1989–90 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season

The 1989–90 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its eighth year under head coach Jeff Sauer, the team compiled a 36–9–1 record.[1] The Badgers won the 1990 National Championship, their fifth national title.

1989-90 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season
National Champion
Badger Showdown, Champion
WCHA, Champion
WCHA Tournament, Champion
NCAA Tournament, Champion
Conference1st WCHA
Home iceDane County Coliseum
Record
Overall36–9–1
Conference19–8–1
Home20–3–1
Road10–6–0
Neutral6–0–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachJeff Sauer
Assistant CoachesMike Kemp
Peter Johnson
Bill Howard
Ian Perrin
Captain(s)Steve Rohlik
Alternate captain(s)Mark Osiecki
John Byce
Gary Shuchuk
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey seasons
« 1988–89 1990–91 »

Season

Fast Start

Wisconsin fielded an experienced team for the 1989–90 season. Led by team captain Steve Rohlik and fellow seniors Chris Tancill, Gary Shuchuk and John Byce, The Badgers got off to a quick start. After having to come from behind to win their first two games, Wisconsin put an exclamation point on their third win (8–2 over Michigan Tech). In a pattern that would follow throughout the season, the eight Badgers goals came from seven different players, illustrating the depth of their offense. Wisconsin suffered its first loss in early November at the hands of Minnesota which began a cycle of split weekends against WCHA teams.[2]

Up and Down Play

In five consecutive weekends against conference opponents Wisconsin ended with a .500 record. They did this against both the good (North Dakota, Northern Michigan) and bad (Colorado College, Minnesota–Duluth) and lost the lead their fast start had provided them. During the stretch starting goaltender Duane Derksen hadn't played particularly well and was replaced after surrendering 11 goals to Northern Michigan. Freshman backup Jon Michelizzi, who had won his first two starts against weak, non-conference teams, backstopped the Badgers when they salvaged the weekend against the Wildcats but, after Michelizzi allowed 9 to dreadful Duluth the following weekend, Derksen was back between the pipes. Derksen remained the starter for the remainder of the season with Michelizzi only playing against weak teams or in cleanup duty.

Badger Showdown

When Wisconsin hit the winter break they had slipped back to the pack and were in a tie with Minnesota for the conference lead.[3] The Badgers attempted to get back on track with their holiday tournament, defeating Notre Dame and eventual Hockey East champion Boston College convincingly but once their conference schedule restarted they continued to split weekends. To make matters worse they lost to St. Cloud State, a team that been in Division III three years prior, between the weekend series and last back-to-back games for the first time all season.

Strong Finish

After the second loss to Northern Michigan, Wisconsin started the rematch with a vengeance, scoring 5 times in the first period en route to a 10–1 victory. The shellacking by the Badgers kicked off a run of 9 straight victories for Wisconsin (though they were mostly against the dregs of the conference) and ended on the penultimate weekend of the regular season. After splitting their second weekend against Minnesota, Wisconsin sat just 2 points ahead of the Golden Gophers and 4 above North Dakota who they hosted in the final weekend. A tie in the first game eliminated the Fighting Sioux from contention, but with the Gophers winning their first game Wisconsin's lead was down to just one point. With both teams watching the scoreboard, Wisconsin won their game in overtime while Minnesota was soundly beaten 3–8. The win sealed only the second MacNaughton Cup for the Badgers and first since 1977.

WCHA Tournament

Wisconsin opened the conference tournament against Michigan Tech and gout a tougher fight than they were expecting from the bottom-feeders. After Wisconsin won the first game MTU built a 3–0 lead in the rematch and just as it looked like the series was heading for a third game the Badgers rallied with three of their own in the final 24 minutes and potted the game-winner in overtime. While the Badgers may have been able to get away with taking the Huskies lightly, once the tournament shifted to Saint Paul they couldn't dismiss defending conference champion Northern Michigan as easily. After scoring the first goal Wisconsin had to watch the Wildcats get the next three. Wisconsin once again rallied to tie the game at 3-all and head into overtime with a championship berth in the balance. For the second consecutive game the Badgers netted an overtime goal, bring their extra-session record up to 5–0–1 for the season.

After two nail-biting games, Wisconsin gave their fans a break in the championship, scoring the first four goals and ultimately defeating Minnesota 7–1. Wisconsin's sixth conference championship (2nd Broadmoor Trophy) earned them the WCHA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, their third consecutive appearance.[4]

NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin received the 2nd western seed, earning themselves a bye into the quarterfinals and home ice for their series. After a week off the Badgers welcomed Maine to Madison with a 7–3 win in their first game. Wisconsin scored the first five goals of the game and ended the match before the Black Bears could get their skates under them. The rematch the following night followed a familiar pattern; after scoring first Wisconsin saw Maine score three consecutive power play goals and led 3–1 just past the midway point of the game. The Badgers scratched and clawed their way back to a tie in the third period and were very careful not to take anymore penalties against the dangerous Black Bears. Tom Sagissor scored the overtime goal in the fifth minute of overtime to send Maine packing and give Wisconsin a ticket to the Frozen Four.

In Detroit the Badgers faced down the top eastern seed, Boston College. In what was probably Derksen's best performance of the season, Wisconsin held BC to a single goal in the game, allowing Chris Tancill's two power play goals to stand up and send the Badgers to the title game with a 2–1 win.

Championship

In the final, Wisconsin faced a surprising Colgate squad who had ridden the strong play of goaltender Dave Gagnon to 31 wins entering the championship. Wisconsin hoped their offense would provide them with the edge but the Badgers had a built-in advantage over the Red Raiders; Wisconsin routinely played games in front of large crowds. When the game started 15,000 spectators, more than half of whom wore Wisconsin colors, began cheering. Colgate, a team from a small upstate New York school whose total enrollment could have fit inside Wisconsin's home arena more than twice over, got lost in the lights. The Raiders took a penalty almost immediately after puck drop and John Byce scored at the 90-second mark. When Colgate got the opportunity to tie the game with their own power play a short time later Wisconsin stole the puck in their own zone and Rob Mendel sent the puck to a streaking Byce who skated in on Gagnon and slipped the puck between his pads for his second goal of the game.

Colgate, who was not built for high-scoring games, had to fight furiously to recover after the disastrous start. They were able to cut the lead in half before the five-minute mark but in their zeal to tie the game they took several bad penalties and the WCHA's best power play made them pay; Wisconsin scored twice more in the first on the man-advantage and built a seemingly insurmountable lead for the low-scoring Red Raiders. All the power play time harmed Colgate, in addition to goals, by keeping them away from the Wisconsin net and not allowing them to generate any kind of pressure on Derksen. Colgate could only manage 5 shots in each of the first two periods but was able to score twice. A fourth power play goal by Badgers in the second period all but ended the game and as the third progressed Wisconsin knew they were going to win the national title. Even after Colgate's third goal there was little hope for the underdogs and Jeff Sauer was confident enough to give Michelizzi a turn in net once Byce finished off his hat-trick with an empty-net goal.

Awards and Honors

While Byce's three goal game in the championship was impressive it was Chris Tancill who received the Tournament MOP. Wisconsin's dominating performance in the championship was typified by having 5 players find their way on the All-Tournament Team; Tancill was joined by Duane Derksen, Rob Andringa, Mark Osiecki and John Byce. The Badgers had three players finish in the top 10 in scoring in the nation but only Gary Shuchuk made the All-American West Team.[5] Shuchuk was also named the WCHA Most Valuable Player and named to the All-WCHA First Team.[6] while Derksen, Byce and Sean Hill made the second team.

Standings
1989–90 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Wisconsin†*28198139147111463691254166
Minnesota281792361471244628162227189
North Dakota2815103331491144528134252175
Northern Michigan2815121311301294222191191191
Denver2813150261301394218240183201
Minnesota-Duluth2813150261141124020191170152
Colorado College281017121971294018202152174
Michigan Tech286220121121684010300150218
Championship: Wisconsin
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion

Schedule
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 16 vs. St. Cloud State Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 4–3  8,105 1–0
October 20 vs. Michigan Tech Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 6–5  8,508 2–0 (1–0)
October 21 vs. Michigan Tech Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 8–2  8,610 3–0 (2–0)
October 27 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado Derksen W 6–5  4,148 4–0 (3–0)
October 28 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado Derksen W 4–2  3,722 5–0 (4–0)
November 3 vs. Minnesota Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen L 3–5  8,644 5–1 (4–1)
November 4 vs. Minnesota Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 4–3  8,644 6–1 (5–1)
November 10 vs. New Hampshire* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Michelizzi W 8–1  8,644 7–1 (5–1)
November 11 vs. New Hampshire* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 7–3  8,644 8–1 (5–1)
November 14 at Illinois–Chicago* UIC Pavilion • Chicago, Illinois Michelizzi W 9–5  2,072 9–1 (5–1)
November 17 at Northern Michigan Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan Derksen L 5–11  2,940 9–2 (5–2)
November 18 at Northern Michigan Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan Michelizzi W 6–5 OT 3,277 10–2 (6–2)
November 24 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Michelizzi L 4–9  8,644 10–3 (6–3)
November 25 vs. Minnesota–Duluth Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 3–0  8,644 11–3 (7–3)
December 1 at North Dakota Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota Derksen W 7–5  5,900 12–3 (8–3)
December 2 at North Dakota Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota Derksen L 5–9  5,950 12–4 (8–4)
December 8 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado Derksen W 5–0  2,774 13–4 (9–4)
December 9 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado Derksen L 5–6  3,092 13–5 (9–5)
December 11 vs. Sokil Kiev* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin (Exhibition) Derksen L 2–4  7,268 13–5 (9–5)
December 12 vs. Alabama–Huntsville* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Michelizzi W 5–3  8,004 14–5 (9–5)
Badger Showdown
December 28 vs. Notre Dame* Bradley Center • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Showdown Semifinal) Derksen W 9–5  13,330 15–5 (9–5)
December 29 vs. Boston College* Bradley Center • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Showdown Championship) Derksen W 6–3  16,674 16–5 (9–5)
January 2 vs. Alaska–Anchorage* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 7–6 OT 7,466 17–5 (9–5)
January 5 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota Derksen L 3–4  5,664 17–6 (9–6)
January 6 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota Derksen W 4–2  5,664 18–6 (10–6)
January 9 at St. Cloud State* National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota Derksen L 5–6  3,950 18–7 (10–6)
January 19 vs. Northern Michigan Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen L 3–4  8,644 18–8 (10–7)
January 20 vs. Northern Michigan Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 10–1  8,644 19–8 (11–7)
January 23 vs. Illinois–Chicago* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Michelizzi W 7–3  8,196 20–8 (11–7)
January 26 vs. Denver Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 3–2  8,544 21–8 (12–7)
January 27 vs. Denver Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 7–1  8,644 22–8 (13–7)
February 2 at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan Derksen W 5–4  3,599 23–8 (14–7)
February 3 at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan Derksen W 7–2  3,642 24–8 (15–7)
February 9 vs. Colorado College Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 7–3  8,644 25–8 (16–7)
February 10 vs. Colorado College Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 9–5  8,444 26–8 (17–7)
February 16 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota Derksen W 6–3  7,649 27–8 (18–7)
February 17 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota Derksen L 2–4  7,713 27–9 (18–8)
February 23 vs. North Dakota Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen T 5–5 OT 8,644 27–9–1 (18–8–1)
February 24 vs. North Dakota Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin Derksen W 5–4 OT 8,644 28–9–1 (19–8–1)
WCHA Tournament
March 3 vs. Michigan Tech* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin (WCHA Quarterfinal game 1) Derksen W 5–2  8,644 29–9–1 (19–8–1)
March 4 vs. Michigan Tech* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin (WCHA Quarterfinal game 2) Derksen W 4–3 OT 8,523 30–9–1 (19–8–1)
Wisconsin Won Series 2-0
March 11 at Northern Michigan* Civic Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (WCHA Semifinal) Derksen W 4–3 OT 11,137 31–9–1 (19–8–1)
March 12 at Minnesota* Civic Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (WCHA Championship) Derksen W 7–1  13,704 32–9–1 (19–8–1)
NCAA Tournament
March 23 vs. Maine* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin (National Quarterfinal game 1) Derksen W 7–3  8,644 33–9–1 (19–8–1)
March 24 vs. Maine* Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin (National Quarterfinal game 2) Derksen W 4–3 OT 5,517 34–9–1 (19–8–1)
Wisconsin Won Series 2-0
March 30 vs. Boston College* Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan (National Semifinal) Derksen W 2–1  14,174 35–9–1 (19–8–1)
April 1 vs. Colgate* Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan (National Championship) Derksen W 7–3  15,034 36–9–1 (19–8–1)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[7]

Roster and scoring statistics
No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
16Gary ShuchukSeniorCEdmonton, AB4541398070
22Chris TancillSeniorRWLivonia, MI4539327144
11John ByceSeniorC/RWMadison, WI4627447120
6Sean HillSophomoreDDuluth, MN4214395378
12Doug MacDonaldSophomoreCAssiniboia, SK4416355152
19Tom SagissorSeniorLWHastings, MN43192847122
24Mark OsieckiJuniorDSaint Paul, MN465384378
9Steve RohlikSeniorLWSaint Paul, MN4617234052
2Barry RichterFreshmanRW/DMadison, WI4213233626
21Bob AndringaJuniorDMadison, WI469233260
27Dennis SneddenJuniorLWEagle River, WI4510172750
20Don GranatoJuniorLWDowners Grove, IL4512112340
7John ParkerJuniorC/RWWhite Bear Lake, MN351192022
25Brett KurtzJuniorCJoliet, IL428122028
14Joe DeckerJuniorRWBloomington, MN364101414
17Rob MendelSeniorDLos Angeles, CA441131430
23Rodger SykesJuniorDWaukegan, IL3835818
15Tray TuomieJuniorC/RWSaint Paul, MN202680
10Jon HelgesonSophomoreLWRoseau, MN1822412
8Chris NelsonSophomoreDLos Angeles, CA3713438
29Duane DerksenSophomoreGSaint Boniface, MB410334
13Jason FranciscoFreshmanRWDuluth, MN70110
18Noel RahnFreshmanCEdina, MN10000
31Jon MichelizziFreshmanGDuluth, MN90000
4Joe HarwellSophomoreDMinneapolis, MN100002
26Kurt GonceSophomoreCCreve Couer, MO0----
Bench4600010
Total254416670872

[2]

Goaltending Statistics
No. Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
29Duane Derksen412345318113310612.8893.40
31Jon Michelizzi9427510301550.8384.21
Others17000330.50025.71
Total462781369116612192.8803.58

1990 National Championship Game

(W2) Wisconsin vs. (E2) Colgate
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st WIS John Byce – PP Hill and Andringa 1:30 1–0 WIS
WIS John Byce – SH Mendel 3:23 2–0 WIS
CGT Joel Gardner – PP Dupere and Spott 4:58 2–1 WIS
WIS Chris Tancill – PP Andringa and Hill 7:33 3–1 WIS
WIS Rob Andringa – PP GW Hill and MacDonald 14:53 4–1 WIS
2nd WIS Dennis Snedden Kurtz and Osiecki 25:03 5–1 WIS
CGT Steve Poapst – PP Gardner 29:42 5–2 WIS
WIS Gary Shuchuk – PP Richter and Rohlik 33:09 6–2 WIS
3rd CGT Jamie Cooke – PP Woodcroft and Lille 49:36 6–3 WIS
WIS John Byce – EN unassisted 59:18 7–3 WIS

Players drafted into the NHL

1990 NHL Entry Draft
= NHL All-Star Team = NHL All-Star[8] = NHL All-Star[8] and NHL All-Star Team = Did not play in the NHL
RoundPickPlayerNHL Team
348Dan Plante†New York Islanders
479Chris Tucker†Chicago Blackhawks
8160Todd Hedlund†New York Rangers
12237Andrew Shier†New York Islanders

† incoming freshman

[9]

See also

References
  1. "2009-10 WCHA Yearbook 113-128" (PDF). WCHA. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. "1990-91 Wisconsin Badgers ice hockey program" (PDF). University of Wisconsin. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  3. "1989‑90 Minnesota". College Hockey News. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  4. "Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  5. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  6. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  7. "Badger Hockey 2018-19 Yearbook" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved Aug 13, 2019.
  8. Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  9. "1990 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
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