The Dee Stadium was one of two buildings to host a championship game in the tournament's inaugural season.
The Xcel Energy Center hosted the WCHA tournament final from 2001 to 2013.
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is the oldest active NCAA Division I ice hockey-only conference beginning in 1959–60, and based in Denver, Colorado. At the conclusion of each regular season, it holds the WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament to determine its conference champion(s), which it has done since the foundation of the conference.
The tournament has had many variations over the course of its history, starting with four teams and naming two regional champions. The modern format of the tournament, where only one champion was crowned, wasn't codified until 1981–82 after four teams left to join the CCHA and the NCAA began to offer automatic bids to the National tournament rather than inviting finals participants.
Denver has won the most WCHA championships with 15.[1] Murray Armstrong has won the most titles (10), all with Denver, and appeared in the second most title games. John MacInnes has appeared in the most title games (15) and won the second most, all with Michigan Tech. These numbers are, however, misleading as the WCHA had named two tournament champions for most of its first 22 years rather than offering a game(s) to decide a single champion, the era that both Armstrong and MacInnes coached in. Had this policy continued unabated Doug Woog would be tied with Armstrong for most titles as well as winning 5 consecutive (1990–1994) and appearing in 12 consecutive finals (1986–1997).
Champions[2]
Year |
Winning team |
Coach |
Losing team |
Coach |
Score |
Location |
Venue |
Reference |
1960 |
Michigan Tech†
Denver‡ |
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong |
North Dakota
Colorado College |
Barry Thorndycraft
Tony Frasca |
9–7*
12–3* |
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado |
Dee Stadium
DU Arena |
|
1961 |
Minnesota†
Denver‡ |
John Mariucci
Murray Armstrong |
Michigan
Michigan Tech |
Al Renfrew
John MacInnes |
6–4*
17–3* |
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Denver, Colorado |
Williams Arena
DU Arena |
|
1962 |
Michigan Tech |
John MacInnes |
Michigan |
Al Renfrew |
6–4 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Weinberg Coliseum |
|
1963 |
Denver |
Murray Armstrong |
North Dakota |
Barry Thorndycraft |
5–4 (OT) |
Denver, Colorado |
DU Arena |
|
1964 |
Denver |
Murray Armstrong |
Michigan |
Al Renfrew |
6–2 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Weinberg Coliseum |
|
1965 |
Michigan Tech |
John MacInnes |
North Dakota |
Bob Peters |
6–4 |
Grand Forks, North Dakota |
Winter Sports Building |
|
1966 |
Michigan State†
Denver‡ |
Amo Bessone
Murray Armstrong |
Michigan Tech
North Dakota |
John MacInnes
Bob Peters |
4–3
5–4 (OT) |
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado |
Dee Stadium
DU Arena |
|
1967 |
Michigan State†
North Dakota‡ |
Amo Bessone
Bill Selman |
Michigan Tech
Denver |
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong |
2–1 (OT)
3–2 |
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado |
Dee Stadium
DU Arena |
|
1968 |
North Dakota†
Denver‡ |
Bill Selman
Murray Armstrong |
Michigan Tech
Minnesota |
John MacInnes
Glen Sonmor |
3–2*
16–3* |
Houghton, Michigan
Denver, Colorado |
Dee Stadium
DU Arena |
|
1969 |
Michigan Tech†
Denver‡ |
John MacInnes
Murray Armstrong |
Michigan
Colorado College |
Al Renfrew
John Matchefts |
7–4
3–1 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Denver, Colorado |
Weinberg Coliseum
DU Arena |
|
1970 |
Michigan Tech†
Wisconsin‡ |
John MacInnes
Bob Johnson |
Minnesota
Denver |
Glen Sonmor
Murray Armstrong |
6–5
3–2 |
Duluth, Minnesota
Denver, Colorado |
Duluth Arena Auditorium
DU Arena |
|
1971 |
Minnesota†
Denver‡ |
Glen Sonmor
Murray Armstrong |
North Dakota
Minnesota-Duluth |
Rube Bjorkman
Terry Shercliffe |
5–2
9–3 |
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado |
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena |
|
1972 |
Wisconsin†
Denver‡ |
Bob Johnson
Murray Armstrong |
North Dakota
Michigan State |
Rube Bjorkman
Amo Bessone |
6–2*
11–4* |
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado |
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena |
|
1973 |
Wisconsin†
Denver‡ |
Bob Johnson
Murray Armstrong |
Notre Dame
Michigan Tech |
Lefty Smith
John MacInnes |
8–7*
7–3* |
Notre Dame, Indiana
Denver, Colorado |
Edmund P. Joyce Center
DU Arena |
|
1974 |
Michigan Tech†
Minnesota‡ |
John MacInnes
Herb Brooks |
Michigan State
Denver |
Amo Bessone
Murray Armstrong |
12–10*
5–4* |
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena |
|
1975 |
Michigan Tech†
Minnesota‡ |
John MacInnes
Herb Brooks |
Michigan State
Michigan |
Amo Bessone
Dan Farrell |
15–8*
8–5* |
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena |
|
1976 |
Minnesota†
Michigan Tech‡ |
Herb Brooks
John MacInnes |
Michigan State
Michigan |
Amo Bessone
Dan Farrell |
9–9*
10–7* |
East Lansing, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan |
Munn Ice Arena
Student Ice Arena |
|
1977 |
Wisconsin |
Bob Johnson |
Michigan |
Dan Farrell |
9–4* |
Madison, Wisconsin |
Dane County Coliseum |
|
1978 |
Wisconsin†
Colorado College‡ |
Bob Johnson
Jeff Sauer |
Michigan Tech
Denver |
John MacInnes
Marshall Johnston |
11–7*
9–7* |
Madison, Wisconsin
Denver, Colorado |
Dane County Coliseum
DU Arena |
|
1979 |
Minnesota†
North Dakota‡ |
Herb Brooks
John Gasparini |
Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin |
Gus Hendrickson
Bob Johnson |
8–4*
11–9* |
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Grand Forks, North Dakota |
Williams Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena |
|
1980 |
Minnesota†
North Dakota‡ |
Brad Buetow
John Gasparini |
Colorado College
Notre Dame |
Jeff Sauer
Lefty Smith |
13–4*
17–8* |
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Grand Forks, North Dakota |
Williams Arena
Ralph Engelstad Arena |
|
1981 |
Michigan Tech†
Minnesota‡ |
John MacInnes
Brad Buetow |
Colorado College
Michigan |
Jeff Sauer
John Giordano |
13–4*
17–8* |
Houghton, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Student Ice Arena
Williams Arena |
|
1982 |
Wisconsin |
Bob Johnson |
North Dakota |
John Gasparini |
12–1* |
Grand Forks, North Dakota |
Ralph Engelstad Arena |
|
1983 |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
Minnesota |
Brad Buetow |
8–3* |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Williams Arena |
|
1984 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Mike Sertich |
North Dakota |
John Gasparini |
12–6* |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Williams Arena |
|
1985 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Mike Sertich |
Minnesota |
Brad Buetow |
10–8* |
Duluth, Minnesota |
Duluth Arena Auditorium |
|
1986 |
Denver |
Ralph Backstrom |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
6–2* |
Denver, Colorado |
DU Arena |
|
1987 |
North Dakota |
John Gasparini |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
10–6* |
Grand Forks, North Dakota |
Ralph Engelstad Arena |
|
1988 |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
3–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1989 |
Northern Michigan |
Rick Comley |
Denver |
Ralph Backstrom |
9–4 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1990 |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
7–1 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1991 |
Northern Michigan |
Rick Comley |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
4–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1992 |
Northern Michigan |
Rick Comley |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
4–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1993 |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
Northern Michigan |
Rick Comley |
5–3 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1994 |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
St. Cloud State |
Craig Dahl |
3–2 (OT) |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Bradley Center |
|
1995 |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
Colorado College |
Don Lucia |
4–3 (OT) |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1996 |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
Michigan Tech |
Bob Mancini |
7–2 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Bradley Center |
|
1997 |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
Minnesota |
Doug Woog |
4–3 (OT) |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Civic Center |
|
1998 |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
3–2 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Bradley Center |
|
1999 |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
4–3 |
Minneapolis |
Target Center |
|
2000 |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
Wisconsin |
Jeff Sauer |
5–3 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Target Center |
|
2001 |
St. Cloud State |
Craig Dahl |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
6–5 (OT) |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2002 |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
Minnesota |
Don Lucia |
5–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2003 |
Minnesota |
Don Lucia |
Colorado College |
Scott Owens |
4–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2004 |
Minnesota |
Don Lucia |
North Dakota |
Dean Blais |
5–4 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2005 |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
Colorado College |
Scott Owens |
1–0 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2006 |
North Dakota |
Dave Hakstol |
St. Cloud State |
Bob Motzko |
5–3 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2007 |
Minnesota |
Don Lucia |
North Dakota |
Dave Hakstol |
3–2 (OT) |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2008 |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
Minnesota |
Don Lucia |
2–1 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2009 |
Minnesota-Duluth |
Scott Sandelin |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
4–0 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2010 |
North Dakota |
Dave Hakstol |
St. Cloud State |
Bob Motzko |
5–3 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2011 |
North Dakota |
Dave Hakstol |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
3–2 (2OT) |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2012 |
North Dakota |
Dave Hakstol |
Denver |
George Gwozdecky |
4–0 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2013 |
Wisconsin |
Mike Eaves |
Colorado College |
Scott Owens |
3–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
|
2014 |
Minnesota State |
Mike Hastings |
Ferris State |
Bob Daniels |
4–1 |
Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Van Andel Arena |
|
2015 |
Minnesota State |
Mike Hastings |
Michigan Tech |
Mel Pearson |
5–2 |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
Xcel Energy Center |
[3] |
† East regional champion
‡ West regional champion
* Champion decided by a total goal sum in multiple games
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links