1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season

The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its fourteenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 27–14–1 record (17–11 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opponents) and outscored all opponents 218 to 155.[1] The Badgers were the recipients of an at-large bid in the first year that the NCAA guaranteed 8 teams entry into the postseason tournament and in doing so became the first team to win a National Championship because of the expanded format.

1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season
National Champion
NCAA Tournament, Champion
Conference2nd Big Ten
T–2nd WCHA
Home iceDane County Coliseum
Record
Overall27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
Home16–6
Road7–7
Neutral4–1–1
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachBob Johnson
Assistant CoachesGrant Standbrook
Captain(s)Jay McFarlane
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey seasons
« 1979–80 1981–82 »

Season

Wisconsin began the 1980–81 season fresh after compiling its first losing season since returning to NCAA play in 1963.[2] With little expectation for the '81 campaign Bob Johnson's Badgers got off to a fast start, going 7-1 in the first month of the season before embarking on a .500 skid in early November. The Badgers would lose a game in every weekend series until after Christmas when they finally managed to take both games against a mediocre Yale squad, only to lose both games to Rensselaer the following week. Wisconsin was hampered by high-scoring freshman and future NHL-er Bruce Eakin leaving the program after only four games and heading to the WHL.

From January 1 onward, Wisconsin managed to just post a winning record, going 10-8 over that stretch but still finishing in a tie for second in conference standings on the strength of their early-season success. The Badgers won the tie-breaker over Michigan Tech and were seeded second in the WCHA Tournament. After winning their first game against Colorado College 8-2 it appeared Wisconsin was set for an appearance in second round until the Tigers roared back with an 11-4 win in the second game and upset a stunned Badger team 13-12 in the series.

Ordinarily that would have been the end of the Wisconsin's season but in the summer of 1980 the NCAA changed its tournament format. With the success of the CCHA and the increasing number of programs at the Division I level the NCAA tournament was expanded to 8 teams, 4 for eastern schools and 4 for western squads. As tournament co-champions Minnesota and Michigan Tech received automatic bids, as did CCHA champion Northern Michigan. That left one spot open for a western school. Due to the feeling at the time that the CCHA was a 'lesser' conference the 24-12-3 record of second place Ohio State was seen a inferior to anything the WCHA could offer and the Buckeyes were passed over. While the Badgers did lose in the first round Denver, who had finished only two points behind Wisconsin, had also lost their first round matchup and the team that had defeated them, Michigan, were soundly beaten by Michigan Tech in the Second round 9-2. With no team standing out from the rest the tournament committee settled on awarding the final spot to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin opened the 1981 Tournament in front a hostile crowd in Potsdam, NY as they faced the top eastern seed Clarkson. Miraculously the Badgers managed to take the first game 3-2 but, just as the WCHA tournament had been, the NCAA first round was a 2-game total-goal series and 1 score was a very slim margin to hold. The second game was a much more explosive affair with both teams notching six goals in regulation play. Because of a peculiarity with the series Wisconsin leading 9-8 after regulation didn't end the matchup and the two would play one overtime session to see if the 'winner' of the game could be determined. If Wisconsin scored the series would be over immediately, however, if Clarkson scored the game would continue because the series had been tied at 9-9 despite an overtime marker. Neither of those events came to pass and both teams failed to score in the overtime session, allowing the game to finish in a tie and the Badgers to progress to the Frozen Four.

In their first game at the Duluth Arena the Badgers faced Northern Michigan, the first time the two teams played one another. Both squads played a scoreless first period before Ed Lebler opened the scoring three minutes into the second. Two more Badgers scored before the Wildcats could get their first goal of the game but Marc Behrend made sure that was all they could earn, turning away their 25 other shots en route to a 5-1 win.[3] In the final Wisconsin was set against #1 overall seed Minnesota who possessed the top offense in the nation boasting both the NCAA scoring champion Aaron Broten and the first Hobey Baker Award winner Neal Broten. The Golden Gophers had taken three out of four contests against the Badgers that season, out-pacing Johnson's team 27 goals to 14. None of that seemed to affect Wisconsin in the slightest as it was the Badgers who opened the scoring half way through the first period and never looked back. Wisconsin got the game's first four goals and by the time Minnesota had found the back of the net it was too late. The 'Back Door' Badgers fired 42 shots on goal, not letting up even with a 5-1 lead after two periods. Marc Behrend turned aside 30 of 33 shots in the contest and finished the tournament with a .932 save percentage in the Frozen Four, earning Tournament MOP honors. Despite the spectacular Frozen Four John Newbery was the only Badger other than Behrend to make the All-Tournament Team but the Wisconsin faithful were too overjoyed from the unexpected championship to mind.

No Wisconsin player was named as an AHCA All-American[4] and only Theran Welsh was named to the Second Team All-WCHA.[5]

Standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota†*282080401521044533120261174
Wisconsin2817110341311014227141218155
Michigan Tech*2817110341181024429141195155
Denver2815112321201114023152233197
Michigan2815130301381224023170185161
North Dakota2814122301331343821152186168
Colorado College2812160241281423617190174183
Minnesota-Duluth2811170221201503917211165197
Notre Dame289181191001373613212139166
Michigan State28720115821193612222116144
Championship: Michigan Tech, Minnesota
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Conference Overall
GP W L T Pct. GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota†10910.90061354533120261174
Wisconsin10550.50045454227141218155
Michigan12480.33342544023170185161
Michigan State8260.25023373612222116144
† indicates conference regular season champion

Schedule

During the season, Wisconsin compiled a 27–14–1 record.[6] Its schedule was as follows.[7]

DateOpponentScoreResultVenueLocationRecord (WCHA / Big Ten)
Oct. 17, 1980Western Michigan7–3WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI1–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 18, 1980Western Michigan5–4WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI2–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 24, 1980Denver †5–3WinDU ArenaDenver, CO3–0 (1–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 25, 1980Denver †3–5LossDU ArenaDenver, CO3–1 (1–1 / 0–0)
Oct. 31, 1980Colorado College †6–4WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI4–1 (2–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 1, 1980Colorado College †7–5WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI5–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 17, 1980Ferris State8–2WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI6–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 8, 1980Ferris State4–4WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI7–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 14, 1980Notre Dame †4–5*LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI7–2 (3–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 15, 1980Notre Dame †4–0WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI8–2 (4–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 21, 1980Michigan ‡5–3WinYost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, MI9–2 (5–2 / 1–0)
Nov. 22, 1980Michigan ‡1–3LossYost Ice ArenaAnn Arbor, MI9–3 (5–3 / 1–1)
Nov. 28, 1980Minnesota ‡4–5*LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI9–4 (5–4 / 1–2)
Nov. 29, 1980Minnesota ‡8–3WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI10–4 (6–4 / 2–2)
Dec. 5, 1980Minnesota–Duluth †2–3LossDuluth ArenaDuluth, MN10–5 (6–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 6, 1980Minnesota–Duluth †5–3WinDuluth ArenaDuluth, MN11–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 28, 1980Yale10–5WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI12–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 29, 1980Yale12–1WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI13–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 2, 1981Rensselaer4–6LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI13–6 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 3, 1981Rensselaer5–6LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI13–7 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 9, 1981Michigan ‡8–5WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI14–7 (8–5 / 3–2)
Jan. 10, 1981Michigan ‡4–3WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI15–7 (9–5 / 4–2)
Jan. 16, 1981Minnesota ‡3–6LossWilliams ArenaMinneapolis, MN15–8 (9–6 / 4–3)
Jan. 17, 1981Minnesota ‡4–8LossWilliams ArenaMinneapolis, MN15–9 (9–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 23, 1981Minnesota–Duluth †7–2WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI16–9 (10–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 24, 1981Minnesota–Duluth †4–3WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI17–9 (11–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 30, 1981Michigan Tech †3–5LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI17–10 (11–8 / 4–4)
Jan. 31, 1981Michigan Tech †6–2WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI18–10 (12–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 6, 1981North Dakota †10–1WinRalph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, ND19–10 (13–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 7, 1981North Dakota †5–4WinRalph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, ND20–10 (14–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 13, 1981Colorado College †4–3*WinBroadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, CO21–10 (15–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 14, 1981Colorado College †2–4LossBroadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, CO21–11 (15–9 / 4–4)
Feb. 20, 1981Michigan State ‡3–5LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI21–12 (15–10 / 4–5)
Feb. 21, 1981Michigan State ‡5–4WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI22–12 (16–10 / 5–5)
Feb. 27, 1981Notre Dame †2–4LossJoyce CenterNotre Dame, IN22–13 (16–11 / 5–5)
Feb. 28, 1981Notre Dame †8–2WinJoyce CenterNotre Dame, IN23–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
WCHA TOURNAMENT
Mar. 7, 1981Colorado College8–2WinDane County ColiseumMadison, WI24–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
Mar. 8, 1981Colorado College4–11LossDane County ColiseumMadison, WI24–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
Colorado College Wins Series 13-12
NCAA TOURNAMENT
March 20, 1981Clarkson3–2WinWalker ArenaPotsdam, NY25–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 21, 1981Clarkson6–6*TieWalker ArenaPotsdam, NY25–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 27, 1981Northern Michigan5–1WinDuluth ArenaDuluth, MN26–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 28, 1981Minnesota6–3WinDuluth ArenaDuluth, MN27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
218–15527–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)

* Denotes overtime periods
† WCHA game
‡ Big Ten and WCHA game

National Championship

(W1) Minnesota vs. (W4) Wisconsin
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st WIS Dan Gorowsky Newberry and Vincent 9:24 1–0 WIS
WIS John Newberry – PP Vincent and Welsh 14:49 2–0 WIS
WIS Ed Lebler Ethier 19:49 3–0 WIS
2nd WIS Ted Pearson – GW Lebler and Newberry 29:23 4–0 WIS
MIN Butsy Erickson Ulseth and Knoke 32:37 4–1 WIS
WIS John Newberry – PP S. Lecy and Vincent 34:27 5–1 WIS
3rd MIN Mike Knoke – PP Jensen and A. Broten 40:10 5–2 WIS
MIN Butsy Erickson – PP Hartzell and A. Broten 56:09 5–3 WIS
WIS Ed Lebler – EN Driver 58:40 6–3 WIS
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st WIS John Newberry Roughing 0:28 2:00
MIN Dave Jensen Roughing 0:28 2:00
WIS Bruce Driver Hooking 4:14 2:00
WIS Pat Ethier Interference 9:35 2:00
WIS Brian Mullen Charging 10:11 2:00
MIN Neal Broten Cross–Checking 10:11 2:00
WIS Jay McFarlane Charging 11:58 2:00
MIN Paul Butters Interference 14:15 2:00
2nd WIS Theran Welsh Holding 25:48 2:00
WIS Pete Johnson Hooking 30:31 2:00
MIN Scott Bjugstad High Sticking 32:51 2:00
MIN Mike Meadows Roughing 35:28 2:00
MIN Bob Bergloff Roughing 36:00 2:00
WIS Pat Ethier Elbowing 38:15 2:00
3rd WIS Ted Pearson Hooking 45:21 2:00
WIS Todd Lecy Interference 55:06 2:00

Roster and scoring statistics
No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
16Scott LecySeniorWRochester, MN4226497544
20Ron VincentJuniorRWVancouver, BC3620456528
10John NewberryFreshmanCVictoria, BC3930326277
5Theran WelshSeniorDPrince Albert, SK4110445452
11Pete JohnsonJuniorCMadison, WI4130235344
26Ed LeblerJuniorLWVanderhoof, BC4228245220
19Brian MullenFreshmanCNew York, NY3811132428
7Todd LecySophomoreLWRochester, MN324172148
25Bruce DriverFreshmanDToronto, ON425152042
9Lexi DonerSophomoreLWLynnwood, WA307111816
12John JohannsonFreshmanWRochester, MN386121828
4Pat EthierSophomoreDSaint Paul, MN371171892
15Dan GorowskySeniorLWWhite Bear Lake, MN29125174
17Ken KurylukJuniorLWWinnipeg, MB4289172
24Ted PearsonFreshmanWEdina, MN36691559
2Jay McFarlaneJuniorDEdmonton, AB423121588
22Jon MorganSeniorRWMinnetonka, MN19281014
3Steve McKenzieFreshmanDLeduc, AB370101022
6Jeff AndringaSophomoreDMadison, WI3717810
13Tom CarrollFreshmanWEdina, MN63144
21Bruce EakinFreshmanCWinnipeg, MB41342
29Tim SagerFreshmanWSaint Paul, MN41230
23Scott SaboFreshmanCThief River Falls, MN1720210
14Ed RepinsSophomoreDShorewood, WI91128
27Brad BensonFreshmanDEdina, MN140222
18John DoughertySophomoreRWGreen Bay, WI50000
8Randy KellerJuniorDVictoria, BC80008
30Jamey GremoreSeniorGWhite Bear Lake, MN100000
27Marc BehrendFreshmanGMadison, WI160000
1Terry KleisingerFreshmanGNanaimo, BC210006
Total860264441705794

[9]

Goaltending Statistics
No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
27Marc Behrend1691311415050000.9093.29
1Terry Kleisinger21101111506156420.9023.62
30Jamey Gremore105965504329400.8724.34
Total25202714115413582.8983.67

Players drafted into the NHL

1981 NHL Entry Draft
= NHL All-Star Team = NHL All-Star[10] = NHL All-Star[10] and NHL All-Star Team = Did not play in the NHL
RoundPickPlayerNHL Team
585Marc BehrendWinnipeg Jets
6108Bruce DriverColorado Rockies
10192John JohannsonColorado Rockies

[11]

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See also

References
  1. "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. "Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  3. "2017-18 Wisconsin Men's Hockey Fact Book" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  4. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  5. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. "Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  7. "Badger Hockey 2005-06 Media Guide" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  8. "1981 Championship Boxscore" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  9. "1980-81 U. of Wisconsin roster and statistics". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  10. Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  11. "1981 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
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