1973–74 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season

The 1973–74 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1973 and concluded with the 1974 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 16, 1974, at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the 27th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 80th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

1973–74 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The Boston Garden served as the host for the 1974 Tournament
Duration	October 1973– March 16, 1974
NCAA tournament	1974
National championship	Boston Garden Boston, Massachusetts
NCAA champion	Minnesota
List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey seasons ← 1972–73 1974–75 →

In the summer of 1973 the NCAA changed the classifications of the tiers in each of their sponsored sports. The university- and College-divisions were done away with and replaced by numerical designations making this the first official Division I season.^[1]

The NIT held a competing ice hockey tournament for the first time. The tournament included NAIA champion Lake Superior State, ECAC 2 champion Vermont and two NCAA Division I schools (Minnesota–Duluth and Saint Louis). Minnesota–Duluth won the championship but the tournament was not renewed for a second season.

Season Outlook

Pre-season poll

The top teams in the nation voted on by coaches before the start of the season. The poll was compiled by radio station WMPL.

WMPL Poll
Rank	Team
1	Wisconsin (8)
2	Notre Dame
3	Denver
4	Michigan Tech (1)
5	Boston University
6	Cornell (1)
7	Saint Louis
8	Harvard
9	Boston College
10	Michigan State

Pre-season conference polls

Conference pre-season polls as voted on by coaches. The ECAC coaches voted on the top eight teams instead of the entire conference.

ECAC Poll Rank Team 1 Cornell 2 Boston College 3 Boston University 4 Harvard 5 New Hampshire 6 Brown 7 Dartmouth 8 Rensselaer 9 Clarkson 10 Pennsylvania 11 Pennsylvania 12 St. Lawrence 13 Providence 14 Northeastern

WCHA Poll Rank Team 1 Wisconsin 2 Notre Dame 3 Michigan Tech 4 Denver 5 Michigan State 6 Minnesota 7 North Dakota 8 Michigan 9 Minnesota Duluth 10 Colorado College

Regular season

Season tournaments

Tournament	Dates	Teams	Champion
Christmas City of the North Tournament	November 22–24	4	Minnesota–Duluth
North Country Thanksgiving Festival	November 22–24	4	Toronto
Flint IMA Tournament	December 27–28	4	Michigan
St. Louis Holiday Tournament	December 27–28	4	Saint Louis
Rensselaer Holiday Tournament	December 27–29	4	Boston University
Great Lakes Invitational	December 28–29	4	Michigan State
Syracuse Invitational	December 28–29	4	Cornell
Beanpot	February 4, 11	4	Harvard
Lake Forest Tournament	February 22–23	4	Saint Mary's

Standings

1973–74 Big Ten standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Wisconsin†	12	5	4	3	13	55	45		36	18	13	5	170	141
Minnesota†	12	5	4	3	13	50	47		39	22	11	6	171	143
Michigan State	12	5	6	1	11	61	63		38	23	14	1	207	177
Michigan	12	5	6	1	11	47	59		36	18	17	1	147	162
† indicates conference regular season champion

1973–74 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Lake Superior State†	8	5	3	0	10	40	33		39	22	16	1	205	159
Saint Louis*	8	5	3	0	10	35	37		40	28	12	0	224	165
Bowling Green	8	2	6	0	4	32	37		39	20	19	0	217	167
Championship: Saint Louis † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

1973–74 ECAC Hockey standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pct.	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
New Hampshire†	20	15	5	0	.750	113	71		31	22	9	0	171	105
Harvard	21	15	6	0	.714	166	109		29	17	11	1	155	113
Boston University*	20	14	6	0	.700	167	89		31	23	8	0	190	95
Cornell	20	13	6	1	.675	135	108		27	19	7	1	146	110
St. Lawrence	17	9	7	1	.559	79	83		28	12	15	1	125	123
Dartmouth	22	12	10	0	.545	93	104		25	13	11	1	99	100
Providence	19	9	9	1	.500	83	103		26	14	11	1	115	113
Rensselaer	17	8	9	0	.471	101	116		30	14	15	1	141	142
Clarkson	21	9	11	1	.452	70	89		27	12	14	1	97	115
Pennsylvania	21	9	12	0	.429	67	71		24	10	14	0	75	87
Boston College	19	8	11	0	.421	89	98		28	16	12	0	137	138
Northeastern	19	7	10	2	.421	74	88		27	10	13	4	116	124
Brown	18	7	11	0	.389	63	69		23	10	13	0	87	86
Princeton	20	7	12	1	.375	62	100		24	9	14	1	87	117
Yale	18	5	13	0	.278	60	91		24	8	16	0	80	114
Colgate	20	5	14	1	.275	73	104		28	11	16	1	122	133
Championship: Boston University † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

1973–74 NCAA Division I Independent ice hockey standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Air Force	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		27	12	15	0	143	127
Ohio State	0	0	0	0	-	-	-		31	16	13	2	162	123

1973–74 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Michigan Tech†*	28	20	6	2	42	155	95		40	28	9	3	218	135
Minnesota*	28	14	9	5	33	125	100		39	22	11	6	171	143
Denver	28	15	11	2	32	126	122		38	22	13	3	171	156
Michigan State	28	15	12	1	31	150	140		38	23	14	1	207	177
Wisconsin	28	12	11	5	29	124	105		36	18	13	5	170	141
Minnesota-Duluth	28	13	14	1	27	113	126		38	21	16	1	167	155
Michigan	28	12	15	1	25	107	131		36	18	17	1	147	162
Notre Dame	28	11	16	1	23	125	121		36	14	20	2	159	154
Colorado College	28	10	16	2	22	120	138		32	13	17	2	155	157
North Dakota	28	8	20	0	16	80	147		34	10	23	1	103	169
Championship: Michigan Tech, Minnesota † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

^[2][3][4]

Final regular season polls

The final top 10 teams as ranked by coaches (WMPL) before the conference tournament finals.

WMPL Coaches Poll
Ranking	Team
1	Michigan Tech
2	Minnesota
3	Boston University
4	New Hampshire
5	Michigan State
6	Denver
7	Harvard
8	Cornell
9	Saint Louis
9 (tie)	Minnesota Duluth

1974 NCAA Tournament

Main article: 1974 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament

	Semifinals March 14–15					National championship March 16
	E1	Boston University	4
	W2	Minnesota	5
						W2	Minnesota	4
						W1	Michigan Tech	2
	W1	Michigan Tech	6*
	E2	Harvard	5			Third-place game
						E1	Boston University	7
						E2	Harvard	5

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

^[5]

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
Steve Colp	Sophomore	Michigan State	38	43	54	97	48
Tom Ross	Sophomore	Michigan State	38	37	51	88	32
Bob Dobek	Sophomore	Bowling Green	39	44	42	86	40
Doug Palazzari	Senior	Colorado College	32	31	48	79	71
John Nestic	Senior	Saint Louis	40	41	35	76	10
Mike Zuke	Sophomore	Michigan Tech	40	28	47	75	38
Darryl Rice	Sophomore	Michigan State	38	31	38	69	54
John Stewart	Sophomore	Bowling Green	39	27	42	69	50
Bob D'Alvise	Junior	Michigan Tech	40	29	39	68	4
Chuck Delich	Freshman	Air Force	27	43	24	67	36

^[6]

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; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	Class	Team	GP	Min	W	L	OT	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Cap Raeder	Sophomore	New Hampshire	22	1318	15	7	0	58	1	.908	2.64
Ed Walsh	Junior	Boston University	29	1633	-	-	-	78	2	.911	2.86
Jim Warden	Sophomore	Michigan Tech	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	.910	3.01
Rick Quance	Junior	Michigan Tech	21	-	-	-	-	-	-	.894	3.01
Brad Shelstad	Senior	Minnesota	34	2148	-	-	-	111	1	.906	3.10
Barney Buppert	Sophomore	New Hampshire	11	520	-	-	-	32	0	.873	3.69
Harry Aikens	Freshman	St. Lawrence	12	616	-	-	-	38	0	.903	3.70
Gordy Hangsleben	Freshman	North Dakota	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	.900	3.74
Dick Perkins	Sophomore	Wisconsin	23	1381	10	8	4	87	0	.891	3.78
Syl LaRose	Freshman	Clarkson	23	1311	10	-	-	83	0	.896	3.80

^[6]

Awards

NCAA Award^[7] Recipient Spencer Penrose Award Charlie Holt, New Hampshire Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Brad Shelstad, Minnesota AHCA All-American Teams^[8] East Team   Position   West Team Cap Raeder, New Hampshire G Robbie Moore, Michigan George Kuzmicz, Cornell D Norm Barnes, Michigan State Vic Stanfield, Boston University D Jim Nahrgang, Michigan Tech Bill Burlington, Boston University F Steve Colp, Michigan State Gordie Clark, New Hampshire F Doug Palazzari, Colorado College Randy Roth, Harvard F Mike Zuke, Michigan Tech

CCHA No Awards All-CCHA Teams^[9] First Team   Position   Second Team Pat Tims, Lake Superior State G Ralph Kloiber, Saint Louis Roger Archer, Bowling Green D Mario Faubert, Saint Louis Tom Davies, Lake Superior State D Bill Slewidge, Lake Superior State Bob Dobek, Bowling Green F John Stewart, Bowling Green Kim Gellert, Lake Superior State F Rick Kennedy, Saint Louis John Nestic, Saint Louis F Charlie Labelle, Saint Louis

ECAC Award^[10] Recipient Player of the Year Randy Roth, Harvard Rookie of the Year Ron Wilson, Providence Most Outstanding Player in Tournament Ed Walsh, Boston University All-ECAC Hockey Teams^[11] First Team   Position   Second Team Ed Walsh, Boston University G Cap Raeder, New Hampshire Vic Stanfield, Boston University D Levy Byrd, Harvard George Kuzmicz, Cornell D Peter Brown, Boston University Bill Burlington, Boston University F Bob Goodenow, Harvard Gordie Clark, New Hampshire F Tom Fleming, Dartmouth Randy Roth, Harvard F Rick Meagher, Boston University

WCHA Award^[12] Recipient Most Valuable Player Doug Palazzari, Colorado College Freshman of the Year Brian Walsh, Notre Dame Coach of the Year Herb Brooks, Minnesota All-WCHA Teams^[13] First Team   Position   Second Team Brad Shelstad, Minnesota G Rick Quance, Michigan Tech Jim Nahrgang, Michigan Tech D Gord McDonald, Minnesota-Duluth Norm Barnes, Michigan State D Bruce Affleck, Denver Doug Palazzari, Colorado College F Lorne Stamler, Michigan Tech Steve Colp, Michigan State F Tom Ross, Michigan State Mike Zuke, Michigan Tech F Ray Delorenzi, Notre Dame

1974 NHL Amateur Draft

Main article: 1974 NHL Amateur Draft

Round	Pick	Player	College	Conference	NHL team
2	21	Bruce Affleck	Denver	WCHA	California Golden Seals
3	42	Pete LoPresti	Denver	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
3	46	Dick Spannbauer	Minnesota	WCHA	Atlanta Flames
4	72	Bill Reed ^‡	Ohio State	Independent	Boston Bruins
5	75	Jim Warden	Michigan Tech	WCHA	California Golden Seals
5	79	Mike Zuke	Michigan Tech	WCHA	St. Louis Blues
6	93	Tom Sundberg ^‡	Minnesota	WCHA	California Golden Seals
6	96	John Sheridan	Minnesota	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
6	98	Buzz Schneider	Minnesota	WCHA	Pittsburgh Penguins
6	99	Don Dufek	Michigan	WCHA	Detroit Red Wings
6	100	Bill Moen	Minnesota	WCHA	Atlanta Flames
6	101	Dave Given	Brown	ECAC Hockey	Buffalo Sabres
6	105	John Stewart	Bowling Green	CCHA	Montreal Canadiens
7	112	Dave Langevin	Minnesota–Duluth	WCHA	New York Islanders
7	118	Peter Brown	Boston University	ECAC Hockey	Atlanta Flames
7	123	Joe Micheletti	Minnesota	WCHA	Montreal Canadiens
7	124	Eddie Mio	Colorado College	WCHA	Chicago Blackhawks
8	135	Tom Lindskog	Michigan	WCHA	Atlanta Flames
8	140	Jamie Hislop	New Hampshire	ECAC Hockey	Montreal Canadiens
8	143	Darryl Drader	North Dakota	WCHA	Boston Bruins
9	147	Marc Gaudreault	Lake Superior State	CCHA	Vancouver Canucks
9	158	Steve Colp	Michigan State	WCHA	Chicago Black Hawks
9	160	Peter Roberts ^†	Michigan Tech	WCHA	Boston Bruins
10	165	John Ahern	Brown	ECAC Hockey	St. Louis Blues
10	175	Peter Waselovich	North Dakota	WCHA	Boston Bruins
11	187	Cliff Cox	New Hampshire	ECAC Hockey	Montreal Canadiens
11	189	Scott Jessee	Michigan Tech	WCHA	Philadelphia Flyers
12	197	Lindsay Thomson	Denver	WCHA	Los Angeles Kings
12	199	Dave Lumley	New Hampshire	ECAC Hockey	Montreal Canadiens
13	204	Neil Smith ^†	Western Michigan	CCHA	New York Islanders
13	211	Brad Morrow	Minnesota	WCHA	Philadelphia Flyers
14	216	Bill Davis	Colgate	ECAC Hockey	Pittsburgh Penguins
14	219	Craig Arvidson	Minnesota–Duluth	WCHA	Philadelphia Flyers
15	221	Dave Otness	Wisconsin	WCHA	New York Islanders
16	226	Jim Murray	Michigan Tech	WCHA	New York Islanders
20	239	Jim Mayer	Michigan Tech	WCHA	New York Rangers
21	241	Warren Miller	Minnesota	WCHA	New York Rangers
22	243	Kevin Walker	Cornell	ECAC Hockey	New York Rangers
23	245	Jim Warner ^†	Colorado College	WCHA	New York Rangers

† incoming freshman
‡ Reed and Sundberg had left school before this season before.
^[14]

See also

• 1973–74 NCAA Division II men's ice hockey season
• 1973–74 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season

References

1. "NCAA Classifications". College Hockey Historical Archive. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
2. "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". CCHA. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
3. "2008-09 ECAC Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
4. "2008-09 WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
5. "NCAA Tournament". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
6. "1973-74 NCAA Division I Statistics". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
8. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
9. "CCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
10. "ECAC Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
11. "ECAC All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
12. "WCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
13. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
14. "1974 NHL Amateur Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved October 25, 2023.

External links

• College Hockey Historical Archives
• 1973–74 NCAA Standings