1971–72 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season

The 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's ice hockey season began in November 1971 and concluded with the 1972 NCAA University Division Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on March 18, 1972 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the 25th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 78th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.
This was the first year of play for the CCHA with former independents Ohio State and Saint Louis being joined by new programs from Bowling Green and Ohio.
Notre Dame joined the WCHA.
For the final time the ICAC awarded a trophy to the league champion.
==Regular season==
===Season tournaments===
Tournament 	Dates 	Teams	Champion
Christmas City of the North Tournament	November 25–27	4 	Lake Superior State
North Country Thanksgiving Festival 	November 25–27	4 	St. Lawrence
Cleveland Cup Invitational 	December 20–21	4 	Bowling Green
ECAC Holiday Hockey Festival 	December 20–21	4 	Notre Dame
ECAC Christmas Hockey Tournament 	December 21–22	4 	Boston University
Flint IMA Tournament 	December 28–29	4 	Michigan
Great Lakes Invitational 	December 28–29	4 	Michigan Tech
Rensselaer Holiday Tournament 	December 28–30	4 	Clarkson
Syracuse Invitational 	December 29–30	4 	Cornell
Bowdoin Invitational 	January 1–2 	4 	
Beanpot 	February 7, 14	4 	Boston University
===Standings===
1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings 	1971–72 Big Ten standings
 	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
Wisconsin† 	10 	6 	4 	0 	12 	48 	29 	 	38 	27 	10 	1 	170 	106
Michigan 	10 	5 	5 	0 	10 	34 	44 	 	34 	16 	18 	0 	132 	186
Michigan State 	10 	5 	5 	0 	10 	39 	44 	 	36 	20 	16 	0 	154 	129
Minnesota 	10 	4 	6 	0 	8 	31 	42 	 	32 	8 	24 	0 	97 	157
† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion	† indicates conference regular season champion
1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings
 	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
Ohio State†* 	12 	8 	4 	0 	16 	44 	35 	 	29 	24 	5 	0 	154 	71
Saint Louis 	12 	7 	3 	2 	16 	64 	49 	 	33 	15 	15 	3 	194 	156
Bowling Green 	12 	6 	4 	2 	14 	60 	48 	 	33 	21 	10 	2 	172 	123
Ohio 	12 	1 	11 	0 	2 	34 	70 	 	24 	7 	17 	0 	97 	132
Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Ohio State† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion
1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings 	1971–72 ECAC Hockey standings
 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	Conference 	 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall 	Overall
 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	Pct. 	GF 	GA 	 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	GF 	GA
Cornell† 	20 	17 	3 	0 	.850 	117 	58 	 	29 	23 	6 	0 	175 	82
Harvard 	21 	16 	4 	1 	.786 	118 	62 	 	26 	17 	8 	1 	127 	76
Boston University* 	20 	15 	4 	1 	.775 	88 	53 	 	31 	26 	4 	1 	155 	69
Pennsylvania 	21 	14 	7 	0 	.667 	107 	75 	 	25 	16 	9 	0 	122 	90
New Hampshire 	18 	12 	6 	0 	.667 	82 	61 	 	30 	20 	10 	0 	140 	109
Clarkson 	20 	12 	8 	0 	.600 	96 	74 	 	30 	20 	10 	0 	158 	102
Rensselaer 	17 	9 	7 	1 	.559 	64 	62 	 	27 	17 	9 	1 	123 	84
Providence 	17 	9 	8 	0 	.529 	73 	75 	 	24 	14 	9 	1 	106 	102
Dartmouth 	18 	9 	8 	1 	.528 	81 	78 	 	24 	13 	10 	1 	120 	103
Boston College 	21 	10 	11 	0 	.476 	93 	106 	 	30 	14 	16 	0 	130 	155
Brown 	21 	9 	11 	1 	.452 	70 	75 	 	23 	10 	12 	1 	78 	84
St. Lawrence 	18 	5 	12 	1 	.306 	63 	78 	 	26 	10 	14 	2 	100 	108
Yale 	17 	5 	12 	0 	.294 	70 	105 	 	24 	10 	14 	0 	108 	128
Colgate 	19 	5 	14 	0 	.263 	52 	94 	 	26 	8 	18 	0 	83 	122
Princeton 	19 	5 	14 	0 	.263 	52 	108 	 	23 	5 	18 	0 	62 	127
Northeastern 	20 	3 	17 	0 	.150 	68 	118 	 	26 	6 	20 	0 	102 	145
Army 	10 	1 	9 	0 	.100 	29 	44 	 	25 	11 	14 	0 	99 	88
Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Boston University† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion
1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings	1971–72 Independent College Athletic Conference standings
 	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
Rensselaer† 	4 	2 	1 	1 	5 	16 	15 	 	27 	17 	9 	1 	123 	84
Clarkson 	4 	2 	2 	0 	4 	17 	15 	 	30 	20 	10 	0 	158 	102
St. Lawrence 	4 	1 	2 	1 	3 	13 	16 	 	26 	10 	14 	2 	100 	108
† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion 	† indicates conference regular season champion
1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings	1971–72 NCAA University Division Independent ice hockey standings
 	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
Air Force 	0 	0 	0 	0 	- 	- 	- 	 	31 	25 	6 	0 	226 	119
Alaska–Fairbanks 	0 	0 	0 	0 	- 	- 	- 	 	11 	6 	5 	0 	- 	-
1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings 	1971–72 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
 	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
Denver†* 	28 	19 	9 	0 	54 	148 	104 	 	38 	27 	11 	0 	205 	137
Wisconsin* 	28 	20 	8 	0 	48 	134 	87 	 	38 	27 	10 	1 	170 	106
North Dakota 	28 	18 	10 	0 	44 	130 	109 	 	36 	21 	14 	1 	161 	138
Michigan State 	28 	15 	13 	0 	42 	119 	103 	 	36 	20 	16 	0 	154 	129
Minnesota-Duluth 	28 	15 	13 	0 	40 	129 	123 	 	35 	16 	18 	1 	148 	150
Michigan 	28 	12 	16 	0 	32 	108 	163 	 	34 	16 	18 	0 	132 	186
Michigan Tech 	26 	11 	15 	0 	30 	120 	124 	 	34 	16 	17 	1 	152 	148
Notre Dame 	26 	10 	16 	0 	28 	120 	121 	 	34 	14 	20 	0 	164 	160
Colorado College 	28 	11 	17 	0 	28 	140 	165 	 	32 	13 	19 	0 	170 	184
Minnesota 	28 	7 	21 	0 	14 	83 	132 	 	32 	8 	24 	0 	97 	157
Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion	Championship: Wisconsin, Denver† indicates conference regular season champion* indicates conference tournament champion
===Independent game results===
*11/19: Air Force - Lake Forest 8:4
*11/20: Air Force - Lake Forest 8:2
*11/26: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 4:3
*11/27: Air Force - Wisconsin-Superior 10:5
*12/3: Air Force - St. Thomas 9:2
*12/4: Air Force - St. Thomas 4:2
*12/10: Air Force - Colorado 10:2
*12/11: Air Force - Colorado 7:2
*1/1: Dalhousie - Air Force 6:5 OT
*1/2: Air Force - Princeton 6:1
*1/7: Air Force - Royal Military College 5:2
*1/8: Air Force - Royal Military College 6:5
*1/14: St. Louis - Air Force 6:4
*1/15: Air Force - St. Louis 7:5
*1/19: Colorado College - Air Force 12:4
*1/21: Air Force - Stanford 16:3
*1/26: Denver - Air Force 6:3
*1/28: St. Lawrence - Air Force 5:3
*1/29: Air Force - St. Lawrence 7:4
*2/4: Air Force - Gustavus Adolphus 6:4
*2/5: Air Force - Gustavus Adolphus 4:1
*2/11: Air Force - Colorado 11:1
*2/12: Air Force - Colorado 14:5
*2/16: Colorado College - Air Force 11:3
*2/18: Air Force - Stanford 14:3
*2/19: Air Force - Stanford 14:4
*2/25: Air Force - Concordia 5:3
*2/26: Air Force - Concordia 9:3
*3/5: Air Force - Colorado College 10:5
*3/11: Air Force - Iowa State 3:2
*3/12: Air Force - Iowa State 7:0 
For Alaska-Fairbanks, see Alaska Amateur Hockey (1946-1975).
==CCHA Tournament==
===Semifinals===
====(1) Ohio State vs. (4) Ohio====
====(2) Saint Louis vs. (3) Bowling Green====
===Third place===
====(3) Bowling Green vs. (4) Ohio====
===Championship===
====(1) Ohio State vs. (2) Saint Louis====
==ECAC Tournament==
The tournament featured three rounds of play, all of which were single-elimination. The top eight teams, based on winning percentage, qualified to participate in the tournament. In the quarterfinals the first seed and eighth seed, the second seed and seventh seed, the third seed and sixth seed and the fourth seed and fifth seed played against one another. In the semifinals, the highest seed plays the lowest remaining seed while the two remaining teams play with the winners advancing to the championship game and the losers advancing to the third place game. 
Teams are reseeded after the first round
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
==WCHA Tournament==
The top eight teams in the WCHA, according to their final conference standings, were eligible for the tournament and were seeded No. 1 through No. 8. In the first round the first and eighth seeds, the second and seventh seeds, the third and sixth seeds and the fourth and fifth seeds were matched in two-game series where the school that scored the higher number of goals was declared the winner. After the first round the remaining teams were reseeded No. 1 through No. 4 according to their final conference standings and advanced to the second round. In the second round the first and fourth seeds and the second and third seeds competed in an additional two-game, total goal series with the winners of each being declared as co-conference champions. 
;First round (3/7-8)
*Denver - Notre Dame 7:2, 4:2
*Wisconsin - Michigan Tech 3:5, 6:1
*North Dakota - Michigan 5:1, 10:2
*Michigan State - Minnesota-Duluth 4:2, 4:2
;Second round (3/10-11)
*Denver - Michigan State 2:1, 9:3
*Wisconsin - North Dakota 1:1, 5:1
==NCAA Tournament==
===Qualifying teams===
Four teams qualified for the tournament, two each from the eastern and western regions. The ECAC tournament champion and the two WCHA tournament co-champions received automatic bids into the tournament. An at-large bid was offered to a second eastern team based upon both their ECAC tournament finish as well as their regular season record. 
East	East 	East 	East 	East 	East 	East 	West	West 	West 	West 	West 	West 	West
Seed	School 	Conference 	Record	Berth type 	Appearance	Last bid	Seed	School 	Conference	Record	Berth type 	Appearance	Last bid
1 	Boston University	ECAC Hockey	24–4–1	Tournament champion	8th 	1971 	1 	Denver 	WCHA 	27–9–0	Tournament co-champion	10th 	1971
2 	Cornell 	ECAC Hockey	22–5–0	At-Large 	5th 	1970 	2 	Wisconsin	WCHA 	26–9–1	Tournament co-champion	2nd 	1970
===Results===
;Semifinals
*3/16: Boston University - Wisconsin 4:1
*3/17: Cornell - Denver 7:2
;Consolation Game
*3/18: Wisconsin - Denver 5:2
;Championship Game
*3/18: Boston University - Cornell 4:0 
==References==
Category:1972 in ice hockey