1979–80 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season

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1979–80 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
men's ice hockey season
National champion
WCHA, champion
WCHA tournament, co-champion
1980 NCAA tournament, champion
Conference1st WCHA
Home iceWinter Sports Center
Record
Overall31–8–1
Conference21–6–1
Home20–2–0
Road9–6–1
Neutral2–0–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachJohn Gasparini
Assistant coachesJim Nelson
Rick Wilson
Captain(s)Mark Taylor
Alternate captain(s)Marc Chorney
Erwin Martens
North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey seasons
« 1978–79 1980–81 »

The 1979–80 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach John Gasparini the team compiled a 31–8–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the eighth time.[1] The Fighting Sioux defeated Northern Michigan 5–2 to win the championship game at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Season[edit]

Early season[edit]

After finishing as the national runner-up in John Gasparini's first year as head coach, North Dakota was hoping to continue their renaissance after a decade of futility. The Fighting Sioux began their season with a four-game home stand and did not look particularly strong, splitting both weekends against Colorado College and Michigan Tech. After taking both road games against a bad Denver team, UND hosted St. Lawrence and won both games to push their record to 6–2.

After splitting a road series against Michigan State, North Dakota hosted Minnesota in a rematch of last year's championship game, winning both games and surging to the top of the WCHA. UND sandwiched an exhibition game against the eventual gold-medalist US National Team between their series against the Golden Gophers and the Bulldogs, though in the later set the Fighting Sioux could only manage a split.

Over the winter break North Dakota played two non-conference series. Up first Ohio State at home where UND dominated the two games. A couple of weeks later the Fighting Sioux found themselves in Marquette to take on Northern Michigan. While North Dakota was distinguishing itself as the class of the WCHA, NMU possessed an even more impressive record at 14–2 and continued to prove they were no fluke by downing North Dakota in both games.[2]

Second half[edit]

The two losses didn't harm UND that much as they didn't affect the team's top seed in the WCHA. However, just for good measure, the Fighting Sioux swept the next two weekends (both at home) against conference opponents to take a stranglehold of the conference. UND's lead was so large by this point that when they could only earn one win in the next four games it hardly mattered to their conference standing.

After the poor road trip UND played their third national team of the season, finally managing to take town an Olympic squad, albeit the one that would finish dead-last at the 1980 winter games. After the win North Dakota went on a winning streak, beginning at home where they hadn't lost since early November. UND won their final 8 regular season games, including 4 on the road (which had given them trouble all season) to finish with a stellar 25–8–1 record and easily win the WCHA.

WCHA tournament[edit]

With the top seed, North Dakota played host to Michigan State and avenged their early-season loss with a comfortable 8–1 win in the first game. With a 7-goal lead to work with the Fighting Sioux were able to relax in game 2 and win the series 13–4. The second series against Notre Dame was more of the same with UND taking a huge lead after a 10–4 win, eventually capturing the series 17–8. North Dakota won their second consecutive WCHA title and fourth overall and received the top western seed for the NCAA tournament.

NCAA tournament[edit]

UND opened against ECAC Hockey runner-up Dartmouth for the second time in as many years and had a nearly identical performance. After the 4–1 victory UND met the #1 team in the country, Northern Michigan. The teams had two of the top offenses in the nation (only Minnesota scored more goals) and game would see the top four NCAA scorers on the ice at the same time. despite being a freshman Darren Jensen had distinguished himself as the best option in goal for North Dakota and, having learned from his error the previous year, Gasparini started the Creston in goal. Doug Smail would open the scoring just before the mid-point of the first period but shortly thereafter leading scorer and team captain Mark Taylor would be knocked out of the game with an injury. Smail, the leading goal scorer, would take over and score twice more to produce only the second natural hat-trick in championship history. Phil Sykes would in on the scoring in the third period, his fourth point of the night. After the goal the Wildcat offence finally woke up and scored, scoring twice in a span of 51 seconds, but three minutes the game was put away when Smail tied the NCAA record with his fourth goal of the contest, again with a primary assist from Sykes. North Dakota won the championship having outshot NMU 45–22, ending their 16-year championship drought.

Awards and honors[edit]

Doug Smail won the tournament MOP for his nearly single-handed victory in the championship game and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Phil Sykes and Marc Chorney. Mark Taylor finished 4 points back of the scoring title but was named to the AHCA All-American West Team[3] along with Howard Walker. Both Walker and Taylor made the All-WCHA First Team[4] while Smail and Chorney were named to the Second Team.

Darren Jensen would win his first start the following season, extending his undefeated streak to 15 games to start a career; still an NCAA record (as of 2016).[5]

Three players were selected in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft with all three reaching the NHL.

Standings[edit]

Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
North Dakota†* 28 21 6 1 .768 147 89 40 31 8 1 217 119
Minnesota* 32 18 14 0 .563 173 155 41 26 15 0 263 179
Colorado College 30 16 13 1 .550 154 164 39 21 17 1 200 208
Michigan 26 13 11 2 .538 131 118 38 23 13 2 205 167
Notre Dame 28 13 14 1 .482 150 146 39 18 20 1 202 199
Minnesota-Duluth 32 15 17 0 .469 166 181 38 17 21 0 191 207
Michigan Tech 28 12 14 2 .464 141 120 38 18 18 2 181 160
Michigan State 28 12 16 0 .429 118 167 38 14 24 0 158 227
Wisconsin 30 12 18 0 .400 146 146 36 15 20 1 172 182
Denver 26 8 17 1 .327 95 135 36 13 22 1 141 169
Championship: Minnesota, North Dakota
indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule[edit]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Exhibition
October 16 vs. Canadian National Team* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) L 3–6 
October 19 at Minnesota–Duluth* Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota (Exhibition) W 7–2 
Regular Season
October 26 vs. Colorado College Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota L 2–3  0–1 (0–1)
October 27 vs. Colorado College Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 9–4  1–1 (1–1)
November 2 vs. Michigan Tech Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 4–3  2–1 (2–1)
November 3 vs. Michigan Tech Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota L 3–5  2–2 (2–2)
November 9 at Denver DU ArenaDenver, Colorado W 4–3  3–2 (3–2)
November 10 at Denver DU ArenaDenver, Colorado W 3–0  4–2 (4–2)
November 16 vs. St. Lawrence* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 4–3  5–2 (4–2)
November 17 vs. St. Lawrence* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–0  6–2 (4–2)
November 23 at Michigan State Munn Ice ArenaEast Lansing, Michigan W 9–2  7–2 (5–2)
November 24 at Michigan State Munn Ice ArenaEast Lansing, Michigan L 4–5 OT 7–3 (5–3)
November 30 vs. Minnesota Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 6–3  8–3 (6–3)
December 1 vs. Minnesota Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–6 OT 9–3 (7–3)
December 4 vs. US National Team* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) L 1–6  9–3 (7–3)
December 7 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota L 4–5 OT 9–4 (7–4)
December 8 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena AuditoriumDuluth, Minnesota W 4–3 OT 10–4 (8–4)
December 21 vs. Ohio State* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–2  11–4 (8–4)
December 22 vs. Ohio State* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 8–2  12–4 (8–4)
January 4 at Northern Michigan* Lakeview ArenaMarquette, Michigan L 2–4  12–5 (8–4)
January 5 at Northern Michigan* Lakeview ArenaMarquette, Michigan L 3–4 OT 12–6 (8–4)
January 11 vs. Notre Dame Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–4  13–6 (9–4)
January 12 vs. Notre Dame Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 3–1  14–6 (10–4)
January 18 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–3  15–6 (11–4)
January 19 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 5–1  16–6 (12–4)
January 25 at Colorado College Broadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado L 8–9 OT 16–7 (12–5)
January 26 at Colorado College Broadmoor World ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado W 7–3  17–7 (13–5)
February 1 at Michigan Tech Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan T 3–3 OT 17–7–1 (13–5–1)
February 2 at Michigan Tech Student Ice ArenaHoughton, Michigan L 4–6  17–8–1 (13–6–1)
February 6 vs. Japanese National Team* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) W 7–2  17–8–1 (13–6–1)
February 8 vs. Denver Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 7–1  18–8–1 (14–6–1)
February 9 vs. Denver Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 5–2  19–8–1 (15–6–1)
February 15 at Minnesota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 5–3  20–8–1 (16–6–1)
February 16 at Minnesota Williams ArenaMinneapolis, Minnesota W 6–2  21–8–1 (17–6–1)
February 22 vs. Michigan Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 5–2  22–8–1 (18–6–1)
February 23 vs. Michigan Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota W 4–3  23–8–1 (19–6–1)
February 29 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin W 8–1  24–8–1 (20–6–1)
March 1 at Wisconsin Dane County ColiseumMadison, Wisconsin W 4–3  25–8–1 (21–6–1)
WCHA tournament
March 7 vs. Michigan State* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA First Round game 1) W 8–1  26–8–1 (21–6–1)
March 8 vs. Michigan State* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA First Round game 2) W 5–3  27–8–1 (21–6–1)
North Dakota Wins Series 13-4
March 14 vs. Notre Dame* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Second Round game 1) W 10–4  28–8–1 (21–6–1)
March 15 vs. Notre Dame* Winter Sports CenterGrand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Second Round game 2) W 7–4  29–8–1 (21–6–1)
North Dakota Wins Series 17-8
NCAA tournament
March 27 vs. Dartmouth* Providence Civic CenterProvidence, Rhode Island (National Semifinal) W 4–1  30–8–1 (21–6–1)
March 28 vs. Northern Michigan* Providence Civic CenterProvidence, Rhode Island (National championship) W 5–2  31–8–1 (21–6–1)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[6]

Roster and scoring statistics[edit]

No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
11 Mark Taylor Senior C Vancouver, BC British Columbia 40 33 59 92 28
8 Doug Smail Senior W Moose Jaw, SK Saskatchewan 40 43 44 87 70
25 Phil Sykes Sophomore W Dawson Creek, BC British Columbia 37 22 27 49 34
19 Rick Zaparniuk Senior C Edmonton, AB Alberta 40 15 31 46 34
16 Marc Chorney Junior D Thunder Bay, ON Ontario 39 7 38 45 54
24 Rick Myers Senior W East Grand Forks, MN Minnesota 33 18 20 38 18
22 Cary Eades Sophomore W Burnaby, BC British Columbia 30 16 12 28 50
4 Brad Cox Senior D Lethbridge, AB Alberta 39 3 25 28 26
3 Howard Walker Sophomore D Grande Prairie, AB Alberta 39 7 18 25 57
18 Dean Dachyshyn Freshman W Devon, AB Alberta 40 12 8 20 88
9 Dusty Carroll Freshman C Charlottetown, PE Prince Edward Island 39 8 11 19 24
10 Glen White Freshman F Rosetown, SK Saskatchewan 40 8 10 18 14
17 Erwin Martens Senior W Cartwright, MB Manitoba 34 7 10 17 28
5 Mickey Volcan Freshman D Edmonton, AB Alberta 33 2 14 16 38
21 Paul Chadwick Junior W Williams Lake, BC British Columbia 40 7 8 15 65
14 Frank Burggraf Sophomore C Roseau, MN Minnesota 34 4 7 11 36
23 Mike Neitzke Senior W Detroit Lakes, MN Minnesota 24 4 6 10 32
2 Craig Ludwig Freshman D Eagle River, WI Wisconsin 33 1 8 9 32
20 Travis Dunn Sophomore D Winnipeg, MB Manitoba 37 0 6 6 32
6 Conway Marvin Sophomore D Warroad, MN Minnesota 20 0 5 5 12
30 Bob Iwabuchi Sophomore G Edmonton, AB Alberta 20 0 1 1 4
15 Troy Magnuson Freshman W Chanhassen, MN Minnesota 6 0 0 0 10
1 Pierre Lamoureux Freshman G Fort Saskatchewan, AB Alberta 0 0 0 0
Mel Donnelly Junior G Fort Frances, ON Ontario 5 0 0 0 0
1 Darren Jensen Freshman G Creston, BC British Columbia 15 0 0 0 0
Total

[7]

Goaltending statistics[edit]

No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
1 Darren Jensen 15 884 13 0 1 33 396 1 .923 2.24
1 Mel Donnelly 5 1 .897 2.40
Pierre Lamoureux 0 .813 3.00
30 Bob Iwabuchi 20 1157 14 70 494 0 .876 3.63
Total 40 31 8 1 119 2

1980 championship game[edit]

(W1) North Dakota vs. (A) Northern Michigan[edit]

March 29 North Dakota 5 – 2 Northern Michigan Providence Civic Center


Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st UND Doug Smail Sykes and Taylor 9:43 1–0 UND
UND Doug Smail Sykes and Dunn 12:48 2–0 UND
2nd UND Doug SmailGW Sykes 23:12 3–0 UND
3rd UND Phil Sykes unassisted 48:42 4–0 UND
NMU Bill Joyce Waddell and Laidlaw 54:29 4–1 UND
NMU Terry Houck Hanson and Pyle 55:20 4–2 UND
UND Doug Smail Sykes and Burggraf 58:21 5–2 UND

Players drafted into the NHL[edit]

1980 NHL Entry Draft[edit]

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star[8] = NHL All-Star[8] and NHL All-Star team = Did not play in the NHL
Round Pick Player NHL team
3 50 Mickey Volcan Hartford Whalers
3 57 Troy Murray Chicago Black Hawks
3 61 Craig Ludwig Montreal Canadiens
5 92 Darren Jensen Hartford Whalers
9 170 Ed Cristian Winnipeg Jets

† incoming freshman

[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "North Dakota Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "Northern Michigan Wildcats Men's Ice Hockey Record Book" (PDF). Northern Michigan Wildcats. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  4. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. ^ "Schlossman: University of North Dakota men's hockey's top line looks to continue streak in second half". The Dickinson Press. January 15, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "North Dakota Hockey 2018-19 Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  7. ^ "North Dakota Fighting Sioux 1979-80 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  9. ^ "1980 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved July 25, 2019.