1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season

The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its fourteenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 27–14–1 record (17–11 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opponents) and outscored all opponents 218 to 155. The Badgers were the recipients of an at-large bid in the first year that the NCAA guaranteed 8 teams entry into the postseason tournament and in doing so became the first team to win a National Championship because of the expanded format.
==Season==
Wisconsin began the 1980–81 season fresh after compiling its first losing season since returning to NCAA play in 1963. With little expectation for the '81 campaign Bob Johnson's Badgers got off to a fast start, going 7-1 in the first month of the season before embarking on a .500 skid in early November. The Badgers would lose a game in every weekend series until after Christmas when they finally managed to take both games against a mediocre Yale squad, only to lose both games to Rensselaer the following week. Wisconsin was hampered by high-scoring freshman and future NHL-er Bruce Eakin leaving the program after only four games and heading to the WHL.
From January 1 onward, Wisconsin managed to just post a winning record, going 10-8 over that stretch but still finishing in a tie for second in conference standings on the strength of their early-season success. The Badgers won the tie-breaker over Michigan Tech and were seeded second in the WCHA Tournament. After winning their first game against Colorado College 8-2 it appeared Wisconsin was set for an appearance in second round until the Tigers roared back with an 11-4 win in the second game and upset a stunned Badger team 13-12 in the series.
Ordinarily that would have been the end of the Wisconsin's season but in the summer of 1980 the NCAA changed its tournament format. With the success of the CCHA and the increasing number of programs at the Division I level the NCAA tournament was expanded to 8 teams, 4 for eastern schools and 4 for western squads. As tournament co-champions Minnesota and Michigan Tech received automatic bids, as did CCHA champion Northern Michigan. That left one spot open for a western school. Due to the feeling at the time that the CCHA was a 'lesser' conference the 24-12-3 record of second place Ohio State was seen a inferior to anything the WCHA could offer and the Buckeyes were passed over. While the Badgers did lose in the first round Denver, who had finished only two points behind Wisconsin, had also lost their first round matchup and the team that had defeated them, Michigan, were soundly beaten by Michigan Tech in the Second round 9-2. With no team standing out from the rest the tournament committee settled on awarding the final spot to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin opened the 1981 Tournament in front a hostile crowd in Potsdam, NY as they faced the top eastern seed Clarkson. Miraculously the Badgers managed to take the first game 3-2 but, just as the WCHA tournament had been, the NCAA first round was a 2-game total-goal series and 1 score was a very slim margin to hold. The second game was a much more explosive affair with both teams notching six goals in regulation play. Because of a peculiarity with the series Wisconsin leading 9-8 after regulation didn't end the matchup and the two would play one overtime session to see if the 'winner' of the game could be determined. If Wisconsin scored the series would be over immediately, however, if Clarkson scored the game would continue because the series had been tied at 9-9 despite an overtime marker. Neither of those events came to pass and both teams failed to score in the overtime session, allowing the game to finish in a tie and the Badgers to progress to the Frozen Four.
In their first game at the Duluth Arena the Badgers faced Northern Michigan, the first time the two teams played one another. Both squads played a scoreless first period before Ed Lebler opened the scoring three minutes into the second. Two more Badgers scored before the Wildcats could get their first goal of the game but Marc Behrend made sure that was all they could earn, turning away their 25 other shots en route to a 5-1 win. In the final Wisconsin was set against #1 overall seed Minnesota who possessed the top offense in the nation boasting both the NCAA scoring champion Aaron Broten and the first Hobey Baker Award winner Neal Broten. The Golden Gophers had taken three out of four contests against the Badgers that season, out-pacing Johnson's team 27 goals to 14. None of that seemed to affect Wisconsin in the slightest as it was the Badgers who opened the scoring half way through the first period and never looked back. Wisconsin got the game's first four goals and by the time Minnesota had found the back of the net it was too late. The 'Back Door' Badgers fired 42 shots on goal, not letting up even with a 5-1 lead after two periods. Marc Behrend turned aside 30 of 33 shots in the contest and finished the tournament with a .932 save percentage in the Frozen Four, earning Tournament MOP honors. Despite the spectacular Frozen Four John Newbery was the only Badger other than Behrend to make the All-Tournament Team but the Wisconsin faithful were too overjoyed from the unexpected championship to mind.
No Wisconsin player was named as an AHCA All-American and only Theran Welsh was named to the Second Team All-WCHA.
==Standings==
===Schedule===
During the season, Wisconsin compiled a 27–14–1 record. Its schedule was as follows.
Date 	Opponent 	Score 	Result 	Venue 	Location 	Record (WCHA / Big Ten)
Oct. 17, 1980 	Western Michigan 	7–3 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	1–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 18, 1980 	Western Michigan 	5–4 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	2–0 (0–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 24, 1980 	Denver † 	5–3 	Win 	DU Arena 	Denver, CO 	3–0 (1–0 / 0–0)
Oct. 25, 1980 	Denver † 	3–5 	Loss 	DU Arena 	Denver, CO 	3–1 (1–1 / 0–0)
Oct. 31, 1980 	Colorado College † 	6–4 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	4–1 (2–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 1, 1980 	Colorado College † 	7–5 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	5–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 17, 1980 	Ferris State 	8–2 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	6–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 8, 1980 	Ferris State 	4–4 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	7–1 (3–1 / 0–0)
Nov. 14, 1980 	Notre Dame † 	4–5* 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	7–2 (3–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 15, 1980 	Notre Dame † 	4–0 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	8–2 (4–2 / 0–0)
Nov. 21, 1980 	Michigan ‡ 	5–3 	Win 	Yost Ice Arena 	Ann Arbor, MI 	9–2 (5–2 / 1–0)
Nov. 22, 1980 	Michigan ‡ 	1–3 	Loss 	Yost Ice Arena 	Ann Arbor, MI 	9–3 (5–3 / 1–1)
Nov. 28, 1980 	Minnesota ‡ 	4–5* 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	9–4 (5–4 / 1–2)
Nov. 29, 1980 	Minnesota ‡ 	8–3 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	10–4 (6–4 / 2–2)
Dec. 5, 1980 	Minnesota–Duluth † 	2–3 	Loss 	Duluth Arena 	Duluth, MN 	10–5 (6–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 6, 1980 	Minnesota–Duluth † 	5–3 	Win 	Duluth Arena 	Duluth, MN 	11–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 28, 1980 	Yale 	10–5 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	12–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Dec. 29, 1980 	Yale 	12–1 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	13–5 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 2, 1981 	Rensselaer 	4–6 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	13–6 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 3, 1981 	Rensselaer 	5–6 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	13–7 (7–5 / 2–2)
Jan. 9, 1981 	Michigan ‡ 	8–5 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	14–7 (8–5 / 3–2)
Jan. 10, 1981 	Michigan ‡ 	4–3 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	15–7 (9–5 / 4–2)
Jan. 16, 1981 	Minnesota ‡ 	3–6 	Loss 	Williams Arena 	Minneapolis, MN 	15–8 (9–6 / 4–3)
Jan. 17, 1981 	Minnesota ‡ 	4–8 	Loss 	Williams Arena 	Minneapolis, MN 	15–9 (9–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 23, 1981 	Minnesota–Duluth † 	7–2 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	16–9 (10–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 24, 1981 	Minnesota–Duluth † 	4–3 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	17–9 (11–7 / 4–4)
Jan. 30, 1981 	Michigan Tech † 	3–5 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	17–10 (11–8 / 4–4)
Jan. 31, 1981 	Michigan Tech † 	6–2 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	18–10 (12–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 6, 1981 	North Dakota † 	10–1 	Win 	Ralph Engelstad Arena 	Grand Forks, ND 	19–10 (13–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 7, 1981 	North Dakota † 	5–4 	Win 	Ralph Engelstad Arena 	Grand Forks, ND 	20–10 (14–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 13, 1981 	Colorado College † 	4–3* 	Win 	Broadmoor World Arena 	Colorado Springs, CO 	21–10 (15–8 / 4–4)
Feb. 14, 1981 	Colorado College † 	2–4 	Loss 	Broadmoor World Arena 	Colorado Springs, CO 	21–11 (15–9 / 4–4)
Feb. 20, 1981 	Michigan State ‡ 	3–5 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	21–12 (15–10 / 4–5)
Feb. 21, 1981 	Michigan State ‡ 	5–4 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	22–12 (16–10 / 5–5)
Feb. 27, 1981 	Notre Dame † 	2–4 	Loss 	Joyce Center 	Notre Dame, IN 	22–13 (16–11 / 5–5)
Feb. 28, 1981 	Notre Dame † 	8–2 	Win 	Joyce Center 	Notre Dame, IN 	23–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT 	WCHA TOURNAMENT
Mar. 7, 1981 	Colorado College 	8–2 	Win 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	24–13 (17–11 / 5–5)
Mar. 8, 1981 	Colorado College 	4–11 	Loss 	Dane County Coliseum 	Madison, WI 	24–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12	Colorado College Wins Series 13-12
NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT 	NCAA TOURNAMENT
March 20, 1981 	Clarkson 	3–2 	Win 	Walker Arena 	Potsdam, NY 	25–14 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 21, 1981 	Clarkson 	6–6* 	Tie 	Walker Arena 	Potsdam, NY 	25–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 27, 1981 	Northern Michigan 	5–1 	Win 	Duluth Arena 	Duluth, MN 	26–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
March 28, 1981 	Minnesota 	6–3 	Win 	Duluth Arena 	Duluth, MN 	27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
 	 	218–155 	 	 	 	27–14–1 (17–11 / 5–5)
* Denotes overtime periods† WCHA game‡ Big Ten and WCHA game
==National Championship==
===(W1) Minnesota vs. (W4) Wisconsin===
Scoring summary	Scoring summary	Scoring summary 	Scoring summary 	Scoring summary	Scoring summary
Period 	Team 	Goal 	Assist(s) 	Time 	Score
1st 	WIS 	Dan Gorowsky 	Newberry and Vincent 	9:24 	1–0 WIS
1st 	WIS 	John Newberry – PP 	Vincent and Welsh 	14:49 	2–0 WIS
1st 	WIS 	Ed Lebler 	Ethier 	19:49 	3–0 WIS
2nd 	WIS 	Ted Pearson – GW 	Lebler and Newberry 	29:23 	4–0 WIS
2nd 	MIN 	Butsy Erickson 	Ulseth and Knoke 	32:37 	4–1 WIS
2nd 	WIS 	John Newberry – PP 	S. Lecy and Vincent 	34:27 	5–1 WIS
3rd 	MIN 	Mike Knoke – PP 	Jensen and A. Broten 	40:10 	5–2 WIS
3rd 	MIN 	Butsy Erickson – PP	Hartzell and A. Broten	56:09 	5–3 WIS
3rd 	WIS 	Ed Lebler – EN 	Driver 	58:40 	6–3 WIS
Penalty summary	Penalty summary	Penalty summary 	Penalty summary 	Penalty summary	Penalty summary
Period 	Team 	Player 	Penalty 	Time 	PIM
1st 	WIS 	John Newberry 	Roughing 	0:28 	2:00
1st 	MIN 	Dave Jensen 	Roughing 	0:28 	2:00
1st 	WIS 	Bruce Driver 	Hooking 	4:14 	2:00
1st 	WIS 	Pat Ethier 	Interference 	9:35 	2:00
1st 	WIS 	Brian Mullen 	Charging 	10:11 	2:00
1st 	MIN 	Neal Broten 	Cross–Checking 	10:11 	2:00
1st 	WIS 	Jay McFarlane 	Charging 	11:58 	2:00
1st 	MIN 	Paul Butters 	Interference 	14:15 	2:00
2nd 	WIS 	Theran Welsh 	Holding 	25:48 	2:00
2nd 	WIS 	Pete Johnson 	Hooking 	30:31 	2:00
2nd 	MIN 	Scott Bjugstad 	High Sticking 	32:51 	2:00
2nd 	MIN 	Mike Meadows 	Roughing 	35:28 	2:00
2nd 	MIN 	Bob Bergloff 	Roughing 	36:00 	2:00
2nd 	WIS 	Pat Ethier 	Elbowing 	38:15 	2:00
3rd 	WIS 	Ted Pearson 	Hooking 	45:21 	2:00
3rd 	WIS 	Todd Lecy 	Interference 	55:06 	2:00
Shots by period 	Shots by period	Shots by period	Shots by period	Shots by period
Team 	1 	2 	3 	T
Wisconsin 	11 	14 	17 	42
align=center Minnesota	8 	10 	15 	33
Goaltenders	Goaltenders 	Goaltenders	Goaltenders 	Goaltenders
Team 	Name 	Saves 	Goals against	Time on ice
WIS 	Marc Behrend	30 	3 	
MIN 	Paul Butters	33 	5 	
MIN 	Jim Jetland 	3 	0 	
==Roster and scoring statistics==
No. 	Name 	Year 	Position	Hometown 	S/P/C	Games	Goals	Assists	Pts	
16 	Scott Lecy 	Senior 	W 	Rochester, MN 	 	42 	26 	49 	75 	44
20 	Ron Vincent 	Junior 	RW 	Vancouver, BC 	 	36 	20 	45 	65 	28
10 	John Newberry 	Freshman 	C 	Victoria, BC 	 	39 	30 	32 	62 	77
5 	Theran Welsh 	Senior 	D 	Prince Albert, SK 	 	41 	10 	44 	54 	52
11 	Pete Johnson 	Junior 	C 	Madison, WI 	 	41 	30 	23 	53 	44
26 	Ed Lebler 	Junior 	LW 	Vanderhoof, BC 	 	42 	28 	24 	52 	20
19 	Brian Mullen 	Freshman 	C 	New York, NY 	 	38 	11 	13 	24 	28
7 	Todd Lecy 	Sophomore	LW 	Rochester, MN 	 	32 	4 	17 	21 	48
25 	Bruce Driver 	Freshman 	D 	Toronto, ON 	 	42 	5 	15 	20 	42
9 	Lexi Doner 	Sophomore	LW 	Lynnwood, WA 	 	30 	7 	11 	18 	16
12 	John Johannson 	Freshman 	W 	Rochester, MN 	 	38 	6 	12 	18 	28
4 	Pat Ethier 	Sophomore	D 	Saint Paul, MN 	 	37 	1 	17 	18 	92
15 	Dan Gorowsky 	Senior 	LW 	White Bear Lake, MN 	 	29 	12 	5 	17 	4
17 	Ken Kuryluk 	Junior 	LW 	Winnipeg, MB 	 	42 	8 	9 	17 	2
24 	Ted Pearson 	Freshman 	W 	Edina, MN 	 	36 	6 	9 	15 	59
2 	Jay McFarlane 	Junior 	D 	Edmonton, AB 	 	42 	3 	12 	15 	88
22 	Jon Morgan 	Senior 	RW 	Minnetonka, MN 	 	19 	2 	8 	10 	14
3 	Steve McKenzie 	Freshman 	D 	Leduc, AB 	 	37 	0 	10 	10 	22
6 	Jeff Andringa 	Sophomore	D 	Madison, WI 	 	37 	1 	7 	8 	10
13 	Tom Carroll 	Freshman 	W 	Edina, MN 	 	6 	3 	1 	4 	4
21 	Bruce Eakin 	Freshman 	C 	Winnipeg, MB 	 	4 	1 	3 	4 	2
29 	Tim Sager 	Freshman 	W 	Saint Paul, MN 	 	4 	1 	2 	3 	0
23 	Scott Sabo 	Freshman 	C 	Thief River Falls, MN	 	17 	2 	0 	2 	10
14 	Ed Repins 	Sophomore	D 	Shorewood, WI 	 	9 	1 	1 	2 	8
27 	Brad Benson 	Freshman 	D 	Edina, MN 	 	14 	0 	2 	2 	2
18 	John Dougherty 	Sophomore	RW 	Green Bay, WI 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0
8 	Randy Keller 	Junior 	D 	Victoria, BC 	 	8 	0 	0 	0 	8
30 	Jamey Gremore 	Senior 	G 	White Bear Lake, MN 	 	10 	0 	0 	0 	0
27 	Marc Behrend 	Freshman 	G 	Madison, WI 	 	16 	0 	0 	0 	0
1 	Terry Kleisinger	Freshman 	G 	Nanaimo, BC 	 	21 	0 	0 	0 	6
Total	 	 	 	 	 	860 	264 	441 	705	794
==Goaltending Statistics==
No. 	Name 	Games	Minutes	Wins	Losses	Ties	Goals Against	Saves	Shut Outs	 	
27 	Marc Behrend 	16 	913 	11 	4 	1 	50 	500 	0 	0.909	3.29
1 	Terry Kleisinger	21 	1011 	11 	5 	0 	61 	564 	2 	0.902	3.62
30 	Jamey Gremore 	10 	596 	5 	5 	0 	43 	294 	0 	0.872	4.34
Total	 	 	2520 	27 	14 	1 	154 	1358 	2 	.898 	3.67
==Players drafted into the NHL==
===1981 NHL Entry Draft===
	= NHL All-Star Team		= NHL All-StarPlayers are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.			= NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star Team		= Did not play in the NHL
Round	Pick	Player 	NHL Team
5 	85 	Marc Behrend 	Winnipeg Jets
6 	108 	Bruce Driver 	Colorado Rockies
10 	192 	John Johannson	Colorado Rockies
==See also==
*1981 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
*List of NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament champions
==References==
Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey seasons
Category:NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four seasons
Category:NCAA men's ice hockey championship seasons
Wisconsin 
Wisconsin 
Wisconsin