# 1979–80 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey season

The 1979–80 North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey team represented the University of North Dakota in college ice hockey. In its 2nd year under head coach John Gasparini the team compiled a 31–8–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the eighth time. The Fighting Sioux defeated Northern Michigan 5–2 to win the championship game at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

## Season
### Early season

After finishing as the national runner-up in John Gasparini's first year as head coach, North Dakota was hoping to continue their renaissance after a decade of futility. The Fighting Sioux began their season with a four-game home stand and did not look particularly strong, splitting both weekends against Colorado College and Michigan Tech. After taking both road games against a bad Denver team, UND hosted St. Lawrence and won both games to push their record to 6–2.
After splitting a road series against Michigan State, North Dakota hosted Minnesota in a rematch of last year's championship game, winning both games and surging to the top of the WCHA. UND sandwiched an exhibition game against the eventual gold-medalist US National Team between their series against the Golden Gophers and the Bulldogs, though in the later set the Fighting Sioux could only manage a split.
Over the winter break North Dakota played two non-conference series. Up first Ohio State at home where UND dominated the two games. A couple of weeks later the Fighting Sioux found themselves in Marquette to take on Northern Michigan. While North Dakota was distinguishing itself as the class of the WCHA, NMU possessed an even more impressive record at 14–2 and continued to prove they were no fluke by downing North Dakota in both games.

### Second half

The two losses didn't harm UND that much as they didn't affect the team's top seed in the WCHA. However, just for good measure, the Fighting Sioux swept the next two weekends (both at home) against conference opponents to take a stranglehold of the conference. UND's lead was so large by this point that when they could only earn one win in the next four games it hardly mattered to their conference standing.
After the poor road trip UND played their third national team of the season, finally managing to take town an Olympic squad, albeit the one that would finish dead-last at the 1980 winter games. After the win North Dakota went on a winning streak, beginning at home where they hadn't lost since early November. UND won their final 8 regular season games, including 4 on the road (which had given them trouble all season) to finish with a stellar 25–8–1 record and easily win the WCHA.

### WCHA tournament

With the top seed, North Dakota played host to Michigan State and avenged their early-season loss with a comfortable 8–1 win in the first game. With a 7-goal lead to work with the Fighting Sioux were able to relax in game 2 and win the series 13–4. The second series against Notre Dame was more of the same with UND taking a huge lead after a 10–4 win, eventually capturing the series 17–8. North Dakota won their second consecutive WCHA title and fourth overall and received the top western seed for the NCAA tournament.

### NCAA tournament

UND opened against ECAC Hockey runner-up Dartmouth for the second time in as many years and had a nearly identical performance. After the 4–1 victory UND met the #1 team in the country, Northern Michigan. The teams had two of the top offenses in the nation (only Minnesota scored more goals) and game would see the top four NCAA scorers on the ice at the same time. despite being a freshman Darren Jensen had distinguished himself as the best option in goal for North Dakota and, having learned from his error the previous year, Gasparini started the Creston in goal. Doug Smail would open the scoring just before the mid-point of the first period but shortly thereafter leading scorer and team captain Mark Taylor would be knocked out of the game with an injury. Smail, the leading goal scorer, would take over and score twice more to produce only the second natural hat-trick in championship history. Phil Sykes would in on the scoring in the third period, his fourth point of the night. After the goal the Wildcat offence finally woke up and scored, scoring twice in a span of 51 seconds, but three minutes the game was put away when Smail tied the NCAA record with his fourth goal of the contest, again with a primary assist from Sykes. North Dakota won the championship having outshot NMU 45–22, ending their 16-year championship drought.

### Awards and honors

Doug Smail won the tournament MOP for his nearly single-handed victory in the championship game and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Phil Sykes and Marc Chorney. Mark Taylor finished 4 points back of the scoring title but was named to the AHCA All-American West Team along with Howard Walker. Both Walker and Taylor made the All-WCHA First Team while Smail and Chorney were named to the Second Team.
Darren Jensen would win his first start the following season, extending his undefeated streak to 15 games to start a career; still an NCAA record (as of 2016).
Three players were selected in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft with all three reaching the NHL.

## Standings

1979–80 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standingsvte :
| | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| North Dakota†* | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | .768 | 147 | 89 | 40 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 217 | 119 |
| Minnesota* | 32 | 18 | 14 | 0 | .563 | 173 | 155 | 41 | 26 | 15 | 0 | 263 | 179 |
| Colorado College | 30 | 16 | 13 | 1 | .550 | 154 | 164 | 39 | 21 | 17 | 1 | 200 | 208 |
| Michigan | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | .538 | 131 | 118 | 38 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 205 | 167 |
| Notre Dame | 28 | 13 | 14 | 1 | .482 | 150 | 146 | 39 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 202 | 199 |
| Minnesota-Duluth | 32 | 15 | 17 | 0 | .469 | 166 | 181 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 191 | 207 |
| Michigan Tech | 28 | 12 | 14 | 2 | .464 | 141 | 120 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 2 | 181 | 160 |
| Michigan State | 28 | 12 | 16 | 0 | .429 | 118 | 167 | 38 | 14 | 24 | 0 | 158 | 227 |
| Wisconsin | 30 | 12 | 18 | 0 | .400 | 146 | 146 | 36 | 15 | 20 | 1 | 172 | 182 |
| Denver | 26 | 8 | 17 | 1 | .327 | 95 | 135 | 36 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 141 | 169 |
| Championship: Minnesota, North Dakota † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion |||||||||||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Result | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||
| October 16 | vs. Canadian National Team* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) | L 3–6 | |
| October 19 | at Minnesota–Duluth* | Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota (Exhibition) | W 7–2 | |
| Regular Season ||||||
| October 26 | vs. Colorado College | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | L 2–3 | 0–1 (0–1) |
| October 27 | vs. Colorado College | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 9–4 | 1–1 (1–1) |
| November 2 | vs. Michigan Tech | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 4–3 | 2–1 (2–1) |
| November 3 | vs. Michigan Tech | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | L 3–5 | 2–2 (2–2) |
| November 9 | at Denver | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | W 4–3 | 3–2 (3–2) |
| November 10 | at Denver | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | W 3–0 | 4–2 (4–2) |
| November 16 | vs. St. Lawrence* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 4–3 | 5–2 (4–2) |
| November 17 | vs. St. Lawrence* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–0 | 6–2 (4–2) |
| November 23 | at Michigan State | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | W 9–2 | 7–2 (5–2) |
| November 24 | at Michigan State | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 7–3 (5–3) |
| November 30 | vs. Minnesota | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 6–3 | 8–3 (6–3) |
| December 1 | vs. Minnesota | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–6 $^{OT}$ | 9–3 (7–3) |
| December 4 | vs. US National Team* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) | L 1–6 | 9–3 (7–3) |
| December 7 | at Minnesota–Duluth | Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 9–4 (7–4) |
| December 8 | at Minnesota–Duluth | Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 10–4 (8–4) |
| December 21 | vs. Ohio State* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–2 | 11–4 (8–4) |
| December 22 | vs. Ohio State* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 8–2 | 12–4 (8–4) |
| January 4 | at Northern Michigan* | Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan | L 2–4 | 12–5 (8–4) |
| January 5 | at Northern Michigan* | Lakeview Arena • Marquette, Michigan | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 12–6 (8–4) |
| January 11 | vs. Notre Dame | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–4 | 13–6 (9–4) |
| January 12 | vs. Notre Dame | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 3–1 | 14–6 (10–4) |
| January 18 | vs. Minnesota–Duluth | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–3 | 15–6 (11–4) |
| January 19 | vs. Minnesota–Duluth | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 5–1 | 16–6 (12–4) |
| January 25 | at Colorado College | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | L 8–9 $^{OT}$ | 16–7 (12–5) |
| January 26 | at Colorado College | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | W 7–3 | 17–7 (13–5) |
| February 1 | at Michigan Tech | Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 17–7–1 (13–5–1) |
| February 2 | at Michigan Tech | Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | L 4–6 | 17–8–1 (13–6–1) |
| February 6 | vs. Japanese National Team* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Exhibition) | W 7–2 | 17–8–1 (13–6–1) |
| February 8 | vs. Denver | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 7–1 | 18–8–1 (14–6–1) |
| February 9 | vs. Denver | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 5–2 | 19–8–1 (15–6–1) |
| February 15 | at Minnesota | Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota | W 5–3 | 20–8–1 (16–6–1) |
| February 16 | at Minnesota | Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota | W 6–2 | 21–8–1 (17–6–1) |
| February 22 | vs. Michigan | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 5–2 | 22–8–1 (18–6–1) |
| February 23 | vs. Michigan | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota | W 4–3 | 23–8–1 (19–6–1) |
| February 29 | at Wisconsin | Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin | W 8–1 | 24–8–1 (20–6–1) |
| March 1 | at Wisconsin | Dane County Coliseum • Madison, Wisconsin | W 4–3 | 25–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| WCHA tournament ||||||
| March 7 | vs. Michigan State* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA First Round game 1) | W 8–1 | 26–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| March 8 | vs. Michigan State* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA First Round game 2) | W 5–3 | 27–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| North Dakota Wins Series 13-4 ||||||
| March 14 | vs. Notre Dame* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Second Round game 1) | W 10–4 | 28–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| March 15 | vs. Notre Dame* | Winter Sports Center • Grand Forks, North Dakota (WCHA Second Round game 2) | W 7–4 | 29–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| North Dakota Wins Series 17-8 ||||||
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| March 27 | vs. Dartmouth* | Providence Civic Center • Providence, Rhode Island (National Semifinal) | W 4–1 | 30–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| March 28 | vs. Northern Michigan* | Providence Civic Center • Providence, Rhode Island (National championship) | W 5–2 | 31–8–1 (21–6–1) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. Source: ||||||

## Roster and scoring statistics

| No. | Name | Year | Position | Hometown | Games | Goals | Assists | Pts | PIM |
| 11 | Mark Taylor | Senior | C | Vancouver, BC | 40 | 33 | 59 | 92 | 28 |
| 8 | Doug Smail | Senior | W | Moose Jaw, SK | 40 | 43 | 44 | 87 | 70 |
| 25 | Phil Sykes | Sophomore | W | Dawson Creek, BC | 37 | 22 | 27 | 49 | 34 |
| 19 | Rick Zaparniuk | Senior | C | Edmonton, AB | 40 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 34 |
| 16 | Marc Chorney | Junior | D | Thunder Bay, ON | 39 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 54 |
| 24 | Rick Myers | Senior | W | East Grand Forks, MN | 33 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 18 |
| 22 | Cary Eades | Sophomore | W | Burnaby, BC | 30 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 50 |
| 4 | Brad Cox | Senior | D | Lethbridge, AB | 39 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 26 |
| 3 | Howard Walker | Sophomore | D | Grande Prairie, AB | 39 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 57 |
| 18 | Dean Dachyshyn | Freshman | W | Devon, AB | 40 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 88 |
| 9 | Dusty Carroll | Freshman | C | Charlottetown, PE | 39 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 24 |
| 10 | Glen White | Freshman | F | Rosetown, SK | 40 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 14 |
| 17 | Erwin Martens | Senior | W | Cartwright, MB | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 28 |
| 5 | Mickey Volcan | Freshman | D | Edmonton, AB | 33 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 38 |
| 21 | Paul Chadwick | Junior | W | Williams Lake, BC | 40 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 65 |
| 14 | Frank Burggraf | Sophomore | C | Roseau, MN | 34 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 36 |
| 23 | Mike Neitzke | Senior | W | Detroit Lakes, MN | 24 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 32 |
| 2 | Craig Ludwig | Freshman | D | Eagle River, WI | 33 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 32 |
| 20 | Travis Dunn | Sophomore | D | Winnipeg, MB | 37 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 32 |
| 6 | Conway Marvin | Sophomore | D | Warroad, MN | 20 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 30 | Bob Iwabuchi | Sophomore | G | Edmonton, AB | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Troy Magnuson | Freshman | W | Chanhassen, MN | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1 | Pierre Lamoureux | Freshman | G | Fort Saskatchewan, AB | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Mel Donnelly | Junior | G | Fort Frances, ON | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Darren Jensen | Freshman | G | Creston, BC | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | | | | | | | |

## Goaltending statistics

| No. | Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| 1 | Darren Jensen | 15 | 884 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 396 | 1 | .923 | 2.24 |
| 1 | Mel Donnelly | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | .897 | 2.40 |
| | Pierre Lamoureux | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | .813 | 3.00 |
| 30 | Bob Iwabuchi | 20 | 1157 | 14 | – | – | 70 | 494 | 0 | .876 | 3.63 |
| Total | | 40 | – | 31 | 8 | 1 | 119 | – | 2 | – | – |

## 1980 championship game
### (W1) North Dakota vs. (A) Northern Michigan

Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | UND | Doug Smail | Sykes and Taylor | 9:43 | 1–0 UND |
| 1st | UND | Doug Smail | Sykes and Dunn | 12:48 | 2–0 UND |
| 2nd | UND | Doug Smail – GW | Sykes | 23:12 | 3–0 UND |
| 3rd | UND | Phil Sykes | unassisted | 48:42 | 4–0 UND |
| 3rd | NMU | Bill Joyce | Waddell and Laidlaw | 54:29 | 4–1 UND |
| 3rd | NMU | Terry Houck | Hanson and Pyle | 55:20 | 4–2 UND |
| 3rd | UND | Doug Smail | Sykes and Burggraf | 58:21 | 5–2 UND |
Shots by period :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
| Northern Michigan | 5 | 5 | 12 | 22 |
| North Dakota | 13 | 20 | 12 | 45 |
Goaltenders :
| Team | Name | Saves | Goals against | Time on ice |
| NMU | Steve Weeks | 40 | 5 | |
| UND | Darren Jensen | 20 | 2 | |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 1980 NHL Entry Draft

| = NHL All-Star team | = NHL All-Star | = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team | = Did not play in the NHL |
| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 3 | 50 | Mickey Volcan | Hartford Whalers |
| 3 | 57 | Troy Murray† | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 3 | 61 | Craig Ludwig | Montreal Canadiens |
| 5 | 92 | Darren Jensen | Hartford Whalers |
| 9 | 170 | Ed Cristian† | Winnipeg Jets |
† incoming freshman