# Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons men's ice hockey

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) men’s hockey team is the collegiate hockey team at the university. UWRF is a Division III hockey team, a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Falcons are a part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), which is also a part of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). However, the WIAC announced in February 2012 that they would be leaving the NCHA due to budgetary reasons, effective for the 2014–15 season. The Falcons have won three national titles, one as a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1983, and two NCAA national titles in 1988 and 1994. The Falcons play at Hunt Arena, which opened in 1973. Steve Freeman is the head coach of the Falcons and is the all-time wins leader for both UWRF and the WIAC with over 400 wins.

## Records history

As of January 2025
* NAIA National Champions: 1983
* NCAA National Champions: 1988, 1994
* NCHA Champions: 1988, 1996, 2007
* WIAC Champions: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016
* WIAC Playoff Champions (Commissioner's Cup): 2015

## Coaching

| Name | Career |
| Jack Agnew | 2-3-0 |
| Walt Granata | 9-13-0 |
| Tom Younghans | 9-1-0 |
| Gwyn Christensen | 10-2-0 |
| Jim Helminiak | 28-37-1 |
| Don Joseph | 116-97-1 |
| George Gwozdecky | 66-29-2 |
| Mike McGraw | 15-12-0 |
| Craig Dahl | 15-12-3 |
| Rick Kozuback | 65-26-5 |
| Dean Talafous | 110-84-18 |
| Steve Freeman | 423–246–62 |

## National tournament history
### NAIA tournament

Wisconsin–River Falls participated in the NAIA national tournament nine times. The Falcons won one National Championship, made the semifinals five times, and had a record of 6–12.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1975 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | L 0–8 |
| 1976 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Superior | L 3–10 |
| 1977 | Quarterfinals | St. Scholastica | L 4–6 |
| 1978 | Quarterfinals | St. Scholastica | W 3–2 |
| 1978 | Semifinals | Augsburg | L 2–10 |
| 1978 | 3rd Place Game | St. Thomas | L 3–7 |
| 1979 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ |
| 1979 | Semifinals | Bemidji State | L 5–7 |
| 1979 | 3rd Place Game | St. Scholastica | L 2–4 |
| 1980 | Quarterfinals | Concordia (Moorhead) | W 5–4 |
| 1980 | Semifinals | Michigan–Dearborn | L 4–5 |
| 1980 | 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | L 4–11 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Augsburg | L 2–9 |
| 1982 | Quarterfinals | Bethel Royals | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ |
| 1982 | Semifinals | Bemidji State | L 0–7 |
| 1982 | 3rd Place Game | Michigan–Dearborn | L 2–4 |
| 1983 | Semifinals | Hawthorne College | W 7–0 |
| 1983 | National Championship | Michigan–Dearborn | W 12–5 |

### NCAA Division III tournament

Wisconsin–River Falls has participated in the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament 11 times. The Falcons have won two National Championships, made the Frozen Four six times, and have a record of 24–13.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1984 | Quarterfinals | Union | L 0–4 |
| 1984 | Quarterfinals | Union | W 6–4 |
| 1984 | Quarterfinals | Union | L 6–8 |
| 1988 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 6–5 |
| 1988 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 9–5 |
| 1988 | Semifinals | Bemidji State | W 6–4 |
| 1988 | Semifinals | Bemidji State | W 5–3 |
| 1988 | National Championship | Elmira | W 7–1 |
| 1988 | National Championship | Elmira | L 3–5 |
| 1988 | National Championship | Elmira | W 3–0 |
| 1993 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | W 5–2 |
| 1993 | Quarterfinals | Gustavus Adolphus | W 4–2 |
| 1993 | Semifinals | Plattsburgh State | W 4–2 |
| 1993 | National Championship | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ |
| 1994 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 4–2 |
| 1994 | Quarterfinals | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | W 4–3 |
| 1994 | Semifinals | Fredonia State | W 4–3 |
| 1994 | National Championship | Wisconsin–Superior | W 6–4 |
| 1995 | Quarterfinals | Saint Mary's | W 5–1 |
| 1995 | Quarterfinals | Saint Mary's | W 5–3 |
| 1995 | Semifinals | Middlebury | L 1–3 |
| 1995 | 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | W 6–5 $^{OT}$ |
| 1996 | Quarterfinals | Bowdoin | W 7–1 |
| 1996 | Quarterfinals | Bowdoin | W 7–3 |
| 1996 | Semifinals | RIT | L 1–2 |
| 1996 | 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | W 8–2 |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | Augsburg | L 2–3 |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | Augsburg | L 3–4 |
| 2001 | Quarterfinals | New England College | W 8–1 |
| 2001 | Quarterfinals | New England College | W 2–1 |
| 2001 | Semifinals | RIT | L 2–5 |
| 2001 | 3rd Place Game | Wisconsin–Superior | L 1–3 |
| 2003 | First Round | Saint John's | W 2–0 |
| 2003 | Quarterfinals | St. Norbert | L 2–5 |
| 2004 | First Round | St. Thomas | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ |
| 2004 | Quarterfinals | St. Norbert | L 0–3 |
| 2007 | First Round | Bethel | L 1–2 |