Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team. The list documents the season-by-season records of the Golden Gophers from 1921 to present, including postseason records, and league awards for individual players or head coaches.

Minnesota has won five NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championships (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003) and been the runner-up six times (1953, 1954, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1989). The team also shared the 1929 National Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship with Yale and won the 1940 AAU-sponsored national championship for amateur hockey. In their 90-year history, they have played over 2700 games and have an all-time winning percentage of .628. The Gophers have made thirty-two NCAA postseason appearances since tournament play began in 1948. Their nineteen Frozen Four appearances are bettered by three teams: the University of Michigan (twenty-four), Boston University (twenty-one), and Boston College (twenty-one). Minnesota is also one of only four teams to win consecutive national titles (the others being Boston University, University of Denver, and the University of Michigan). The Golden Gophers have been named the WCHA's regular season champion twelve times and its tournament champion fourteen times.

The Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season and postseason results.

AAU Champions (1931–1948)	NCAA D-I Champions (1948–present)	NCAA Frozen Four (1948–present)	Conference Regular Season Champions	Conference Playoff Champions

Season	League	Conference	Overall Record^[1]					National Tournament Results	Awards^[2]
Season	League	Conference	Regular Season Finish	GP	W	L	T	National Tournament Results	Awards^[2]
I.D. MacDonald (1921 — 1922)
1921–22	–	–	–	10	6	3	1
Emil Iverson (1922 — 1930)
1922–23	–	–	–	12	10	1	1
1923–24	–	–	–	14	13	1	0
1924–25	–	–	–	10	8	1	1
1925–26	–	–	–	16	12	0	4
1926–27	–	–	–	15	9	6	0
1927–28	–	–	–	13	9	2	2
1928–29	–	–	–	17	14	2	1
1929–30	–	–	–	18	7	9	2
Frank Pond (1930 — 1935)
1930–31	–	–	–	19	7	11	1
1931–32	–	–	–	16	12	3	1
1932–33	–	–	–	11	10	1	0
1933–34	–	–	–	14	11	3	0
1934–35	–	–	–	14	6	6	2
Larry Armstrong (1935 — 1947)
1935–36	–	–	–	16	10	6	0
1936–37	–	–	–	16	11	4	1
1937–38	–	–	–	17	7	9	1
1938–39	–	–	–	23	17	6	0	Won in AAU Quarterfinals, 10–1 (Philadelphia) Won in AAU Semifinals, 3–2 (St. Nicholas) Lost in AAU Championship, 3–4 (Cleveland)
1939–40	–	–	–	18	18	0	0	Won in AAU Semifinals, 9–4 (Amesbury) Won AAU Championship, 9–1 (Brock Hall)	John Mariucci (All-American)^[3] Harold Paulsen (All-American)
1940–41	–	–	–	16	11	3	2
1941–42	–	–	–	12	7	5	0
1942–43	–	–	–	16	10	5	1
1943–44	–	–	–	11	6	5	0
1944–45	–	–	–	10	7	2	1
1945–46	–	–	–	14	9	4	1
1946–47	–	–	–	20	12	5	3
Doc Romnes (1947 — 1952)
1947–48	NCAA	–	–	21	9	12	0
1948–49	NCAA	–	–	23	12	11	0
1949–50	NCAA	–	–	16	5	11	0
1950–51	NCAA	–	–	26	14	12	0		Gordon Watters (All-American)
1951–52	NCAA	MCHL^[4]	5th	26	13	13	0		Lawrence Ross (All-American)
John Mariucci (1952 — 1955)
1952–53	NCAA	MCHL	1st	29	23	6	0	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 3–2 (Rensselaer) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 3–7 (Michigan)	John Mariucci (COTY)^[5]
1953–54	NCAA	WIHL^[6]	T-1st	30	23	6	1	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 14–1 (Boston College) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 4–5 (OT) (Rensselaer)	Richard Dougherty (All-American) James Mattson (All-American) John Mayasich (All-American) Ken Yackel, Sr. (All-American)
1954–55	NCAA	WIHL	3rd	30	16	12	2		John Mayasich (All-American)
Marsh Ryman (1955 — 1956)^[7]
1955–56	NCAA	WIHL	4th	29	16	12	1
John Mariucci (1956 — 1966)
1956–57	NCAA	WIHL	6th	29	12	15	2
1957–58	NCAA	WIHL	4th	27	16	11	0		Richard Burg (All-American) Jack McCartan (All-American)
1958–59	NCAA	^[8]	–	24	12	10	2		Murray Williamson (All-American)
1958–59	NCAA	Big Ten ^[9]	2nd	8	4	3	1		Murray Williamson (All-American)
1959–60	NCAA	WCHA	6th	27	9	16	2
1959–60	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	8	5	3	0
1960–61	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	29	17	11	1	Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 1–6 (Denver) Won NCAA Third Place, 4–3 (Rensselaer)
1960–61	NCAA	Big Ten	2nd	8	5	3	0
1961–62	NCAA	WCHA	6th	21	9	10	2
1961–62	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	4	0	3	1
1962–63	NCAA	WCHA	4th	27	16	7	4		Lou Nanne (All-American, WCHA MVP)^[10]
1962–63	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	8	5	1	2		Lou Nanne (All-American, WCHA MVP)^[10]
1963–64	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	25	14	11	0		Craig Falkman (All-American)
1963–64	NCAA	Big Ten	2nd	8	5	3	0		Craig Falkman (All-American)
1964–65	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	28	14	12	2		Doug Woog (All-American)
1964–65	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	8	5	3	0		Doug Woog (All-American)
1965–66	NCAA	WCHA	T-2nd	27	16	11	0		Gary Gambucci (WCHA ROTY)^[11]
1965–66	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	8	5	3	0		Gary Gambucci (WCHA ROTY)^[11]
Glen Sonmor (1966 — 1971)
1966–67	NCAA	WCHA	8th	29	9	19	1
1966–67	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	8	2	5	1
1967–68	NCAA	WCHA	5th	31	19	12	0		Gary Gambucci (All-American) Murray McLachlan (WCHA ROTY)
1967–68	NCAA	Big Ten	2nd	8	3	5	0		Gary Gambucci (All-American) Murray McLachlan (WCHA ROTY)
1968–69	NCAA	WCHA	5th	29	13	13	3		Murray McLachlan(All-American, WCHA MVP)
1968–69	NCAA	Big Ten	4th	10	4	5	1		Murray McLachlan(All-American, WCHA MVP)
1969–70	NCAA	WCHA	1st	33	21	12	0		Murray McLachlan (All-American, WCHA MVP) Wally Olds (All-American) Glen Sonmor (WCHA COTY)
1969–70	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	12	8	4	0
1970–71	NCAA	WCHA	5th	33	14	17	2	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 6–5 (Harvard) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 2–4 (Boston University)
1970–71	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	10	5	5	0
Glen Sonmor / Ken Yackel, Sr. (1971 — 1972)^[12]
1971–72	NCAA	WCHA	10th	32	8	24	0
1971–72	NCAA	Big Ten	4th	10	4	6	0
Herb Brooks (1972 — 1979)
1972–73	NCAA	WCHA	6th	34	15	16	3
1972–73	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	12	5	5	2
1973–74	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	39	22	11	6	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 5–4 (Boston University) Won NCAA D-I Championship (1), 4–2 (Michigan Tech)	Herb Brooks (WCHA COTY)
1973–74	NCAA	Big Ten	T-1st	12	5	4	3		Herb Brooks (WCHA COTY)
1974–75	NCAA	WCHA	1st	42	31	10	1	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 6–4 (Harvard) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 1–6 (Michigan Tech)	Les Auge (All-American) Mike Polich (All-American, WCHA MVP)
1974–75	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	12	8	4	0
1975–76	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	44	28	14	2	Won in NCAA Semifinals, 4–2 (Boston University) Won NCAA D-I Championship (2), 6–4 (Michigan Tech)
1975–76	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	12	4	8	0
1976–77	NCAA	WCHA	7th	41	17	21	3
1976–77	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	12	5	7	0
1977–78	NCAA	WCHA	4th	38	22	14	2
1977–78	NCAA	Big Ten	3rd	12	6	6	0
1978–79	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	44	32	11	1	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 3–6 (Bowling Green) Won in NCAA Semifinals, 4–3 (New Hampshire) Won NCAA D-I Championship (3), 4–3 (North Dakota)	William Baker (All-American)
1978–79	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	12	10	2	0		William Baker (All-American)
Brad Buetow (1979 — 1985)
1979–80	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	41	26	15	0	Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Northern Michigan)	Tim Harrer (All-American, WCHA MVP) Brad Buetow (WCHA COTY) Aaron Broten (WCHA FOTY)^[11]
1979–80	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	12	8	4	0	Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Northern Michigan)
1980–81	NCAA	WCHA	1st	45	33	12	0	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 9–4, 5–4 (Colgate) Won in NCAA Semifinals, 7–2 (Michigan Tech) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 3–6 (Wisconsin)	Neal Broten (Hobey Baker, All-American) Steven Ulseth (All-American, WCHA MVP)
1980–81	NCAA	Big Ten	1st	12	11	1	0
1981–82	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	36	22	12	2
1982–83	NCAA	WCHA	1st	45	32	12	1	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 9–6, 7–2 (New Hampshire) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 3–5 (Harvard) Lost in NCAA Third Place, 3–4 (Providence)
1983–84	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	40	27	11	2
1984–85	NCAA	WCHA	2nd^[13]	47	31	13	3	Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 7–5, 1–4, (Boston College)	Pat Micheletti (All-American)
Doug Woog (1985 — 1999)^[14]
1985–86	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	48	35	13	0	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 6–4, 5–3 (Boston University) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 4–6 (Michigan State) Won NCAA Third Place, 6–4 (Denver)
1986–87	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	49	34	14	1	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–1, 2–3 (Boston College) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 3–5 (Michigan State) Won NCAA Third Place, 6–3 (Harvard)
1987–88	NCAA	WCHA	1st	44	34	10	0	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–2, 4–3 (Michigan State) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 2–3 (St. Lawrence) Lost in NCAA Third Place, 2–5 (Maine)	Robb Stauber (Hobey Baker, All-American, WCHA MVP, WCHA GOTY)^[15]
1988–89	NCAA	WCHA	1st	48	34	11	3	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–2, 4–2 (Wisconsin) Won in NCAA Semifinals, 7–4 (Maine) Lost in NCAA D-I Championship, 3–4 (OT) (Harvard)	Robb Stauber (WCHA GOTY)
1989–90	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	46	28	16	2	Won in NCAA First Round, 6–1, 5–1 (Clarkson) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 2–4, 2–1, 1–6 (Boston College)	Doug Woog (WCHA COTY)
1990–91	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	45	30	10	5	Won in NCAA First Round, 3–4, 8–4, 8–3 (Providence) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 0–4, 3–5 (Maine)
1991–92	NCAA	WCHA	1st	44	33	11	0	Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 3–8 (Lake Superior St.)	Darby Hendrickson (WCHA ROTY)^[11]
1992–93	NCAA	WCHA	T-2nd	42	22	12	8	Won in NCAA First Round, 2–1 (Clarkson) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 2–6 (Maine)
1993–94	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	42	25	13	4	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 2–1 (2OT) (UMass-Lowell) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 1–4 (Boston University)
1994–95	NCAA	WCHA	4th	44	25	14	5	Won in NCAA First Round, 3–0 (Rensselaer) Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 5–2 (Colorado College) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 3–7 (Boston University)	Brian Bonin (All-American, WCHA POTY)^[10] Mike Crowley (WCHA ROTY)
1995–96	NCAA	WCHA	2nd	42	30	10	2	Won in NCAA First Round, 5–1 (Providence) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Michigan)	Brian Bonin (Hobey Baker, All-American, WCHA POTY) Mike Crowley (All-American)
1996–97	NCAA	WCHA	T-1st	42	28	13	1	Won in NCAA First Round, 6–3 (Michigan State) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–7 (Michigan)	Mike Crowley (All-American, WCHA POTY)
1997–98	NCAA	WCHA	6th	39	17	22	0
1998–99	NCAA	WCHA	5th	43	15	19	9
Don Lucia (1999 — present)
1999–00	NCAA	WCHA	6th	41	20	19	2
2000–01	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	42	27	13	2	Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–5 (OT) (Maine)	Jordan Leopold (WCHA DPOTY)
2001–02	NCAA	WCHA	3rd	44	32	8	4	Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Colorado College) Won in NCAA Semifinals, 3–2 (Michigan) Won NCAA D-I Championship (4), 4–3 (OT) (Maine)	Jordan Leopold (Hobey Baker, All-American, WCHA DPOTY) John Pohl (All-American)
2002–03	NCAA	WCHA	T-2nd	45	28	8	9	Won in NCAA First Round, 9–2 (Mercyhurst) Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 7–4 (Ferris State) Won in NCAA Semifinals, 3–2 (OT) (Michigan) Won NCAA D-I Championship (5), 5–1 (New Hampshire)	Thomas Vanek (WCHA ROTY)
2003–04	NCAA	WCHA	T-4th	44	27	14	3	Won in NCAA First Round, 5–2 (Notre Dame) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 1–3 (Minnesota-Duluth)	Keith Ballard (All-American)
2004–05	NCAA	WCHA	T-3rd	44	28	15	1	Won in NCAA First Round, 1–0 (OT) (Maine) Won in NCAA Quarterfinals, 2–1 (OT) (Cornell) Lost in NCAA Semifinals, 2–4 (North Dakota)
2005–06	NCAA	WCHA	1st	41	27	9	5	Lost in NCAA First Round, 3–4 (OT) (Holy Cross)	Ryan Potulny (All-American) Phil Kessel (WCHA ROTY) Don Lucia (WCHA COTY)
2006–07	NCAA	WCHA	1st	44	31	10	3	Won in NCAA First Round, 4–3 (Air Force) Lost in NCAA Quarterfinals, 2–3 (OT) (North Dakota)	Alex Goligoski (All-American, WCHA DPOTY)
2007–08	NCAA	WCHA	7th	45	19	17	9	Lost in NCAA First Round, 2–5 (Boston College)
2008–09	NCAA	WCHA	5th	37	17	13	7		Ryan Stoa (All-American) Jordan Schroeder (WCHA ROTY)
2009–10	NCAA	WCHA	7th	37	18	19	2
2010–11	NCAA	WCHA	5th	36	16	14	6
Totals				2725	1627	928	170	(includes regular season and postseason results); 5 NCAA Division I Championships

Footnotes

^ Code explanation; GP—Games Played, W—Wins, L—Losses, T—Tied games
^ Code explanation; All-American—First Team All-American, COTY—Coach of the Year, MVP—Most Valuable Player, FOTY—Rookie of the Year, FOTY—Freshman of the Year, GOTY—Goaltender of the Year, POTY—Player of the Year, DPOTY—Defensive Player of the Year
^ The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has selected All-American teams by a formal vote since the 1958–59 season. Prior to 1958, All-Americans were named by coaches.
^ Minnesota, along with Colorado College, Denver, Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, and North Dakota, founded the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League in 1951.
^ The NCAA Division I Coach of the Year is selected by the American Hockey Coaches Association and presented with the Spencer T. Penrose Award.
^ The MCHL changed its name to the Western Intercollegiate Hockey League prior to the start of the 1953–54 season.
^ John Mariucci took a one-year leave of absence during the 1955–1956 season to serve as head coach of the U.S. men's hockey team that won the silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Marsh Ryman served as interim coach during this time.
^ Prior to the 1958–59 season, Minnesota (along with Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan Tech) withdrew from the WIHL due to a disagreement over recruiting practices. The seven original members of the MCHL founded the Western Collegiate Hockey Association the following season.
^ From 1959 to 1981, Big Ten standings were determined by regular season WCHA games between Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota. Ohio State, a non-WCHA member, played two games against Wisconsin in 1969, two against Michigan State in 1971 and two against Minnesota in 1981.
^ ^a ^b The Denver Post administered the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's MVP award from 1960 to 1981. Since 1981, the league's coaches, players, sports information directors and media have selected the award winner through a balloting process. The MVP award was changed to WCHA Player of the Year in 1992.
^ ^a ^b ^c Because freshmen were not allowed to play in the WCHA from 1959–60 through 1969–70, the Rookie of the Year award went to the top sophomore. In 1970, the award was renamed the Freshman of the Year and given to the top first-year player. In 1990, the name of the award was changed back to Rookie of the Year.
^ In December 1971, Glen Sonmor left the Gophers to become the general manager and head coach for the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association. Ken Yackel, Sr. served as interim coach for the remaining of the 1971–72 season.
^ Starting with the 1984–85 season, an interlocking schedule with Hockey East was used. Under this arrangement, interconference games counted in conference standings for five seasons.
^ Doug Woog was suspended for two games during the 1996–1997 season for concealing an illegal payment to a former player after his scholarship ended. During this time, assistant head coach Mike Guentzel served as the team's head coach.
^ The WCHA Goaltender of the Year Award was awarded for only two seasons, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

References

Kurtt, Kevin (2006). 2006–07 Minnesota Men's Hockey Yearbook. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics. http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38860&SPID=3322&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=276223.
McLaughlin, Don (1929-03-16). "Minnesota Sweeps Marquette Series; Justify Title Rights". Minnesota Daily. http://www.mndaily.com/archive/archives/1929/03161929.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
MacDonald, Gordon (1998). "A Colossal Embroglio: Control of Amateur Ice Hockey in the United States and the 1948 Olympic Winter Games". OLYMPIKA: The International Journal of Olympic Studies (International Centre for Olympic Studies) VII: 43–60. http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/Olympika/Olympika_1998/olympika0701d.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
"Michigan State Before Joining the CCHA". Michigan State Athletics. http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/archive/msu-m-hockey-b4ccha.html. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
Chipman, Scott; Robin Jentes, Jeff Smith, Natalie Johnson (2006). 2006–07 Big Ten Conference Records Book (59th ed.). Big Ten Conference. pp. 49. http://bigten.cstv.com/trads/big10-recordbook.html.
Gordon, Dick (02-05-1956). "Mariucci by Phone: ‘We Rose to Heights; Russia Too Good’". Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/blogs/oldnews/?p=65. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
McGourty, John (11-02-2006). "Sonmor found a way to win at life". NHL. http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=282362. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
Brown, Scott (11-12-1996). "Gopher Hockey Under Scrutiny". USCHO. http://www.uscho.com/news/id,920/GopherHockeyUnderScrutiny.html. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
Mazzocco, Frank (1996-10-21). "Minnesota Head Coach Suspended". USCHO. http://www.uscho.com/news/id,921/MinnesotaHeadCoachSuspended.html. Retrieved 2007-03-03.