1996–97 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season

The 1996–97 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. In its 3rd year under head coach Dean Blais the team compiled a 31–10–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the thirteenth time.[1] The Fighting Sioux defeated Boston University 6–4 to win the championship game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1996–97 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season
National Champion
WCHA, Co-Champion
WCHA Tournament, Champion
NCAA Tournament, Champion
ConferenceT–1st WCHA
Home iceRalph Engelstad Arena
Record
Overall31–10–2
Conference21–10–1
Home16–2–2
Road10–8–0
Neutral5–0–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachDean Blais
Assistant CoachesMark Osiecki
Scott Sandelin
Captain(s)Dane Litke
Alternate captain(s)Kevin Hoogsteen
Mark Pivetz
North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey seasons
« 1995–96 1997–98 »

Season

North Dakota entered the year with very few expectations. The team had only one winning season in the previous five years, had only two NHL draft picks on the roster and was seven years removed from their last NCAA tournament appearance. They had been improving under 3rd-year coach Dean Blais, but the team had yet to regain the prominence that the Fighting Sioux once possessed.[2]

Fast Start

While they were picked to finish 5th in the WCHA by the preseason coaches poll,[3] the Sioux open with a six-game winning streak, albeit against fairly weak competition. Their progress was stymied when they headed to Minneapolis and lost both games to the Golden Gophers. UND split the following two weekends before finally recovering with a pair of wins over Minnesota–Duluth.

Mid-Season Stumble

The Fighting Sioux won most of their games around the winter break, but when they returned to their conference schedule they couldn't find any consistency. North Dakota split three consecutive weekends in January and headed into the final weekend of the month hoping they could recover defensive game. League-leading Minnesota was hardly the ideal opponent for North Dakota but two wins over the Gophers tied the season series and set up the possibility that UND could win the WCHA title.

North Dakota went 5–1 over the next three weeks, extending their lead over Minnesota to 4 points.[4] All the Fighting Sioux had to do in the final weekend was earn a single point against Denver and they would guarantee the regular season title for themselves. The Pioneers, however, had other ideas. North Dakota lost both games while Minnesota won both of theirs, leaving the two teams tied with identical conference records. While North Dakota had to share the conference title with the Gophers, they won the tie-breaker between the two and were awarded with the top seed in the WCHA Tournament.

Conference Tournament

North Dakota opened with two relatively easy home wins over Michigan Tech and advanced to the Semifinal at the St. Paul Civic Center. After another comfortable win over Colorado College, North Dakota met Minnesota in the championship and the two teams fought a pitched battle for conference supremacy. The two teams fought back-and-forth all night, ending regulation knotted at 3–3. It's didn't take long to end the game once overtime began when 4th-liner Peter Armbrust fired a rebound into the net at 2:17 to win the championship.[5]

NCAA Tournament

The conference title gave North Dakota the second western seed, allowing them to bypass the first round and begin the tournament in the quarterfinal round. They promptly took out ECAC champion Cornell and advanced to the Frozen Four. In the national semifinal North Dakota swiftly built a 3–0 lead on Colorado College. The Tigers responded with two goals to get back into the game but a pair of Fighting Sioux markers 43 seconds apart ended CC's hopes and UND was heading to the championship game.[6]

In the final it was Boston University who got the jump early, scoring twice in the first. North Dakota was able to turn the game into a track meet in the second and tie the game by the mid-way point. In the 12th minute, Peter Donatelli drew a controversial penalty, giving BU a power play, but it was UND's Matt Henderson who was able to score on the disadvantage. The Terriers tied the game on a separate power play shortly thereafter. UND regained the lead with their own extra-man goal two minutes later and added a fifth goal just before the period ended.

With a two-goal lead, North Dakota played a much more defensive-minded game in the third period. They were able to hold the Terriers off of the scoresheet until the final minute but a goal by Jon Coleman cut the lead to one with less than a minute to play. BU attempted to get control of the puck inside the Sioux end for a chance to tie the game but UND was able to clear the zone and Adam Calder sent the puck into an empty net for the final goal of North Dakota's championship season.[7]

Awards and Honors

Matt Henderson's five points in the Frozen Four earned him the Tournament MOP as well as a place on the All-Tournament Team with teammates David Hoogsteen, Curtis Murphy and Aaron Schweitzer.[8] Hoogsteen and Murphy were also named to the AHCA All-American West Second Team.[9] Both players were joined by Jason Blake on the All-WCHA First Team[10] while Dean Blais was awarded both the WCHA Coach of the Year[11] and the Spencer Penrose Award as the national coach of the year.[12]

The surprise win by North Dakota in 1997 began a nearly unbroken stretch of 20 years where the program reached the NCAA Tournament. In that time they appeared in 10 Frozen Fours and won an additional two National Championships.

Standings
1996–97 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
North Dakota†*3221101431371054331102190130
Minnesota†322110143129944228131179128
St. Cloud State3218104401271054023134152130
Colorado College3217114381211074425154169141
Denver321711438127994124134163122
Minnesota-Duluth3215134341151113818164133131
Wisconsin3215152321151153815212132151
Northern Michigan32921220781274013243108152
Alaska-Anchorage327214187510936923486126
Michigan Tech325234148113339827498155
Championship: North Dakota
† indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Final rankings: USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Coaches Poll Top 10 Poll

Schedule
Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Record
Exhibition
October 11 vs. Alberta* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) L 1–2 
Regular Season
October 18 vs. Denver Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 3–2 OT 1–0 (1–0)
October 19 vs. Denver Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 6–2  2–0 (2–0)
October 25 at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan W 7–3  3–0 (3–0)
October 26 at Michigan Tech MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan W 4–3  4–0 (4–0)
November 1 vs. Northern Michigan Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 3–2  5–0 (5–0)
November 2 vs. Northern Michigan Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 5–0  6–0 (6–0)
November 8 at Minnesota Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota L 2–3  6–1 (6–1)
November 9 at Minnesota Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota L 6–10  6–2 (6–2)
November 15 vs. St. Cloud State Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota L 2–5  6–3 (6–3)
November 16 vs. St. Cloud State Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 5–3  7–3 (7–3)
November 22 at Alaska–Anchorage Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska L 2–3  7–4 (7–4)
November 23 at Alaska–Anchorage Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, Alaska W 5–3  8–4 (8–4)
November 29 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota W 8–4  9–4 (9–4)
November 30 at Minnesota–Duluth Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota W 4–3  10–4 (10–4)
December 6 vs. Colorado College Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota T 5–5 OT 10–4–1 (10–4–1)
December 7 vs. Colorado College Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 7–3  11–4–1 (11–4–1)
December 27 vs. Boston University* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 6–4  12–4–1 (10–4–1)
December 28 vs. Boston University* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota T 2–2 OT 12–4–2 (11–4–1)
January 3 at Western Michigan* Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan W 6–3  13–4–2 (11–4–1)
January 4 at Western Michigan* Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan W 5–3  14–4–2 (11–4–1)
January 10 at St. Cloud State National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota L 3–5  14–5–2 (11–5–1)
January 11 at St. Cloud State National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota W 6–1  15–5–2 (12–5–1)
January 17 vs. Wisconsin Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota L 2–5  15–6–2 (12–6–1)
January 18 vs. Wisconsin Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 8–6  16–6–2 (13–6–1)
January 25 at Colorado College Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 3–0  17–6–2 (14–6–1)
January 26 at Colorado College Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado L 3–8  17–7–2 (14–7–1)
January 31 vs. Minnesota Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 6–4  18–7–2 (15–7–1)
February 1 vs. Minnesota Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 6–2  19–7–2 (16–7–1)
February 7 vs. Michigan Tech Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–2  20–7–2 (17–7–1)
February 8 vs. Michigan Tech Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 7–2  21–7–2 (18–7–1)
February 14 at Northern Michigan Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan L 1–2  21–8–2 (18–8–1)
February 15 at Northern Michigan Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan W 5–3  22–8–2 (19–8–1)
February 21 vs. Alaska–Anchorage Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 2–0  23–8–2 (20–8–1)
February 22 vs. Alaska–Anchorage Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota W 4–0  24–8–2 (21–8–1)
February 28 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 3–6  24–9–2 (21–9–1)
March 1 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 0–5  24–10–2 (21–10–1)
WCHA Tournament
March 7 vs. Michigan Tech* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Quarterfinal Game 1) W 4–1  25–10–2 (21–10–1)
March 8 vs. Michigan Tech* Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Quarterfinal Game 2) W 3–0  26–10–2 (21–10–1)
North Dakota Won Series 2-0
March 14 vs. Colorado College* St. Paul Civic Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (WCHA Semifinal) W 5–1  27–10–2 (21–10–1)
March 15 vs. Minnesota* St. Paul Civic Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (WCHA Championship) W 4–3 OT 28–10–2 (21–10–1)
NCAA Tournament
March 23 vs. Cornell* Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Regional Semifinal) W 6–2  29–10–2 (21–10–1)
March 27 vs. Colorado College* Bradley Center • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (National Semifinal) W 6–2  30–10–2 (21–10–1)
March 29 vs. Boston University* Bradley Center • Milwaukee, Wisconsin (National Championship) W 6–4  31–10–2 (21–10–1)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Source:

[2]

Roster
No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Aaron Vickar Sophomore G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1976-01-01 St. Louis, Missouri Omaha Lancers (USHL) —
2 Curtis Murphy Junior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1975-12-03 Kerrobert, Saskatchewan Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) —
3 Mark Pivetz (A) Senior D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1973-12-09 Edmonton, Alberta Saskatoon Titans (SJHL) QUE, 257 overall 1993
4 Dane Litke (C) Senior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1972-08-11 Beausejour, Manitoba Winkler Flyers (MJHL) —
5 Jason Blake Sophomore C 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1973-09-02 Moorhead, Minnesota Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA) —
6 Tim O'Connell Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1977-10-26 Grand Forks, North Dakota Fargo-Moorhead Bears (USHL) —
7 Mitch Vig Junior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1974-05-18 Bismarck, North Dakota Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) —
8 Kevin Hoogsteen (A) Senior RW 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1972-12-17 Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) —
9 Jason Ulmer Freshman C/LW 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1978-12-20 Wilcox, Saskatchewan Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) —
10 Ian Kallay Sophomore LW 5' 10" (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974-03-21 Calgary, Alberta Langley Thunder (BCJHL) —
11 Peter Armbrust Freshman RW 5' 11" (1.8 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1977-12-03 Edina, Minnesota Edina High School (USHS-MN) —
15 Jesse Bull Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1975-04-14 Faribault, Minnesota St. Paul Vulcans (USHL) —
16 Jay Panzer Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1975-12-29 Grand Forks, North Dakota Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) —
18 David Hoogsteen Sophomore LW 5' 7" (1.7 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1974-11-10 Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) —
19 Jeff Ulmer Sophomore RW 5' 11" (1.8 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1977-04-27 Regina, Saskatchewan Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) —
20 Brad DeFauw Freshman LW 6' 2" (1.88 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1977-11-10 Edina, Minnesota Apple Valley High School (USHS-MN) —
21 Brad Williamson Sophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1977-03-09 Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) —
22 Matt Henderson Junior LW 6' 1" (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974-03-01 White Bear Lake, Minnesota St. Paul Vulcans (USHL) —
25 Adam Calder Sophomore LW 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1976-03-28 Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Portage Terriers (MJHL) —
26 Tom Philion Sophomore C 5' 6" (1.68 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1974-12-11 Minot, North Dakota Rochester Mustangs (USHL) —
27 Tyler Rice Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973-06-04 Winnipeg, Manitoba Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) —
28 Joe Blake Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976-12-03 Champlin, Minnesota Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) —
30 Aaron Schweitzer Sophomore G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1978-12-01 Regina, Saskatchewan —
35 Toby Kvalevog Senior G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1974-12-22 Bemidji, Minnesota Bemidji High School (USHS-MN) OTT, 209 overall 1993

Scoring Statistics
Name Position Games Goals Assists Points PIM
David HoogsteenLW4327275416
Jason BlakeC4319304944
Curtis MurphyD4312304236
Ian KallayLW4316233920
Jay PanzerF4116233920
Kevin HoogsteenRW3918203854
Adam CalderLW4210223248
Matt HendersonLW4214173171
Dane LitkeD393273014
Jesse BullF371572220
Brad WilliamsonD434151938
Jeff UlmerF366111716
Peter ArmbrustRW401061626
Mark PivetzD422131553
Brad DeFauwLW37761339
Tyler RiceF246511107
Mitch VigD43191044
Jason UlmerC/LW3235812
Tom PhilionC1713414
Tim O'ConnellD2401131
Aaron VickarG70000
Joe BlakeD250004
Aaron SchweitzerG240000
Toby KvalevogG220002
Total

[13]

Goaltending statistics
Name Games Minutes Wins Losses Ties Goals Against Saves Shut Outs SV % GAA
Aaron Schweitzer2311701730454.9082.31
Toby Kvalevog2211321252611.8663.23
Aaron Vickar7287220190.8243.97
Total43311025

1997 National Championship

(W2) North Dakota vs. (E2) Boston University
Scoring summary[14]
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st BU Peter Donatelli Poti 8:44 1–0 BU
BU Chris Drury – PP Poti and O'Connell 15:08 2–0 BU
2nd UND Curtis Murphy Panzer and Henderson 27:06 2–1 BU
UND David Hoogsteen unassisted 28:38 2–2
UND Matt Henderson – SH unassisted 32:35 3–2 UND
BU Chris Kelleher – PP unassisted 33:56 3–3
UND Matt Henderson – PP Calder and Litke 35:49 4–3 UND
UND David Hoogsteen – GW Murphy 39:54 5–3 UND
3rd BU Jon Coleman Kelleher and Sylvia 59:24 5–4 UND
UND Adam Calder – EN unassisted 59:41 6–4 UND

Players drafted into the NHL

1997 NHL Entry Draft
= NHL All-Star Team = NHL All-Star[15] = NHL All-Star[15] and NHL All-Star Team = Did not play in the NHL
RoundPickPlayerNHL Team
228Brad DeFauwCarolina Hurricanes
363Lee GorenBoston Bruins

[16]

References
  1. "North Dakota Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. "North Dakota Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  3. "Unheralded 1997 North Dakota title team springboarded two-decade run". NCAA.org. October 14, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. "Minnesota Men's Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. "1997 WCHA Final - Sioux vs. Gophers". YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  6. "North Dakota 6, Colorado College 2". Associated Press. March 27, 1997. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  7. "1997 NCAA Final - Sioux vs Terriers". YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  8. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  9. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  10. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  11. "WCHA Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  12. "NCAA Division I Awards". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  13. "Univ. of North Dakota 1996-97 Skater Stats". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  14. "2017-18 UND Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). UNDSports.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  15. Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  16. "1997 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey DB. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
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