1962–63 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season

The 1962–63 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey. In its 3rd year under head coach Barry Thorndycraft the team compiled a 22–7–3 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the third time.[1] The Fighting Sioux defeated Denver 6–5 to win the championship game at the McHugh Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

1962–63 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season
National Champion
WCHA, co-Champion
1963 NCAA Tournament, Champion
ConferenceT–1st WCHA
Home iceWinter Sports Building
Record
Overall22–7–3
Conference11–5–2
Home14–0–3
Road6–7–0
Neutral2–0–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachBarry Thorndycraft
Assistant CoachesBob Peters
Captain(s)Maurice Roberge
Alternate captain(s)George Goodacre
Dan Storsteen
North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey seasons
« 1961–62 1963–64 »


Season

North Dakota entered the 1962–63 season after finishing 5th in the WCHA for the previous two seasons. Head coach Barry Thorndycraft was in his fourth season leading the program and could now see his first recruiting class lead the team as seniors. The Fighting Sioux got off to a good start with three home wins against non-conference opponents before opening up the WCHA schedule against Michigan State on the road. After solidly winning the first game 11–4 the Spartans repaid the favor by taking game two 5–6. North Dakota returned home for a series against a Canadian junior team where UND utterly dominated then hit the road again and traveled to Duluth to take on the comparatively weak Bulldogs. Despite the disparity in talent Minnesota–Duluth was able to win their first game of the season, holding the Fighting Sioux to a single goal.[2] North Dakota took the second game to prevent the weekend from becoming a disaster and went into the with a decent record of 7–2 but only 1–1 in conference.

Their first opponent after the new year was defending national champion Michigan Tech but with the games in Grand Forks UND had the advantage. The Sioux took the first game 4–2 but the Huskies fought back in the second match and battled North Dakota to a 3–3 tie. The three point weekend allowed UND to ahead of Michigan Tech in the standings despite having played two fewer conference games[3] and after sweeping Minnesota in Minneapolis the following weekend North Dakota was within shouting distance of league-leading Denver. After trouncing another junior team in a single home game North Dakota played host to the Pioneers and the North Dakota faithful roared when the home team won both games to take over atop the WCHA standings, leading with a .813 winning percentage in conference.

UND played one more home game against the Winnipeg Maroons before heading out on an arduous road trip. Their first stop was in Houghton the following weekend where Michigan Tech was waiting to exact revenge. The Huskies stifled UND in both games, holding the Fighting Sioux to a single goal over the weekend and comfortably took both matches. Three days later North Dakota found themselves at altitude in Colorado where they played four games in five days against Denver and Colorado College. Denver too was able to pay the Fighting Sioux back with two home wins but CC fell in both games to give UND a good chance at earning a home playoff berth in the WCHA tournament.

With Denver and MTU playing each other the following week all North Dakota had to do was take care of business at home against Minnesota and Michigan and they would be able to lock up home ice in at least the first round. UND barely won the two contests against Minnesota but the two wins allowed them to leapfrog the Golden Gophers and with Denver splitting its series with the Huskies North Dakota could earn the #1 seed with its only series against the league-worst Wolverines. With nothing left to lose Michigan fought back against the Fighting Sioux and tied the first game 2–2 before barely losing the second match 6–5. The mostly good weekend allowed North Dakota to finish 11–5–2 in league play, giving UND a .667 winning percentage which left them in a tie for first with Denver. North Dakota's first title since forming the WCHA allowed them to earn home ice in their first round series against Michigan Tech but because Denver had more wins (12) North Dakota was only the second seed.

For the second consecutive year the WCHA had altered the playoff format, making the first round a two-game total-goal series instead of a single-elimination match. While goaltender Joe Lech earned the team's only shutout of the season in the first game against the Huskies, UND could only manage 2 goals themselves. The slim margin was built upon swiftly the next night and North Dakota took the series easily with a 6–1 win. Unfortunately, right after the game the team had to travel almost a thousand miles to play Denver the following day. Despite the journey the Fighting Sioux put up a fight against the Pioneers and sent the game into overtime tied 4–4 but it was Denver who came out on top.

Due to finishing as the WCHA runner-up North Dakota was offered the second western seed and accepted the entry into the 1963 NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since winning the title in 1959. Ordinarily UND would have played the winner of the ECAC Tournament but because an ongoing disagreement between the NCAA and the Ivy League about post-season participation[4] Harvard declined their invitation. Instead North Dakota was set to face ECAC runner-up Boston College at their home venue. While the partisan crowd hoped that the Eagles would be able to carry the day North Dakota swiftly dispatched BC, winning the game 8–2, and sending them to the championship against Denver.

The home team had won all five games between the two schools that season but now a neutral venue would decide which team was ultimately the best. North Dakota came out swinging, scoring the first goal less than two minutes into the contest and added two more before eight minutes had elapsed. Denver would score two goals in quick succession to cut the lead to 1 but within the span of 54 seconds UND added two for to regain a 3-goal lead. UND had outshot Denver 15–7 in the first and they continued to keep the pressure on Rudy Unis into the second, firing another 15 shots at the DU netminder. Al McLean scored just after the 5-minute mark to put his team up 6–2 but Denver started to slowly claw back with two goals to cut the lead in half before the end of the period. In the third North Dakota's offense pulled back slightly but in closing their ranks they were able to limit Denver to only 2 shots on goal. Even so, Denver's Bob Hamill was able to get his third goal of the night with more than six minutes remaining but that was all Denver could muster in the final frame and UND skated away with their second national title, ending Denver's NCAA tournament winning streak at 7 games.

The five goals scored by UND in the first tied the record held by the 1961 Denver team for the most in the opening period while the seven total goals also tied for the most. While he did win the game, with Joe Lech's less-than-stellar championship game (5 goals allowed on 17 shots) it wasn't much of a surprise that he didn't make either All-Tournament team but five of his teammates were named to the first team: George Goodacre, Don Ross, Al McLean, Dave Merrifield and Don Stokaluk. Team captain Maurice Roberge was also named to the second team. McLean, having scored twice including the game-winner, was named as tournament MOP.

After the season McLean, Merrifield and Ross were named as AHCA All-Americans while Merrifeld and Ross made the All-WCHA First Team. Lech and McLean were named to the WCHA Second Team while Barry Thordycraft won the WCHA Coach of the Year

Standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PCT GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Denver†*181260.6677754332391156102
North Dakota†181152.667766232227316291
Michigan Tech201172.6006853291710210976
Minnesota201073.575876729169412884
Colorado College166100.37570912312110113125
Michigan State166100.3756090231112090108
Michigan203143.22562892471439896
Championship: Denver
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Regular Season
November 24 vs. Winnipeg Monarchs* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 7–2  1–0
November 30 vs. Minnesota–Duluth* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–1  2–0
December 1 vs. Minnesota–Duluth* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 7–1  3–0
December 7 at Michigan State Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan W 11–4  4–0 (1–0)
December 8 at Michigan State Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan L 5–6  4–1 (1–1)
December 14 vs. Winnipeg Rangers* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 12–1  5–1 (1–1)
December 15 vs. Winnipeg Rangers* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 10–1  6–1 (1–1)
December 18 at Minnesota–Duluth* Duluth Curling and Skating Club • Duluth, Minnesota L 1–4  6–2 (1–1)
December 19 at Minnesota–Duluth* Duluth Curling and Skating Club • Duluth, Minnesota W 7–3  7–2 (1–1)
January 4 vs. Michigan Tech Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–2  8–2 (2–1)
January 5 vs. Michigan Tech Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota T 3–3 OT 8–2–1 (2–1–1)
January 11 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota W 6–4  9–2–1 (3–1–1)
January 12 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota W 3–2  10–2–1 (4–1–1)
January 17 vs. St. Boniface Canadiens* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 10–2  11–2–1 (4–1–1)
January 25 vs. Denver Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 7–4  12–2–1 (5–1–1)
January 26 vs. Denver Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 3–1  13–2–1 (6–1–1)
February 2 vs. Winnipeg Maroons* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota T 2–2 OT 13–2–2 (6–1–1)
February 8 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan L 0–3  13–3–2 (6–2–1)
February 9 at Michigan Tech Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan L 1–5  13–4–2 (6–3–1)
February 12 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 1–3  13–5–2 (6–4–1)
February 13 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 7–1  14–5–2 (7–4–1)
February 15 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 2–3  14–6–2 (7–5–1)
February 16 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 7–6  15–6–2 (8–5–1)
February 22 vs. Minnesota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–3  16–6–2 (9–5–1)
February 23 vs. Minnesota Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–3  17–6–2 (10–5–1)
March 1 vs. Michigan Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota T 2–2  17–6–3 (10–5–2)
March 2 vs. Michigan Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 6–5  18–6–3 (11–5–2)
WCHA Tournament
March 7 vs. Michigan Tech* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Semifinal game 1) W 2–0  19–6–3 (11–5–2)
March 8 vs. Michigan Tech* Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Semifinal game 2) W 6–1  20–6–3 (11–5–2)
March 9 vs. Denver* DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA Championship) L 4–5 OT 20–7–3 (11–5–2)
NCAA Tournament
March 14 vs. Boston College* McHugh Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (National Semifinal) W 8–2  21–7–3 (11–5–2)
March 16 vs. Denver* McHugh Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (National Championship) W 6–5  22–7–3 (11–5–2)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[5]

Roster and scoring statistics
No.NameYearPositionHometownS/P/CGamesGoalsAssistsPtsPIM
7Al McLeanJuniorFNew Westminster, BC3219345353
8Dave MerrifieldSeniorCThunder Bay, ON3221305128
21George ChigolJuniorWFlin Flon, MB3216193521
17Wayne GurbaSophomoreFFlin Flon, MB322014344
14Ernie DydaSeniorCNorquay, SK321420344
6Don RossSeniorD/CRoseau, MN3215153016
2George GoodacreSeniorDRed Deer, AB323141748
18Don StokalukJuniorWThunder Bay, ON321151613
10Jack MathesonJuniorRWBrandon, MB29881634
12Will StirrettSophomoreWThunder Bay, ON27841212
5John SutherlandJuniorDWinnipeg, MB32381136
3Bill SelmanSeniorDFort Frances, ON260996
4Maurice RobergeJuniorDEdmonton, AB3016726
9Pete StasiukSeniorWLethbridge, AB324268
20Bill BorlaseJuniorDFort Frances, ON91012
13Arnold SteevesSophomoreWMarathon, ON50112
11Dan StorsteenSeniorWDevils Lake, ND00000
1Joe LechSophomoreGGlenbain, SK–––––
1Dudley OttoSeniorGSouth St. Paul, MN–––––
1George BalandJuniorGVirginia, MN–––––
Total

[6]

Goaltending statistics
No.NameGamesMinutesWinsLossesTiesGoals AgainstSavesShut OutsSV %GAA
1George Baland–––––––0.9101.00
1Joe Lech–––––––1.8872.60
1Dudley Otto–––––––0.8702.75
Total32–––––––––

1963 Championship Game

W1 Denver vs. W2 North Dakota
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st UND Don Stokaluk Merrifield and Bartlett 1:57 1–0 UND
UND Al McLean Sutherland and Bartlett 3:11 2–0 UND
UND Ernie Dyda Matheson and Merrifield 7:25 3–0 UND
DU Greg Lacomy Kenning and Fragomeni 12:55 3–1 UND
DU Bob Hamill Wilson and Art 13:13 3–2 UND
UND Don Stokaluk Roberge 14:20 4–2 UND
UND Jack Matheson Ross 15:14 5–2 UND
2nd UND Al McLean – GW unassisted 25:01 6–2 UND
DU Greg Lacomy Wilson and Johnston 27:05 6–3 UND
DU Bob Hamill Staub 33:09 6–4 UND
3rd DU Bob Hamill Kowel 53:19 6–5 UND

See also
  • 1963 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
  • List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions

References
  1. "North Dakota Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. "Minnesota–Duluth Hockey 2016-17 Media Guide". Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  3. "Michigan Tech Hockey 2009-10 Media Guide". Michigan Tech Huskies. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  4. "Cornell Men's Hockey Media Guide Pages 59-88 (History and Records)" (PDF). Cornell Big Red. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  5. "North Dakota Hockey 2018-19 Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  6. "North Dakota Fighting Sioux 1962-63 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  7. "North Dakota 2015-16 Hockey Yearbook" (PDF). North Dakota. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
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