after forty minutes. The final period saw more of the same with the Huskies tying their own championship record with six consecutive goals from the start of the game. Minnesota's Tom Younghans finally got the puck past Jim Warden midway through the final period but by then it was too late and Michigan Tech won their third national championship[5] as well as set a new NCAA record with 32 wins on the year.

With his almost shutout of the Gophers, Jim Warden was named as the tournament MOP and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Bob Lorimer, Bob D'Alvise and Steve Jensen. D'Alvise finished third in the nation in scoring and was named to the AHCA All-American West Team. He also made an appearance on the All-WCHA First Team with Warden while Lorimer and Mike Zuke made the WCHA Second Team.

The following year Warden would be the starting goaltender for the US national team at the Winter Olympics, joined by fellow Michigan Tech alums Steve Jensen and Paul Jensen.

Standings

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Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota†* 32 24 8 0 48 146 102 42 31 10 1 187 133
Michigan Tech* 32 22 10 0 44 181 108 42 32 10 0 243 136
Colorado College 32 21 11 0 42 165 136 39 23 16 0 196 170
Wisconsin 32 19 11 2 40 138 121 38 24 12 2 174 143
Michigan State 32 19 12 1 39 157 136 40 22 17 1 191 175
Michigan 32 17 15 0 34 158 140 40 22 17 1 192 167
Notre Dame 32 10 19 3 23 115 158 38 13 22 3 141 187
Minnesota-Duluth 32 9 20 3 21 141 166 38 10 24 4 158 192
Denver 32 9 22 1 19 116 175 36 12 23 1 138 190
North Dakota 32 4 26 2 10 98 173 36 6 28 2 115 192
Championship: Michigan Tech, Minnesota
indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule

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Date Opponent Site Result Record
Regular Season
October 25 vs. Lake Superior State* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 8–4  1–0
October 26 vs. Lake Superior State* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 6–2  2–0
November 1 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota W 7–4  3–0 (1–0)
November 2 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota W 6–3  4–0 (2–0)
November 8 vs. Michigan State Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 2–4  4–1 (2–1)
November 9 vs. Michigan State Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 4–5  4–2 (2–2)
November 15 vs. Colorado College Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 8–7  5–2 (3–2)
November 16 vs. Colorado College Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 2–4  5–3 (3–3)
November 22 at Michigan Yost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, Michigan L 5–7  5–4 (3–4)
November 23 at Michigan Yost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, Michigan L 3–4  5–5 (3–5)
November 29 vs. North Dakota Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 8–2  6–5 (4–5)
November 30 vs. North Dakota Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 8–3  7–5 (5–5)
December 6 at Denver DU ArenaDenver, Colorado W 9–2  8–5 (6–5)
December 7 at Denver DU ArenaDenver, Colorado W 4–3  9–5 (7–5)
December 13 at Notre Dame Athletic & Convocation CenterNotre Dame, Indiana W 5–3  10–5 (8–5)
December 14 at Notre Dame Athletic & Convocation CenterNotre Dame, Indiana W 8–2  11–5 (9–5)
December 20 at Minnesota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 2–4  11–6 (9–6)
December 21 at Minnesota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota L 3–6  11–7 (9–7)
Great Lakes Invitational
December 27 vs. Yale* Detroit OlympiaDetroit, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational) W 7–3  12–7 (9–7)
December 28 vs. Michigan* Detroit OlympiaDetroit, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational) W 3–2  13–7 (9–7)
January 10 vs. Michigan Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 4–5  13–8 (9–8)
January 11 vs. Michigan Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 6–0  14–8 (10–8)
January 17 at vs. North Dakota Ralph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, North Dakota W 6–4  15–8 (11–8)
January 18 at vs. North Dakota Ralph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, North Dakota W 6–1  16–8 (12–8)
January 24 vs. Denver Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 11–5  17–8 (13–8)
January 25 vs. Denver Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 7–0  18–8 (14–8)
January 31 at Michigan State Munn Ice ArenaEast Lansing, Michigan W 5–2  19–8 (15–8)
February 1 at Michigan State Munn Ice ArenaEast Lansing, Michigan W 5–4  20–8 (16–8)
February 7 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (Winter Carnival) W 10–3  21–8 (17–8)
February 8 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (Winter Carnival) L 4–7  21–9 (17–9)
February 14 vs. Notre Dame Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 7–3  22–9 (18–9)
February 15 vs. Notre Dame Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 10–1  23–9 (19–9)
February 21 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin L 0–4  23–10 (19–10)
February 22 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin W 4–2  24–10 (20–10)
February 28 vs. Minnesota Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 7–0  25–10 (21–10)
March 1 vs. Minnesota Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan W 5–4  26–10 (22–10)
WCHA Tournament
March 3 vs. Notre Dame* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (WCHA First Round Game 1) W 2–0  27–10 (22–10)
March 4 vs. Notre Dame* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (WCHA First Round Game 2) W 6–3  28–10 (22–10)
March 6 vs. Michigan State* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (WCHA Second Round Game 1) W 6–4  29–10 (22–10)
March 7 vs. Michigan State* Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan (WCHA Second Round Game 2) W 9–4  30–10 (22–10)
NCAA Tournament
March 13 vs. Boston University* St. Louis ArenaSt. Louis, Missouri (National Semifinal) W 9–5  31–10 (22–10)
March 15 vs. Minnesota* St. Louis ArenaSt. Louis, Missouri (National championship) W 6–1  32–10 (22–10)
*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 Pts PIM
8 Bob D'Alvise Senior C Etobicoke, ON Ontario 42 37 47 84 4
7 Mike Zuke Junior C Sault Ste. Marie, ON Ontario 42 35 43 78 20
17 Bill Steele Senior RW Edinburgh, SCO Scotland 42 29 30 59 24
10 George Lyle Junior LW Edmonton, AB Alberta 38 37 19 56 76
19 Steve Jensen Sophomore LW Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 41 16 32 48 18
15 Stuart Ostlund Freshman C Vancouver, BC British Columbia 42 12 30 42 8
20 Stu Younger Sophomore LW Calgary, AB Alberta 40 17 20 37 32
5 Bob Lorimer Senior D Toronto, ON Ontario 38 10 21 31 68
11 Dana Decker Freshman LW Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 41 8 13 21 12
12 Peter Roberts Freshman C Warroad, MN Minnesota 41 8 9 17 32
24 Scott Jessee Junior RW Detroit, MI Michigan 40 7 10 17 22
22 Bruce Abbey Senior D Belmont, ON Ontario 36 3 14 17 83
27 Jim Mayer Junior RW Capreol, ON Ontario 26 9 7 16 12
6 Ed Dempsey Sophomore D Kamloops, BC British Columbia 29 3 12 15 34
3 Paul Jensen Sophomore D Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 40 2 12 14 26
4 Jim Murray Junior D Burlington, ON Ontario 41 1 11 12 18
9 Steve Bourchard Freshman F Brooklyn Center, MN Minnesota 33 4 7 11 44
14 Chris Ferguson Sophomore F Thunder Bay, ON Ontario 20 3 8 11 8
25 Jeff Wilcox Sophomore D Portland, OR Oregon 19 1 8 9 24
2 Nels Goddard Freshman D Vancouver, BC British Columbia 21 1 8 9 6
18 Doug Young Freshman D Chatham, ON Ontario 22 0 5 5 18
16 Kurt Helminen Freshman F Laurium, MI Michigan 0
30 Tom O'Connell Freshman G Harrisburg, PA Pennsylvania 2
31 Bruce Horsch Freshman G Hastings, MN Minnesota 9
1 Jim Warden Senior G Detroit, MI Michigan 31
Total 243 366 609 589

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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 Jim Warden 31 1865 92 947 4 .911 2.96
31 Bruce Horsch 9 7 2 0 0 .894 3.20
30 Tom O'Connell 1 42 0 1 0 5 21 0 .808 7.14
Total 42 32 10 0 136 4

(W1) Minnesota vs. (W2) Michigan Tech

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March 15[7] Minnesota 1 – 6 Michigan Tech St. Louis Arena


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MTU Bill Steele Young and D'Alvise 11:36 1–0 MTU
MTU Mike ZukeGW S. Jensen and Decker 18:56 2–0 MTU
2nd MTU George Lyle S. Jensen and Ostlund 25:21 3–0 MTU
MTU Scott Jessee Mayer and Roberts 38:40 4–0 MTU
3rd MTU Bob D'AlvisePP Wilcox and Steele 41:26 5–0 MTU
MTU George LylePP Ostlund and Abbey 46:56 6–0 MTU
MIN Tom Younghans Phippen and Gauge 49:49 6–1 MTU
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st MIN Buzz Schneider Interference 1:00 2:00
MTU George Lyle High–Sticking 3:37 2:00
MIN Joe Micheletti High–Sticking 5:16 2:00
MTU Jim Mayer Roughing 12:27 2:00
MIN Warren Miller Roughing 12:27 2:00
MTU Dana Decker Tripping 15:27 2:00
2nd MTU Bruce Abbey Interference 20:46 2:00
MTU George Lyle Tripping 28:18 2:00
MIN Robby Harris Elbowing 30:53 2:00
3rd MIN Joe Micheletti Interference 40:18 2:00
MTU Bob Lorimer Tripping 43:40 2:00
MIN Paul Holmgren Elbowing 45:55 2:00
MIN Warren Miller High–Sticking 47:10 2:00
MIN Russ Anderson Holding 47:21 2:00
MTU Jim Mayer Hooking 53:32 2:00
MIN Mike Polich Roughng 53:32 2:00
MTU Jim Murray Roughng 53:32 2:00

Players drafted into the NHL/WHA

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= Did not play in the NHL
Round Pick Player NHL team
4 58 Steve Jensen Minnesota North Stars
4 67 Stu Younger Pittsburgh Penguins
5 75 Doug Young California Golden Seals
7 126 Dana Decker Philadelphia Flyers
8 133 Paul Jensen Chicago Blackhawks

[8]

= Did not play in the WHA
Round Pick Player WHA Team
4 51 Stu Younger Edmonton Oilers
6 82 Dana Decker Phoenix Roadrunners
7 90 Doug Young Indianapolis Racers
14 175 Paul Jensen Houston Aeros

[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Michigan Tech Hockey 2009-10 Media Guide". Michigan Tech Huskies. Retrieved February 9, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Great Lakes Invitational". College Hockey historical Archive. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "Colorado College Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). Colorado College Tigers. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. ^ "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 129-144" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "1975 NCAA Ice Hockey championship Full Game". YouTube. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Michigan Tech Huskies 1974-75 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "Michigan Tech 2009-10 Hockey Yearbook". Michigan Tech Huskies. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "1975 NHL Amateur Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  9. ^ "1975 WHA Amateur Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved June 26, 2019.