1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season

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1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers
men's ice hockey season
Wisconsin Badgers logo.svg
National champion
NCAA Tournament, champion
Conference2nd Big Ten
T–2nd WCHA
Home iceDane County Coliseum
Record
Overall27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
Home16–6
Road7–7
Neutral4–1–1
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachBob Johnson
Assistant CoachesGrant Standbrook
Captain(s)
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey seasons
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The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its fourteenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 27–14–1 record (17–11 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opponents) and outscored all opponents 218 to 155.[1] The Badgers were the recipients of an at-large bid in the first year that the NCAA guaranteed 8 teams entry into the postseason tournament and in doing so became the first team to win a national championship because of the expanded format.

Season[]

Wisconsin began the 1980–81 season fresh after compiling its first losing season since returning to NCAA play in 1963.[2] With little expectation for the '81 campaign Bob Johnson's Badgers got off to a fast start, going 7-1 in the first month of the season before embarking on a .500 skid in early November. The Badgers would lose a game in every weekend series until after Christmas when they finally managed to take both games against a mediocre Yale squad, only to lose both games to Rensselaer the following week. Wisconsin was hampered by high-scoring freshman and future NHL-er Bruce Eakin leaving the program after only four games and heading to the WHL.

From January 1 onward, Wisconsin managed to just post a winning record, going 10-8 over that stretch but still finishing in a tie for second in conference standings on the strength of their early-season success. The Badgers won the tie-breaker over Michigan Tech and were seeded second in the WCHA Tournament. After winning their first game against Colorado College 8-2 it appeared Wisconsin was set for an appearance in second round until the Tigers roared back with an 11-4 win in the second game and upset a stunned Badger team 13-12 in the series.

Ordinarily that would have been the end of the Wisconsin's season but in the summer of 1980 the NCAA changed its tournament format. With the success of the CCHA and the increasing number of programs at the Division I level the NCAA tournament was expanded to 8 teams, 4 for eastern schools and 4 for western squads. As tournament co-champions Minnesota and Michigan Tech received automatic bids, as did CCHA champion Northern Michigan. That left one spot open for a western school. Due to the feeling at the time that the CCHA was a 'lesser' conference the 24-12-3 record of second place Ohio State was seen as inferior to anything the WCHA could offer and the Buckeyes were passed over. While the Badgers did lose in the first round Denver, who had finished only two points behind Wisconsin, had also lost their first round matchup and the team that had defeated them, Michigan, were soundly beaten by Michigan Tech in the Second round 9-2. With no team standing out from the rest the tournament committee settled on awarding the final spot to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin opened the 1981 Tournament in front a hostile crowd in Potsdam, NY as they faced the top eastern seed Clarkson. Miraculously the Badgers managed to take the first game 3-2 but, just as the WCHA tournament had been, the NCAA first round was a 2-game total-goal series and 1 score was a very slim margin to hold. The second game was a much more explosive affair with both teams notching six goals in regulation play. Because of a peculiarity with the series Wisconsin leading 9-8 after regulation didn't end the matchup and the two would play one overtime session to see if the 'winner' of the game could be determined. If Wisconsin scored the series would be over immediately, however, if Clarkson scored the game would continue because the series had been tied at 9-9 despite an overtime marker. Neither of those events came to pass and both teams failed to score in the overtime session, allowing the game to finish in a tie and the Badgers to progress to the Frozen Four.

In their first game at the Duluth Arena the Badgers faced Northern Michigan, the first time the two teams played one another. Both squads played a scoreless first period before Ed Lebler opened the scoring three minutes into the second. Two more Badgers scored before the Wildcats could get their first goal of the game but Marc Behrend made sure that was all they could earn, turning away their 25 other shots en route to a 5-1 win.[3] In the final Wisconsin was set against #1 overall seed Minnesota who possessed the top offense in the nation boasting both the NCAA scoring champion Aaron Broten and the first Hobey Baker Award winner Neal Broten. The Golden Gophers had taken three out of four contests against the Badgers that season, out-pacing Johnson's team 27 goals to 14. None of that seemed to affect Wisconsin in the slightest as it was the Badgers who opened the scoring half way through the first period and never looked back. Wisconsin got the game's first four goals and by the time Minnesota had found the back of the net it was too late. The 'Back Door' Badgers fired 42 shots on goal, not letting up even with a 5-1 lead after two periods. Marc Behrend turned aside 30 of 33 shots in the contest and finished the tournament with a .932 save percentage in the Frozen Four, earning Tournament MOP honors. Despite the spectacular Frozen Four John Newbery was the only Badger other than Behrend to make the All-Tournament Team but the Wisconsin faithful were too overjoyed from the unexpected championship to mind.

No Wisconsin player was named as an AHCA All-American[4] and only Theran Welsh was named to the Second Team All-WCHA.[5]

Standings[]

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
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

Schedule[]

During the season, Wisconsin compiled a 27–14–1 record.[6] Its schedule was as follows.[7]

Date Opponent Score Result Venue Location Record (WCHA / Big Ten)
Oct. 17, 1980 Western Michigan 7–3 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 1–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 18, 1980 Western Michigan 5–4 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 2–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 24, 1980 Denver † 5–3 Win DU Arena Denver, CO 3–0 (1–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 25, 1980 Denver † 3–5 Loss DU Arena Denver, CO 3–1 (1–1 / 0–0)
Oct. 31, 1980 Colorado College † 6–4 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 4–1 (2–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 1, 1980 Colorado College † 7–5 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 5–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 17, 1980 Ferris State 8–2 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 6–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 8, 1980 Ferris State 4–4 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 7–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 14, 1980 Notre Dame † 4–5* Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 7–2 (3–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 15, 1980 Notre Dame † 4–0 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 8–2 (4–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 21, 1980 Michigan ‡ 5–3 Win Yost Ice Arena Ann Arbor, MI 9–2 (5–2 / 1–0)
Nov. 22, 1980 Michigan ‡ 1–3 Loss Yost Ice Arena Ann Arbor, MI 9–3 (5–3 / 1–1)
Nov. 28, 1980 Minnesota ‡ 4–5* Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 9–4 (5–4 / 1–2)
Nov. 29, 1980 Minnesota ‡ 8–3 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 10–4 (6–4 / 2–2)
Dec. 5, 1980 Minnesota–Duluth † 2–3 Loss Duluth Arena Duluth, MN 10–5 (6–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 6, 1980 Minnesota–Duluth † 5–3 Win Duluth Arena Duluth, MN 11–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 28, 1980 Yale 10–5 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 12–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 29, 1980 Yale 12–1 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 13–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 2, 1981 Rensselaer 4–6 Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 13–6 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 3, 1981 Rensselaer 5–6 Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 13–7 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 9, 1981 Michigan ‡ 8–5 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 14–7 (8–5 / 3–2)
Jan. 10, 1981 Michigan ‡ 4–3 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 15–7 (9–5 / 4–2)
Jan. 16, 1981 Minnesota ‡ 3–6 Loss Williams Arena Minneapolis, MN 15–8 (9–6 / 4–3)
Jan. 17, 1981 Minnesota ‡ 4–8 Loss Williams Arena Minneapolis, MN 15–9 (9–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 23, 1981 Minnesota–Duluth † 7–2 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 16–9 (10–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 24, 1981 Minnesota–Duluth † 4–3 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 17–9 (11–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 30, 1981 Michigan Tech † 3–5 Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 17–10 (11–8 / 4–4)
Jan. 31, 1981 Michigan Tech † 6–2 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 18–10 (12–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 6, 1981 North Dakota † 10–1 Win Ralph Engelstad Arena Grand Forks, ND 19–10 (13–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 7, 1981 North Dakota † 5–4 Win Ralph Engelstad Arena Grand Forks, ND 20–10 (14–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 13, 1981 Colorado College † 4–3* Win Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, CO 21–10 (15–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 14, 1981 Colorado College † 2–4 Loss Broadmoor World Arena Colorado Springs, CO 21–11 (15–9 / 4–4)
Feb. 20, 1981 Michigan State ‡ 3–5 Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 21–12 (15–10 / 4–5)
Feb. 21, 1981 Michigan State ‡ 5–4 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 22–12 (16–10 / 5–5)
Feb. 27, 1981 Notre Dame † 2–4 Loss Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN 22–13 (16–11 / 5–5)
Feb. 28, 1981 Notre Dame † 8–2 Win Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN 23–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
WCHA TOURNAMENT
Mar. 7, 1981 Colorado College 8–2 Win Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 24–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
Mar. 8, 1981 Colorado College 4–11 Loss Dane County Coliseum Madison, WI 24–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
Colorado College Wins Series 13-12
NCAA TOURNAMENT
March 20, 1981 Clarkson 3–2 Win Walker Arena Potsdam, NY 25–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 21, 1981 Clarkson 6–6* Tie Walker Arena Potsdam, NY 25–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 27, 1981 Northern Michigan 5–1 Win Duluth Arena Duluth, MN 26–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 28, 1981 Minnesota 6–3 Win Duluth Arena Duluth, MN 27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
218–155 27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)

* Denotes overtime periods
† WCHA game
‡ Big Ten and WCHA game

National championship[]

(W1) Minnesota vs. (W4) Wisconsin[]

March 28[8] Minnesota 3 – 6 Wisconsin Duluth Arena


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st WIS Newberry and Vincent 9:24 1–0 WIS
WIS John Newberry – PP Vincent and Welsh 14:49 2–0 WIS
WIS Ed Lebler Ethier 19:49 3–0 WIS
2nd WIS – GW Lebler and Newberry 29:23 4–0 WIS
MIN Ulseth and Knoke 32:37 4–1 WIS
WIS John Newberry – PP S. Lecy and Vincent 34:27 5–1 WIS
3rd MIN – PP Jensen and A. Broten 40:10 5–2 WIS
MIN – PP Hartzell and A. Broten 56:09 5–3 WIS
WIS Ed Lebler – EN Driver 58:40 6–3 WIS
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st WIS John Newberry Roughing 0:28 2:00
MIN Dave Jensen Roughing 0:28 2:00
WIS Bruce Driver Hooking 4:14 2:00
WIS Pat Ethier Interference 9:35 2:00
WIS Brian Mullen Charging 10:11 2:00
MIN Neal Broten Cross–Checking 10:11 2:00
WIS Jay McFarlane Charging 11:58 2:00
MIN Paul Butters Interference 14:15 2:00
2nd WIS Theran Welsh Holding 25:48 2:00
WIS Pete Johnson Hooking 30:31 2:00
MIN Scott Bjugstad High Sticking 32:51 2:00
MIN Mike Meadows Roughing 35:28 2:00
MIN Bob Bergloff Roughing 36:00 2:00
WIS Pat Ethier Elbowing 38:15 2:00
3rd WIS Ted Pearson Hooking 45:21 2:00
WIS Todd Lecy Interference 55:06 2:00

Roster and scoring statistics[]

No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
16 Scott Lecy Senior W Rochester, MN Minnesota 42 26 49 75 44
20 Ron Vincent Junior RW Saanich, BC British Columbia 36 20 45 65 28
10 John Newberry Freshman C Victoria, BC British Columbia 39 30 32 62 77
5 Theran Welsh Senior D Prince Albert, SK Saskatchewan 41 10 44 54 52
11 Pete Johnson Junior C Madison, WI Wisconsin 41 30 23 53 44
26 Ed Lebler Junior LW Vanderhoof, BC British Columbia 42 28 24 52 20
19 Brian Mullen Freshman C New York, NY New York (state) 38 11 13 24 28
7 Todd Lecy Sophomore LW Rochester, MN Minnesota 32 4 17 21 48
25 Bruce Driver Freshman D Toronto, ON Ontario 42 5 15 20 42
9 Lexi Doner Sophomore LW Lynnwood, WA Washington (state) 30 7 11 18 16
12 John Johannson Freshman W Rochester, MN Minnesota 38 6 12 18 28
4 Pat Ethier Sophomore D Saint Paul, MN Minnesota 37 1 17 18 92
15 Dan Gorowsky Senior LW White Bear Lake, MN Minnesota 29 12 5 17 4
17 Ken Kuryluk Junior LW Winnipeg, MB Manitoba 42 8 9 17 2
24 Ted Pearson Freshman W Edina, MN Minnesota 36 6 9 15 59
2 Jay McFarlane Junior D Edmonton, AB Alberta 42 3 12 15 88
22 Jon Morgan Senior RW Minnetonka, MN Minnesota 19 2 8 10 14
3 Steve McKenzie Freshman D Leduc, AB Alberta 37 0 10 10 22
6 Jeff Andringa Sophomore D Madison, WI Wisconsin 37 1 7 8 10
13 Tom Carroll Freshman W Edina, MN Minnesota 6 3 1 4 4
21 Bruce Eakin Freshman C Winnipeg, MB Manitoba 4 1 3 4 2
29 Tim Sager Freshman W Saint Paul, MN Minnesota 4 1 2 3 0
23 Scott Sabo Freshman C Thief River Falls, MN Minnesota 17 2 0 2 10
14 Ed Repins Sophomore D Shorewood, WI Wisconsin 9 1 1 2 8
27 Brad Benson Freshman D Edina, MN Minnesota 14 0 2 2 2
18 John Dougherty Sophomore RW Green Bay, WI Wisconsin 5 0 0 0 0
8 Randy Keller Junior D Victoria, BC British Columbia 8 0 0 0 8
30 Jamey Gremore Senior G White Bear Lake, MN Minnesota 10 0 0 0 0
27 Marc Behrend Freshman G Madison, WI Wisconsin 16 0 0 0 0
1 Terry Kleisinger Freshman G Nanaimo, BC British Columbia 21 0 0 0 6
Total 860 264 441 705 794

[9]

Goaltending Statistics[]

No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
27 Marc Behrend 16 913 11 4 1 50 500 0 0.909 3.29
1 Terry Kleisinger 21 1011 11 5 0 61 564 2 0.902 3.62
30 Jamey Gremore 10 596 5 5 0 43 294 0 0.872 4.34
Total 2520 27 14 1 154 1358 2 .898 3.67

Players drafted into the NHL[]

1981 NHL Entry Draft[]

= NHL All-Star Team = NHL All-Star[10] = NHL All-Star[10] and NHL All-Star Team = Did not play in the NHL
Round Pick Player NHL Team
5 85 Marc Behrend Winnipeg Jets
6 108 Bruce Driver Colorado Rockies
10 192 John Johannson Colorado Rockies

[11]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  3. ^ "2017-18 Wisconsin Men's Hockey Fact Book" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  4. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  5. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. ^ "Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  7. ^ "Badger Hockey 2005-06 Media Guide" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  8. ^ "1981 Championship Boxscore" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  9. ^ "1980-81 U. of Wisconsin roster and statistics". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  10. ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  11. ^ "1981 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
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