1952–53 Michigan Wolverines
men's ice hockey season
MCHL Co–Champion
National champion
1953 NCAA Tournament, champion
ConferenceT–1st MCHL
Home iceMichigan Coliseum
Record
Overall17–7–0
Home10–4
Road5–3
Neutral2–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachVic Heyliger
Captain(s)John Matchefts
Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey seasons
« 1951–52 1953–54 »

The 1952–53 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its ninth year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled a 17–7–0 record, outscored opponents 139 to 71, and won the 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.[1] The season was the third consecutive, and the fourth overall under Vic Heyliger, in which the Michigan hockey team won the NCAA championship. The team also finished the regular season in at tie with Minnesota as the co-champion of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League.[2]

Individual accomplishments

Team captain John Matchefts, a senior from Eveleth, Minnesota, was the leading scorer with 48 points on 18 goals and 30 assists. Michigan left wing Johnny McKennell, a senior from Toronto, was suspended for the remainder of the season after he allegedly punched referee Milo Yalich in Denver, Colorado, following a 5–4 overtime loss to the Denver Pioneers on December 23, 1952. McKennell was accused of slugging Yalich three times while disputing Denver's game-winning overtime goal. Athletic director Fritz Crisler announced the suspension after receiving a notarized report from the president of the Rocky Mountain Hockey Officials Association in early January 1953.[3][4][5] McKennell denied hitting the referee and claimed that he was the victim of a plot by Colorado College coach Cheddy Thompson to "get even" with Michigan coach Vic Heyliger. Heyliger opined that the suspension was too severe, noting that McKennell had no prior disciplinary action in three years and the evidence was conflicting as to whether McKennell even hit Yalich. Heyliger noted, "This has ruined Johnny's whole college career."[6]

Right winger Earl Keyes, who served as captain of the 1951–52 Michigan hockey team, graduated in January 1953 and played his final game for the Wolverines on January 17, 1953. At the time, The Michigan Daily called Keyes "[o]ne of the best players in Michigan hockey history" and praised him for his versatility. Keyes played at the center position for two-and-a-half years, moved to right wing in 1952, appeared in several games as a defensemen, and even played at the goalie position for two games. In two games at goalie, he had 49 saves in back-to-back victories over Michigan Tech during the 1950-51 season.[7]

Earl Keyes, Alex MacLellan, John Matchefts and John McKennell are the only men's ice hockey players in NCAA history to win three national titles. Additionally, they are among the only players to play in a national championship game each season in which they had eligibility (3 seasons for players prior to 1969, 4 seasons for players after 1969).

1953 NCAA Tournament

In the 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Michigan and Minnesota were invited to represent the west, and Boston University and Rensselaer Polytechnic were invited to represent the east. In the first round, the Wolverines defeated the Boston University Terriers by a 14–2 score.[8]

In the championship game, Michigan faced Minnesota before a capacity crowd of 2,700 at Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[9] Michigan and Minnesota had played four games in the regular season, with Minnesota winning three of the four contests. In mid-February, the Golden Gophers had swept a two-game series in Minneapolis by scores of 5-2 and 4–0.[8]

Minnesota led 2–1 at the end of the first period of the championship game. Jim Haas gave Michigan a 1–0 lead with a goal at the 5:48 mark of the opening period (assist by Alex MacLellan), but Minnesota took the lead on goals by Dick Meredith and Dick Dougherty. In the second period, Michigan scored two goals to take a 3–2 lead. Doug Philpott scored at the 6:15 mark (with an assist by Reg Shave) to tie the score at 2-2, and Doug Mullen put Michigan in the lead with a goal at the 11:08 mark (with assists by George Chin and Pat Cooney). Michigan added three goals in the first ten minutes of the third period to extend the lead to 6–2. John Matchefts scored an unassisted power play goal at 3:38 of the third period; Jim Haas added an unassisted goal at the 7:17 mark; and Doug Philpott scored on a power play at 9:14 with an assist from Haas. Minnesota scored on a goal by Yackel at 10:42, and Matchefts closed out the scoring with an empty net goal with 11 second left in the game (assist by Philpott). With four goals in the third period, Michigan won its third consecutive NCAA championship, defeating the Golden Gophers by a 7–3 score.[10]

Alex McLellan and John Matchefts were chosen for the first-team All-Tournament Team. Matchefts was named the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.[11]

Standings

1952–53 Midwest Collegiate Hockey League
Conference Overall
GP W L T PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Minnesota†20164019924629236014974
Michigan†16124019914924177013971
North Dakota16115017825920155010968
Denver16106015705424176114279
Colorado College1441008528620911098106
Michigan Tech1631304539419613075100
Michigan State1821602459422516174104
† indicates conference regular season champion

Schedule

DateOpponent#Rank#SiteResultRecord
Regular Season
December 6 vs. St. Lawrence* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 6–1  1–0–0
December 13 vs. Toronto* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 6–3  2–0–0
December 19 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 3–2  3–0–0 (1–0–0)
December 20 at Colorado College Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado W 10–6  4–0–0 (2–0–0)
December 22 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado W 5–2  5–0–0 (3–0–0)
December 23 at Denver DU Arena • Denver, Colorado L 4–5 OT 5–1–0 (3–1–0)
January 7 at Michigan State[12] Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan W 6–0  6–1–0 (4–1–0)
January 9 vs. Montreal[13]* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 13–2  7–1–0 (4–1–0)
January 10 vs. Montreal[14]* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan L 1–2  7–2–0 (4–1–0)
January 14 vs. Michigan State[15] Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 10–2  8–2–0 (5–1–0)
January 16 vs. Minnesota Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan L 3–4  8–3–0 (5–2–0)
January 17 vs. Minnesota Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 5–4  9–3–0 (6–2–0)
February 11 vs. Michigan State[16] Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 4–0  10–3–0 (7–2–0)
February 13 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota L 2–5  10–4–0 (7–3–0)
February 14 at Minnesota Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota L 0–4  10–5–0 (7–4–0)
February 20 vs. North Dakota Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 5–3  11–5–0 (8–4–0)
February 21 vs. North Dakota Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 8–3  12–5–0 (9–4–0)
February 27 vs. McGill* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan L 0–7  12–6–0 (9–4–0)
February 28 vs. McGill* Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan L 1–2  12–7–0 (9–4–0)
March 4 at Michigan State Demonstration Hall • East Lansing, Michigan W 8–4  13–7–0 (10–4–0)
March 6 vs. Michigan Tech Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 8–3  14–7–0 (11–4–0)
March 7 vs. Michigan Tech Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan W 10–2  15–7–0 (12–4–0)
NCAA Tournament
March 13 vs. Boston University* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National Semifinal) W 14–2  16–7–0 (12–4–0)
March 14 vs. Minnesota* Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National championship) W 7–3  17–7–0 (12–4–0)
*Non-conference game.
Source:[17]

Roster and scoring statistics

No. Name Year Position Hometown S/P/C Games Goals Assists Pts PIM
4John MatcheftsSeniorCEveleth, MNMinnesota2418304824
6George ChinJuniorRWLucknow, ONOntario242027470
19Doug MullenJuniorCGrass Lake, MIMichigan2420193910
8Pat CooneyJuniorLWRiverside, ONOntario2415193440
12Doug PhilpottJuniorRWSarnia, ONOntario2416132924
2Jim HaasJuniorDNipawin, SKSaskatchewan247162316
7Earl KeyesSeniorCTiverton, ONOntario12128208
18Alex MacLellanSeniorDMontreal, PQQuebec241151667
10John McKennellSeniorRWToronto, ONOntario675126
17Reg ShaveJuniorDYorkton, SKSaskatchewan24751232
5Burt DunnSophomoreDMontreal, PQQuebec24471142
15Ron MartinsonSeniorLWEveleth, MNMinnesota1772916
14Telly MascarinSophomoreCWindsor, ONOntario244487
16Louis PaolattoJuniorDWindsor, ONOntario2413446
1Bill LucierSophomoreGWindsor, ONOntario80000
1Willard IkolaJuniorGEveleth, MNMinnesota200000
Total

Albert P. Pickus, a senior from Sioux City, Iowa, was awarded the Manager's "M" for his service as the team's manager.[18]

[19]

1953 national championship

Minnesota vs. Michigan

March 14 Minnesota 3 – 7 Michigan Broadmoor Ice Palace
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st UM Jim Haas MacLellan 05:48 1–0 UM
MIN Dick Meredith Yackel 8:39 1–1
MIN Dick Dougherty Campbell 11:34 2–1 MIN
2nd UM Doug Philpott Shave 26:15 2–2
UM Doug Mullen Chin and Cooney 31:08 3–2 UM
3rd UM John Matchefts – GW PP unassisted 43:38 4–2 UM
UM Jim Haas unassisted 47:17 5–2 UM
UM Doug Philpott – PP Haas 49:14 6–2 UM
MIN Ken Yackel Johnson and Dougherty 50:42 6–3 UM
UM John Matchefts – EN Philpott 59:49 7–3 UM

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Michigan Hockey Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. pp. 2, 6, 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Wrestlers Win Big Ten Title: Track, Swimming Teams Place Second in Conference Meets While Michigan Hockey Sextet Shares League Crown". The Michigan Alumnus. March 14, 1953. pp. 294–295.
  3. ↑ "Michigan Icemen Meet Spartan Sextet Tonight". The Michigan Daily. January 7, 1953. p. 3.
  4. ↑ "McKennell Draws Year Suspension". The Windsor Star. January 10, 1953. p. 19.
  5. ↑ "Charge Wolve Hockey Ace Struck Referee". The Milwaukee Sentinel. December 26, 1952. p. Part 2, page 2.
  6. ↑ Ed Whipple (January 10, 1953). "Hockey Wing Draws Ban For Season". The Michigan Daily. p. 1.
  7. ↑ Dave Baad (January 16, 1953). "Right Wing Keyes Plays Final Game Tomorrow". The Michigan Daily.
  8. 1 2 Michigan Hockey Record Book (Part I: Through the Year), p. 6.
  9. ↑ Michigan Hockey Record Book (Part II: Team History), p. 8.
  10. ↑ "Michigan Six Keeps N.C.A.A. Crown, 7-3". The New York Times. March 15, 1953.
  11. ↑ "Michigan Hockey Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. pp. 16–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  12. ↑ Paul Greenberg (January 8, 1953). "Michigan Pucksters Blank MSC, 6-0". The Michigan Daily. p. 1.
  13. ↑ Hanley Gurwin (January 10, 1953). "Icers Trounce Montreal, 13-2". The Michigan Daily. p. 1.(eight Michigan goals in the first period; hat tricks by both George Chin and Doug Mullen)
  14. ↑ Bob Margolin (January 11, 1953). "Montreal Stuns Michigan Icemen". The Michigan Daily. p. 1.
  15. ↑ Paul Greenberg (January 15, 1953). "Wolverine Puckmen Rip State, 10-2". The Michigan Daily. p. 1.
  16. ↑ "Michigan Pucksters Blank MSC, 4-0". The Michigan Daily. February 12, 1953. p. 1.
  17. ↑ "Through the Years: Season-By-Season Results" (PDF). Michigan Wolverines. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Athletic Awards For 1952-53 Winter Sports". The Michigan Alumnus. April 11, 1953. p. 327.
  19. ↑ "Univ. of Michigan 1950-51 roster and statistics". EliteProspects. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
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