The 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1996 and concluded with the 1997 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament's championship game on March 29, 1997, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was the 50th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 103rd year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.
Season Outlook Pre-season polls The top teams in the nation as ranked before the start of the season.
The WMPL Baker's Dozen poll was voted on by coaches. The WMEB was voted on by media. The USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll was voted on by coaches and media.
Adam Wodon, host of national college hockey talk show Around The Rinks, took over The Record poll. The poll was voted on by coaches, media, and NHL scouts. It was published by U.S. College Hockey Online. WMPL PollRankTeam1 Michigan (8)2 Boston University3 Vermont4 Minnesota5 Colorado College6 Bowling Green7 Michigan State8 North Dakota9 Clarkson10 Lake Superior State11 Maine12 New Hampshire13 (tie) Wisconsin13 (tie) Denver WMEB PollRankTeam1 Michigan (8)2 Vermont3 Boston University4 Colorado College5 Minnesota6 Bowling Green7 Michigan State8 Clarkson9 New Hampshire10 North Dakota USCHO PollRankTeam1 Michigan (29)2 Vermont (1)3 Boston University4 Minnesota5 Colorado College6 Bowling Green7 Michigan State8 Clarkson9 North Dakota10 New Hampshire USA Today PollRankTeam1 Michigan (9)2 Vermont3 Boston University4 Michigan State (1)5 Minnesota6 Colorado College7 Denver8 Bowling Green9 Clarkson10 New Hampshire
Regular season
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion College Hockey Showcase November 29–30 4 Michigan Governor's Cup November 29–30 4 New Hampshire Williams Tournament November 30–December 1 4 Army J. C. Penney Classic December 20–21 4 Maine Badger Showdown December 27–28 4 New Hampshire Denver Cup December 27–28 4 Denver Great Lakes Invitational December 27–28 4 Michigan Mariucci Classic December 27–28 4 Minnesota Pepsi Cola Tournament December 27–28 4 St. Lawrence Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 27–28 4 Rensselaer Syracuse Invitational December 27–28 4 Cornell Auld Lang Syne Classic December 30–31 4 St. Lawrence Beanpot February 3, 10 4 Boston University
Standings
Final regular season polls The WMPL, WMEB, and Around The Rinks/USCHO polls were released before the conference tournaments. The USA Today poll was released before the conference tournament finals. WMPL Coaches PollRankingTeam1 Michigan (9)2 Clarkson3 Minnesota4 New Hampshire5 Boston University(tie) North Dakota7 Miami8 Vermont9 Cornell10 Michigan State11 Denver12 St. Cloud State13 Lake Superior State WMEB Media PollRankingTeam1 Michigan (6)2 North Dakota3 Clarkson4 New Hampshire5 Minnesota6 Miami7 Boston University8 Maine9 Michigan State10 Vermont USA Today / American Hockey Magazine PollRankingTeam1 Michigan (10)2 Clarkson3 Minnesota4 Boston University5 North Dakota6 New Hampshire7 Miami8 Michigan State9 Cornell10 Denver Around The Rinks / USCHO PollRankingTeam1 Michigan (30)2 Clarkson3 Minnesota4 North Dakota5 Miami6 New Hampshire7 Boston University8 Vermont9 Maine10 Denver
1997 NCAA tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Player stats
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM Senior Michigan 43 31 57 88 52 Senior Clarkson 37 38 36 74 22 Sophomore New Hampshire 39 23 44 67 28 Junior Michigan 36 26 38 64 69 Senior Michigan 42 26 37 63 56 Junior Boston University 41 38 24 62 64 Senior Bowling Green 38 30 32 62 46 Senior Michigan 42 37 24 61 129 Sophomore Miami 39 27 34 61 44 Senior Bowling Green 37 21 40 61 50
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player Class Team GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA Junior Union 28 1681 15 11 2 57 4 .931 2.03 Junior Michigan 41 2296 33 4 4 87 4 .894 2.27 Freshman North Dakota 23 1170 17 3 0 45 4 .908 2.31 Junior Clarkson 37 2162 27 9 0 84 3 .917 2.33 Sophomore Boston University 24 1466 16 4 4 58 0 .911 2.37 Junior Michigan State 39 2272 23 11 4 103 3 .894 2.72 Junior Cornell 27 1475 16 7 2 67 0 .909 2.73 Sophomore Miami 28 1645 17 10 1 75 1 .895 2.74 Senior Denver 22 2 .900 2.75 Senior Vermont 36 2158 22 11 3 101 2 .914 2.81
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Memorial Award Brendan Morrison, MichiganSpencer T. Penrose Award Dean Blais, North DakotaMost Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Matt Henderson, North DakotaAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamTrevor Koenig, Union G Marty Turco, MichiganJon Coleman, Boston University DDan Boyle, Miami Matt Pagnutti, Clarkson D Mike Crowley, MinnesotaChris Drury, Boston University F Randy Robitaille, Miami Todd White, Clarkson F Brendan Morrison, Michigan Martin St. Louis, Vermont F John Madden, Michigan East Second Team Position West Second Team Dan Murphy, Clarkson G Kirk Daubenspeck, Wisconsin Chris Kelleher, Boston University D Andy Roach, Ferris State Tim Murray, New Hampshire D Curtis Murphy, North Dakota Mike Harder, Colgate F Jason Botterill, Michigan Eric Healey, Rensselaer F David Hoogsteen, North Dakota Jason Krog, New Hampshire F Mark Parrish, St. Cloud State
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Brendan Morrison, MichiganBest Defensive Forward John Madden, MichiganBest Defensive Defenseman Tyler Harlton, Michigan StateBest Offensive Defenseman Andy Roach, Ferris StateRookie of the Year Daryl Andrews, Western MichiganCoach of the Year Mark Mazzoleni, MiamiTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Steve Noble, Notre DameMost Valuable Player in Tournament Brendan Morrison, MichiganAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second Team Marty Turco, Michigan G Trevor Prior, Miami Dan Boyle, Miami D Joe Corvo, Western Michigan Andy Roach, Ferris State D Harold Schock, Michigan Brendan Morrison, Michigan F Sean Berens, Michigan State Randy Robitaille, Miami F Joe Blaznek, Lake Superior State John Madden, Michigan F Jason Sessa, Lake Superior State Rookie Team Position Chris Marvel, Alaska-Fairbanks G Daryl Andrews, Western Michigan D Josh Mizerek, Miami D Hugo Boisvert, Ohio State F Joe Dusbabek, Notre Dame F Adam Edinger, Bowling Green F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Todd White, ClarksonRookie of the Year J. R. Prestifilippo, HarvardCoach of the Year Stan Moore, UnionBest Defensive Defenseman Matt Pagnutti, Clarkson Andrew Will, UnionBest Defensive Forward Joel Prpic, St. LawrenceKen Dryden Award Trevor Koenig, UnionMost Outstanding Player in Tournament Jason Elliott, CornellAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team Trevor Koenig, Union G Dan Murphy, Clarkson Matt Pagnutti, Clarkson D Ray Giroux, Yale Steve Wilson, Cornell D Andrew Will, Union Mike Harder, Colgate F Paul DiFrancesco, St. Lawrence Martin St. Louis, Vermont F Eric Healey, Rensselaer Todd White, Clarkson F Éric Perrin, Vermont Rookie Team Position J. R. Prestifilippo, Harvard G Cory Murphy, Colgate D Dominique Auger, Princeton D Ryan Campbell, Union F Pete Gardiner, Rensselaer F Jeff Hamilton, Yale F Ryan Moynihan, Cornell F
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Chris Drury, Boston UniversityRookie of the Year Greg Koehler, Massachusetts-LowellBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Dick Umile, New HampshireLen Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award Steve Kariya, MaineBest Defensive Forward Travis Dillabough, ProvidenceWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Michel Larocque, Boston UniversityAll-Hockey East Teams All Stars* Position All Stars* Martin Legault, Merrimack G Tom Noble, Boston University Jason Mansoff, Maine D Jon Coleman, Boston University Mike Nicholishen, Massachusetts-Lowell D Tim Murray, New Hampshire Chris Drury, Boston University F Neil Donovan, Massachusetts-Lowell Eric Boguniecki, New Hampshire F Marty Reasoner, Boston College Jason Krog, New Hampshire F Mark Mowers, New Hampshire Rookie Team Position Sean Matile, New Hampshire G Tom Poti, Boston University D Mike Mottau, Boston College D Greg Koehler, Massachusetts-Lowell F Michael Souza, New Hampshire F Cory Larose, Maine F * No Distinction was made between First- and Second-Team All-Stars
WCHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Mike Crowley, MinnesotaDefensive Player of the Year Eric Rud, Colorado CollegeRookie of the Year Brant Nicklin, Minnesota-DuluthStudent-Athlete of the Year Petri Gunther, DenverCoach of the Year Dean Blais, North DakotaMost Valuable Player in Tournament David Hoogsteen, North DakotaAll-WCHA Teams First Team Position Second Team Steve DeBus, Minnesota G Kirk Daubenspeck, Wisconsin Mike Crowley, Minnesota D Eric Rud, Colorado College Curtis Murphy, North Dakota D Rick Mrozik, Minnesota-DuluthBrian Swanson, Colorado College F Dave Paradise, St. Cloud StateJason Blake, North Dakota F Matt Cullen, St. Cloud State David Hoogsteen, North Dakota F Mike Peluso, Minnesota-Duluth Third Team Position Rookie Team Jim Mullin Denver G Brant Nicklin, Minnesota-Duluth Dane Litke, North Dakota D Ben Clymer, Minnesota Calvin Elfring, Colorado College D Curtis Doell, Minnesota-Duluth Sacha Molin, St. Cloud State F Buddy Smith, Northern Michigan Ryan Kraft, Minnesota F Dave Spehar, Minnesota Andre Savage, Michigan Tech F Toby Petersen, Colorado College
1997 NHL entry draft
Round Pick Player College Conference NHL team 2 27 Minnesota WCHA 2 28 North Dakota WCHA 2 30 Cornell ECAC Hockey 2 44 † St. Cloud State WCHA 3 57 Boston College Hockey East 3 63 † North Dakota WCHA 3 66 † Michigan CCHA 3 67 New Hampshire Hockey East 3 70 ‡ Denver WCHA 4 83 Western Michigan CCHA 5 110 Notre Dame CCHA 5 115 Bowling Green CCHA 5 116 Boston College Hockey East 5 120 Rensselaer ECAC Hockey 5 133 † Minnesota WCHA 6 136 Michigan State CCHA 6 147 † Providence Hockey East 7 163 Notre Dame CCHA 7 169 Michigan CCHA 7 172 Maine Hockey East 7 179 Harvard ECAC Hockey 7 181 † Michigan Tech WCHA 7 182 Boston College Hockey East 7 183 Lake Superior State CCHA 8 191 Denver WCHA 8 193 † Notre Dame CCHA 8 194 † Boston University Hockey East 8 196 † St. Lawrence ECAC Hockey 8 203 † Boston University Hockey East 8 206 † Northeastern Hockey East 8 211 † Bowling Green CCHA 8 215 † Boston College Hockey East 8 217 † Northern Michigan WCHA 9 222 † Notre Dame CCHA 9 224 Denver WCHA 9 226 St. Lawrence ECAC Hockey 9 227 † Alaska–Anchorage WCHA 9 230 Ohio State CCHA 9 233 Minnesota WCHA 9 234 † New Hampshire Hockey East 9 235 Boston University Hockey East 9 236 Providence Hockey East 9 243 † Massachusetts–Lowell Hockey East † incoming freshman‡ Andersson had previous been selected by the Los Angeles Kings in 1990.
See also 1996–97 NCAA Division II men's ice hockey season 1996–97 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
References
External links College Hockey Historical Archives 1996–97 NCAA Standings