North Star College Cup

North Star College Cup
Sport Hockey
Founded 2014
Venue(s) Xcel Energy Center (2014–present)
Most recent champion(s) Bemidji State
Most titles Bemidji State (1)
Minnesota (1)

The North Star College Cup is a men's ice hockey tournament among the five NCAA Division I programs in Minnesota. The North Star College Cup is meant to resemble the Beanpot tournament, and maintain the long-standing rivalries amongst the Minnesota schools from when they competed together in the Classic WCHA up until the 2013-2014 season.

Format

The competitors are:

The tournament lasts two rounds, with first-round opponents being rotated from year to year. The second round features the consolation game and the championship game. The University of Minnesota is the only permanent participant. The other four schools each rotate a year off.

History

Prior to the 2013-2014 season all of the schools competed in the WCHA. However, several teams realigned their conference affiliations in 2013, after Minnesota joined the Big Ten. St. Cloud State and the University of Minnesota Duluth joined the NCHC. Minnesota State and Bemidji State remain together in what has been coined the "new-look WCHA". The tournament is meant to maintain the rivalries among the Minnesota schools from the Classic WCHA.

The inaugural tournament was held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 24–25, 2014. Participating were the University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato and St. Cloud State University.[1]

Trophy

The trophy consists of Minnesota-grown red oak and birch as well as hickory wood historically used to make hockey sticks. Doug Johannsen of Ramsey, MN crafted the cup; Bill Durand of Anoka, MN constructed the base. A star is used between the cup and the base and shows the tournament logo on top of the base. The star includes acrylic color acyrlic in addition to pucks for each individual school participating in the tournament. Sterling Trophy Inc. (Anoka, MN) designed the cup and approached Johannsen and Durant to create the trophy, and laser engraved the tournament logo onto the cup in part of the final production.[2]

Results

Four games are listed for each North Star College Cup, in the order they were played. Winners are listed in bold. Games requiring overtime are indicated by (OT). Games requiring a shoot out are indicated by (SO) and the shootout score (3-2).[3]

Year First Game Second Game Consolation Final
2014MSU 4–5OT UMD#1 Minnesota 4–1 #5 SCSU#5 SCSU 6–4 MSU#1 Minnesota 4–4SO UMD
2015BSU 4–0 #7 UMD#1 MSU 4–2 #17 Minnesota#7 UMD 2–1 #17 MinnesotaBSU 3–1 #1 MSU
2016MSU vs SCSUBSU vs Minnesota
2017SCSU vs BSUUMD vs Minnesota

Team Statistics

Through the 2015 North Star College Cup, the five teams have amassed the following statistics:

School W L Pct. GF GA North Star Cup Finishes Championship Games
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Games Goals Avg.
Bemidji State201.000711000133.000
Minnesota22.50011111001144.000
Minnesota–Duluth22.50011130110144.000
St. Cloud State11.500780010000.000
Minnesota State13.25013160101111.000

Awards

Champions
Year School Coach
2014MinnesotaLucia, DonDon Lucia
2015Bemidji StateSerratore, TomTom Serratore

Most Valuable Players
Year Name Position School Ref
2014Wilcox, AdamAdam WilcoxGoaltenderMinnesota[4]
2015Bitzer, MichaelMichael BitzerGoaltenderBemidji State[5]

See also

References

St. Paul Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24979441/gophers-hockey-north-star-college-cup-state-championship?source=rss

Minneapolis Star Tribune http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/events/detail/minnesota-division-i-annual-hockey-tournament

Xcel Energy Center http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/events/detail/minnesota-division-i-annual-hockey-tournament

External links