The 1973 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament was the culmination of the 1972–73 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, the 26th such tournament in NCAA history. It was held between March 15 and 17, 1973, and concluded with Wisconsin defeating Denver 4–2. All games were played at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
After the tournament Denver's participation was vacated as a result of NCAA recruiting violations.
Qualifying teams Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The ECAC tournament champion and the two WCHA tournament co-champions received automatic bids into the tournament. An at-large bid was offered to a second eastern team based upon both their ECAC tournament finish as well as their regular season record.
East West SeedSchoolConference RecordBerth typeAppearanceLast bidSeedSchoolConference RecordBerth type AppearanceLast bid1 Cornell ECAC Hockey 23–3–1 Tournament champion 6th 19721 Denver WCHA 28–8–1 Tournament co-champion 11th (vacated) 19722 Boston College ECAC Hockey 21–6–1 At-Large 10th 19682 Wisconsin WCHA 27–9–2 Tournament co-champion 3rd 1972
Format The ECAC champion was seeded as the top eastern team while the WCHA co-champion with the better regular season record 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 Boston Garden. All matches were single-game eliminations with the semifinal winners advancing to the national championship game and the losers playing in a consolation game.
Tournament bracket
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)Note: † Denver's participation was later vacated due to NCAA violations
Semifinals
(W1) Denver vs. (E2) Boston College
(E1) Cornell vs. (W2) Wisconsin
Consolation Game
(E1) Cornell vs. (E2) Boston College
National Championship
(W1) Denver vs. (W2) Wisconsin
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st WISDave PayJohnston and Eaves 3:05 1–0 WIS DENJim MillerMcNab and Pearson 13:55 1–1 2nd DENJohn Pearson – PPMcNab 20:54 2–1 DEN WISTim Dool – PPCherrey and Bentley 24:17 2–2 WISDean Talafous – GWLundeen and Deprez 28:30 3–2 WIS 3rd WISJim JohnstonWinchester and Pay 42:34 4–2 WIS Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st WISJim JohnstonTripping 19:32 2:00 2nd DENBob YoungInterference 24:01 2:00 WISPeter McNabHigh-sticking 33:07 2:00 WISDave PayTripping 37:59 2:00 3rd WISDave PayHigh-sticking 54:18 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 T Wisconsin 12 9 8 29 Denver 14 11 9 34
Goaltenders Team Name Saves Goals against Time on ice WIS Jim Makey 32 2 DEN Ron Grahame 25 4
All-Tournament Team G: Jim Makey (Wisconsin) D: vacated† D: John Taft (Wisconsin) F: Stan Hinkley (Wisconsin) F: vacated† F: Dean Talafous* (Wisconsin) * Most Outstanding Player(s) † Recognition of Denver's D: Bruce Affleck and F: Peter McNab was vacated when Denver's participation in the tournament was vacated
References