The 1954 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament was the culmination of the 1953–54 NCAA men's ice hockey season, the seventh such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 11 and 13, 1954, and concluded with Rensselaer defeating Minnesota 5-4 in overtime. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This was the first championship game to go into overtime.
Rensselaer's title was the only championship won by a team from the Tri-State League. Despite its low membership the Tri-State League would send at least one representative to the tournament every year from 1952 through 1964 before being dissolved in 1972.
Minnesota's victory in the semifinal over Boston College holds two separate records: the most goals scored by one team in an NCAA tournament game (14, tied with Michigan in 1953) and the largest single-game margin of victory in an NCAA tournament (+13).
Boston College, by being outscored 3-21 in their two games, also holds the worst single-tournament goal differential (-18). (as of 2016)
Qualifying teams Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The two best WIHL teams and a Tri-State League representative received bids into the tournament as did one independent school.
East West SeedSchoolConference RecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bidSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type AppearanceLast bid1 Boston College Independent 17–2–0 At-Large 4th 19501 Michigan WIHL 14–5–2 At-Large 7th 19532 Rensselaer Tri-State League 16–5–0 At-Large 2nd 19532 Minnesota WIHL 22–5–1 At-Large 2nd 1953
Format The eastern team judged as better was seeded as the top eastern team while the WIHL champion was given the top western seed. The second eastern seed was slotted to play the top western seed and vice versa. All games were played at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. All matches were Single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game and the losers playing in a consolation game.
Bracket
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Results
Semifinals
Minnesota vs. Boston College
Michigan vs. Rensselaer
Consolation Game
Michigan vs. Boston College
National Championship
(W2) Minnesota vs. (E2) Rensselaer
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st RPIAbbie Moore Mosco 17:07 1–0 RPI RPIFrank Chiarelli – PP Paradise 19:42 2–0 RPI 2nd RPIAmbrose MoscoMoore 22:45 3–0 RPI MINKen Yackel unassisted 23:09 3–1 RPI MINDick DoughertyCampbell 25:32 3–2 RPI 3rd MINJohn MayasichDougherty 44:29 3–3 MINDick DoughertyMayasich 48:30 4–3 Minn RPIAbbie MooreChiarelli 56:10 4–4 1st Overtime RPIGordie Peterkin – GWMagadini 61:54 5–4 RPI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st MINDick Meredith14:212:00 MINJohn Monahan18:212:00 2nd RPILloyd Bauer27:392:00 MINGeorge Jetty31:282:00 MINDick MeredithCharging34:172:00 3rd RPIJim Pope41:542:00 RPIFrank Paradise42:252:00 1st Overtimenone
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 OT T Minnesota 8 14 22 0 44 Rensselaer 11 8 4 2 25
Goaltenders Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice MIN Jim Mattson 20 5 RPI Bob Fox 40 4
All-Tournament team
First team G: Bob Fox (Rensselaer) D: Jim Pope (Rensselaer) D: Ken Yackel (Minnesota) F: Frank Chiarelli (Rensselaer) F: John Mayasich (Minnesota) F: Gordie Peterkin (Rensselaer) * Most Outstanding Player(s)
Second team G: Jim Mattson (Minnesota) D: Jim Haas (Michigan) D: Bob Siblo (Boston College) F: Abbie Moore* (Rensselaer) F: Bill MacFarland (Michigan) F: Dick Dougherty (Minnesota)
References