1975–76 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season

The 1975–76 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1975 and concluded with the 1976 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 27, 1976 at the University of Denver Arena in Denver, Colorado. This was the 29th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 82nd year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

1975–76 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
Duration	October 1975– March 27, 1976
NCAA tournament	1976
National championship	University of Denver Arena Denver, Colorado
NCAA champion	Minnesota
List of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey seasons ← 1974–75 1976–77 →

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	Minnesota
2	Michigan
3	Boston University
4	Michigan Tech
5	Michigan State
6	Cornell
7	Minnesota Duluth
8	Colorado College
9	Harvard
10	Vermont

Regular season

Season tournaments

Tournament	Dates	Teams	Champion
Utica Invitational	November 27–28	4	New Hampshire
North Country Thanksgiving Festival	November 27–29	4	Concordia
Syracuse Invitational	December 26–27	4	Clarkson
Rensselaer Holiday Tournament	December 27–29	4	Providence
Great Lakes Invitational	December 29–30	4	Michigan
Blue–Green Invitational	January 2–3	4	New Hampshire
ECAC Holiday Hockey Festival	January 2–4	4	Clarkson
Yale–SAAB Tournament	January 9–10	4	New Hampshire
Concordia Invitational	January 14–15	4
Beanpot	February 2, 9	4	Boston College

Standings

1975–76 Big Ten standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Michigan State†	12	9	3	0	18	57	49		40	23	15	2	193	176
Michigan	12	8	4	0	16	69	52		39	21	18	0	196	176
Minnesota	12	4	8	0	8	42	53		44	28	14	2	190	158
Wisconsin	12	3	9	0	6	49	63		38	12	24	2	153	177
† indicates conference regular season champion

1975–76 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Bowling Green†	16	11	4	1	23	80	44		32	21	9	2	198	90
Saint Louis*	16	10	5	1	21	76	51		41	24	15	2	193	139
Lake Superior State	16	9	7	0	18	59	55		37	20	16	1	185	172
Western Michigan	16	6	10	0	12	62	75		34	18	14	2	176	158
Ohio State	16	3	13	0	6	49	101		34	18	15	1	213	155
Championship: Saint Louis † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

1975–76 ECAC Hockey standings v t e
	Conference								Overall
	GP	W	L	T	Pct.	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
Boston University†*	23	21	2	0	.915	141	77		30	25	5	0	182	108
New Hampshire	28	22	6	0	.786	163	97		31	24	7	0	184	108
Brown	23	18	5	0	.783	149	90		30	23	7	0	186	126
Clarkson	25	16	8	1	.660	135	114		31	18	12	1	170	146
Cornell	23	13	9	1	.587	127	98		29	18	10	1	174	128
Dartmouth	24	14	10	0	.583	123	112		27	16	11	0	140	123
Harvard	20	10	7	3	.575	101	89		26	13	10	3	134	125
Boston College	21	11	9	1	.548	115	96		29	15	13	1	158	135
Providence	25	11	12	2	.480	132	111		31	14	15	2	171	141
Rensselaer	23	9	12	2	.435	123	121		28	13	13	2	153	143
Vermont	22	9	13	0	.409	102	112		32	15	16	1	179	160
St. Lawrence	19	7	11	1	.395	87	102		27	11	17	1	128	144
Colgate	20	6	14	0	.300	88	126		25	9	16	0	117	153
Northeastern	23	6	16	1	.283	93	124		26	9	16	1	117	133
Princeton	23	6	16	1	.283	76	135		24	7	16	1	86	138
Pennsylvania	23	5	17	1	.239	85	141		26	6	19	1	107	163
Yale	21	1	20	0	.048	68	166		25	4	21	0	91	189
Championship: Boston University † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

1975–76 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	-	-	-		26	16	10	0	160	145

1975–76 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†*	32	25	7	0	50	190	134		43	34	9	0	255	177
Michigan State	32	20	12	0	40	154	139		40	23	15	2	193	176
Minnesota*	32	18	13	1	37	129	119		44	28	14	2	190	158
Michigan	32	17	15	0	34	157	141		39	21	18	0	196	176
Notre Dame	32	15	15	2	32	143	140		38	19	17	2	171	173
Colorado College	32	15	16	1	31	131	133		38	15	22	1	151	181
Wisconsin	32	11	19	2	24	137	151		38	12	24	2	153	177
Denver	32	12	20	0	24	120	140		39	16	23	0	165	175
Minnesota-Duluth	32	12	20	0	24	132	160		36	15	21	0	159	179
North Dakota	32	12	20	0	24	119	155		36	15	21	0	142	168
Championship: Minnesota, Michigan Tech † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion

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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	Boston University
3	Michigan State
4	New Hampshire
5	Minnesota
6	Brown
7	Michigan
8	Bowling Green State
9	Notre Dame
10	Clarkson
10 (tie)	Cornell

1976 NCAA Tournament

Main article: 1976 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament

	Semifinals March 25–26					National championship March 27
	E1	Boston University	2
	W2	Minnesota	4
						W2	Minnesota	6
						W1	Michigan Tech	4
	W1	Michigan Tech	7*
	E2	Brown	6			Third-place game
						E1	Boston University	7
						E2	Brown	8

Note: * denotes overtime period(s)

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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
Tom Ross	Senior	Michigan State	41	51	54	105	28
Mike Zuke	Senior	Michigan Tech	43	47	57	104	42
Steve Colp	Senior	Michigan State	39	40	54	94	56
Bruce Allworth	Junior	Ohio State	34	40	53	93	50
George Lyle	Junior	Michigan Tech	43	47	41	88	42
Stuart Ostlund	Sophomore	Michigan Tech	43	34	50	84	18
Darryl Rice	Senior	Michigan State	41	31	51	82	54
Chuck Delich	Junior	Air Force	26	44	35	79	45
Bill Gilligan	Sophomore	Brown	30	25	54	79	10
Jim Mayer	Senior	Michigan Tech	43	29	42	71	58

^[5]

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
Mike Liut	Junior	Bowling Green	21	1171	13	5	0	50	0	.905	2.56
Tom Mohr	Senior	Minnesota	12	689	8	3	1	31	0	.905	2.70
Lindsay Middlebrook	Junior	Saint Louis	30	1767	-	-	-	88	0	-	2.99
Dan Magnarelli	Junior	New Hampshire	21	1230	-	-	-	65	0	.886	3.17
Jeff Tscherne	Sophomore	Minnesota	29	1766	19	9	1	103	0	.893	3.50
Mark Evans	Sophomore	New Hampshire	11	562	-	-	-	37	0	.850	3.95
Kevin McCabe	Junior	Brown	29	1619	21	7	0	107	0	.879	3.97
Bruce Horsch	Sophomore	Michigan Tech	31	1860	24	7	0	124	1	.898	4.00
Ernie Glanville	Sophomore	Denver	19	-	9	-	-	-	0	.882	4.10
Pat Tims	Junior	Lake Superior State	22	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4.13

^[5]

Awards

NCAA Award[6] Recipient Spencer Penrose Award John MacInnes, Michigan Tech Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Tom Vannelli, Minnesota AHCA All-American Teams[7] East Team   Position   West Team Brian Shields, Clarkson G Eddie Mio, Colorado College Peter Brown, Boston University D Jack Brownschidle, Notre Dame Ron Wilson, Providence D Craig Norwich, Wisconsin Cliff Cox, New Hampshire F Tom Ross, Michigan State Jamie Hislop, New Hampshire F Mike Eaves, Wisconsin Rick Meagher, Boston University F Mike Zuke, Michigan Tech Bill Gilligan, Brown F

CCHA Award[8] Recipient Coach of the Year Ron Mason, Bowling Green All-CCHA Teams[9] First Team   Position   Second Team Al Sarachman, Bowling Green G Mike Liut, Bowling Green John Mavity, Bowling Green D Kent Jackson, Saint Louis Ken Morrow, Bowling Green D George Kryzer, Saint Louis Bruce Allworth, Ohio State F Mike Hartman, Bowling Green Gary Murphy, Saint Louis F Mike Gaba, Lake Superior State Mike Ballanger, Saint Louis F Kim Gellert, Lake Superior State

ECAC Award[10] Recipient Player of the Year Peter Brown, Boston University Rookie of the Year Paul Skidmore, Boston College Most Outstanding Player in Tournament Terry Meagher, Boston University All-ECAC Hockey Teams[11] First Team   Position   Second Team Brian Shields, Clarkson G Paul Skidmore, Boston College G Kevin McCabe, Brown Ron Wilson, Providence D Bill Blackwood, Clarkson Peter Brown, Boston University D Tim Burke, New Hampshire Jamie Hislop, New Hampshire F Cliff Cox, New Hampshire Rick Meagher, Boston University F Richie Smith, Boston College Mike Eruzione, Boston University F Bill Gilligan, Brown

WCHA Award[12] Recipient Most Valuable Player Mike Zuke, Michigan Tech Freshman of the Year Dave Delich, Colorado College Coach of the Year John MacInnes, Michigan Tech All-WCHA Teams[13] First Team   Position   Second Team Eddie Mio, Colorado College G Robbie Moore, Michigan Jack Brownschidle, Notre Dame D Dave Langevin, Minnesota-Duluth Reed Larson, Minnesota D Craig Norwich, Wisconsin Tom Ross, Michigan State F Dave Debol, Michigan George Lyle, Michigan Tech F Thomas Milani, Minnesota-Duluth Mike Zuke, Michigan Tech F Steve Colp, Michigan State

1976 NHL Amateur Draft

Main article: 1976 NHL Amateur Draft

Round	Pick	Player	College	Conference	NHL team
1	8	David Shand ‡	Michigan	WCHA	Atlanta Flames
2	21	Steve Clippingdale ‡	Wisconsin	WCHA	Los Angeles Kings
2	22	Reed Larson	Minnesota	WCHA	Detroit Red Wings
3	39	Don Jackson	Notre Dame	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
3	41	Mike Fidler	Boston University	ECAC Hockey	California Golden Seals
3	54	Bill Baker	Minnesota	WCHA	Montreal Canadiens
4	56	Mike Liut	Bowling Green	CCHA	St. Louis Blues
4	59	Warren Young	Michigan Tech	WCHA	California Golden Seals
4	61	Paul Skidmore	Boston College	ECAC Hockey	St. Louis Blues
4	63	Dave Debol	Michigan	WCHA	Chicago Black Hawks
4	68	Ken Morrow	Bowling Green	CCHA	New York Islanders
4	70	Bob Miller	New Hampshire	ECAC Hockey	Boston Bruins
5	75	Phil Verchota	Minnesota	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
5	79	Cal Sandbeck	Denver	WCHA	California Golden Seals
5	85	Rob Palmer	Michigan	WCHA	Los Angeles Kings
5	89	Robin Lang	Cornell	ECAC Hockey	Philadelphia Flyers
6	93	Dave Delich	Colorado College	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
6	97	Nels Goddard	Michigan Tech	WCHA	St. Louis Blues
6	99	John Peterson	Notre Dame	WCHA	Chicago Blackhawks
6	107	Paul Klasinski †	Michigan State	WCHA	Philadelphia Flyers
7	110	Jeff Barr	Michigan State	WCHA	Minnesota North Stars
7	113	Mike Eaves	Wisconsin	WCHA	St. Louis Blues
7	115	John Rothstein	Minnesota–Duluth	WCHA	Chicago Black Hawks
8	122	Stuart Ostlund	Michigan Tech	WCHA	Vancouver Canucks
8	123	John Gregory	Wisconsin	WCHA	Chicago Black Hawks
9	124	Dave Dornseif	Providence	ECAC Hockey	St. Louis Blues
9	125	Bruce Horsch	Michigan Tech	WCHA	Montreal Canadiens
10	126	Bradley Wilson	Providence	ECAC Hockey	St. Louis Blues
11	128	Dan Hoene	Michigan	WCHA	St. Louis Blues
13	132	Jim Bales	Denver	WCHA	St. Louis Blues

† Incoming freshman.
‡ Clippingdale and Shand had both left school two years prior.
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See also

• 1975–76 NCAA Division II men's ice hockey season
• 1975–76 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season