The 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1997 and concluded with the 1998 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament's championship game on April 4, 1998, at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the 51st season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 104th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.
Season Outlook Pre-season polls
The top teams in the nation as ranked before the start of the season.
The WMPL Baker's Dozen poll was voted on by coaches. The WMEB poll was voted on by media. The U.S. College Hockey Online poll was voted on by coaches, media, and NHL scouts. The USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll was voted on by coaches and media.
This was the 16th and last season for the WMEB poll, which started as the College Hockey Statistics Bureau/WDOM poll. WMPL PollRankTeam1 North Dakota (5)2 Boston University (2)3 Colorado College (1)4 Michigan State5 Maine6 Miami (1)7 New Hampshire (1)8 Michigan9 Minnesota10 Wisconsin11 (tie) Cornell11 (tie) Colgate13 Boston College WMEB PollRankTeam1 North Dakota (8)2 Michigan State (1)3 Boston University (1)4 Colorado College5 (tie) Maine5 (tie) New Hampshire7 Michigan8 Minnesota9 Miami10 Colgate USCHO PollRankTeam1 North Dakota (30)2 Boston University3 Michigan State4 Minnesota5 Colorado College6 New Hampshire7 Maine8 Miami9 Michigan10 Rensselaer USA Today PollRankTeam1 North Dakota2 Michigan State3 Boston University4 Colorado College5 Maine6 New Hampshire7 Miami8 Michigan9 Minnesota10 Colgate
Regular season
Season tournaments Tournament Dates Teams Champion JCPenney Classic October 24–25 4 Colorado College Governor's Cup November 28–29 4 New Hampshire PAL Tournament November 28–29 4 Army College Hockey Showcase November 28–30 4 Badger Showdown December 27–28 4 Wisconsin Mariucci Classic December 27–28 4 Northeastern Denver Cup December 27–28 4 Miami Great Lakes Invitational December 27–28 4 Michigan State Pepsi Cola Tournament December 27–28 4 North Dakota Syracuse Invitational December 27–28 4 Minnesota–Duluth Rensselaer Holiday Tournament December 29–30 4 Lake Superior State Sheraton/USAir Hockey Classic December 29–30 4 Dartmouth Saskatoon Chill Out January 2–3 4 Northeastern Beanpot February 2, 9 4 Boston University
Standings
Final regular season polls The WMEB poll was released before the conference tournaments. The USA Today and USCHO polls were released before the conference tournament finals. WMEB Media PollRankingTeam1 North Dakota (5)2 Michigan State (1)3 Boston University4 New Hampshire5 Michigan6 Yale7 Boston College8 Clarkson9 Ohio State10 St. Cloud State USA Today / American Hockey Magazine PollRankingTeam1 Michigan State (10)2 North Dakota3 Boston College4 Boston University5 Michigan6 Wisconsin7 Ohio State8 Clarkson9 Colorado College10 New Hampshire USCHO PollRankingTeam1 North Dakota (20)2 Michigan State (10)3 Boston College4 Boston University5 Michigan6 Clarkson7 Yale8 Ohio State9 Colorado College10 Wisconsin
1998 NCAA tournament
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
Player stats
Scoring leaders The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Class Team GP G A Pts PIM Junior Boston College 42 33 40 73 56 Senior Michigan 46 32 35 67 94 Junior New Hampshire 38 33 33 66 44 Freshman Boston College 40 30 32 62 44 Senior Michigan State 40 27 34 61 38 Junior New Hampshire 35 32 28 60 46 Senior New Hampshire 37 18 41 59 73 Sophomore Ohio State 42 23 35 58 70 Senior Boston University 38 28 29 57 88 Junior Merrimack 38 11 46 57 44
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player Class Team GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA Senior Michigan State 40 2438 31 4 5 64 6 .926 1.57 Senior Boston University 16 930 11 4 1 33 3 .907 2.13 Senior Michigan 45 2640 33 10 1 95 4 .907 2.16 Junior Boston University 24 1370 17 4 1 50 1 .912 2.19 Freshman North Dakota 27 1504 23 3 1 57 1 .913 2.27 Senior Clarkson 23 1266 10 9 2 48 2 .907 2.27 Junior Yale 32 1918 20 9 3 74 3 .919 2.32 Freshman Ohio State 32 1858 22 8 0 73 0 .922 2.36 Senior Clarkson 16 864 13 0 1 35 0 .899 2.43 Junior New Hampshire 38 2282 25 12 1 96 4 .908 2.52
Awards
NCAA Award RecipientHobey Baker Memorial Award Chris Drury, Boston UniversitySpencer T. Penrose Award Tim Taylor, YaleMost Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament Marty Turco, MichiganAHCA All-American Teams East First Team Position West First TeamMarc Robitaille, Northeastern GChad Alban, Michigan StateRay Giroux, Yale DDan Boyle, MiamiTom Poti, Boston University DCurtis Murphy, North DakotaChris Drury, Boston University FHugo Boisvert, Ohio StateMark Mowers, New Hampshire FBill Muckalt, MichiganMarty Reasoner, Boston College FMike York, Michigan State East Second Team Position West Second Team Alex Westlund, Yale GKarl Goehring, North DakotaChris Kelleher, Boston University DCalvin Elfring, Colorado CollegeMike Mottau, Boston College DTyler Harlton, Michigan StateSteve Shirreffs, Princeton DBrian Gionta, Boston College FSean Berens, Michigan StateJeff Hamilton, Yale FJason Blake, North DakotaEric Healey, Rensselaer FBrian Swanson, Colorado College
CCHA Awards RecipientPlayer of the Year Chad Alban, Michigan StateBest Defensive Forward Terry Marchant, Lake Superior StateBest Defensive Defenseman Tyler Harlton, Michigan StateBest Offensive Defenseman Dan Boyle, MiamiRookie of the Year Mark Eaton, Notre DameCoach of the Year John Markell, Ohio StateTerry Flanagan Memorial Award Bryan Adams, Michigan StateMost Valuable Player in Tournament Mike York, Michigan StateAll-CCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamChad Alban, Michigan State G Marty Turco, MichiganTyler Harlton, Michigan State D Bubba Berenzweig, Michigan Dan Boyle, Miami D Brett Colborne, Ferris StateHugo Boisvert, Ohio State F Mike York, Michigan State Bill Muckalt, Michigan F Terry Marchant, Lake Superior State Sean Berens, Michigan State F Bobby Hayes, Michigan Rookie Team Position Jeff Maund, Ohio State G Mark Eaton, Notre Dame D Mike Van Ryn, Michigan D Rustyn Dolyny, Michigan State F Mark Kosick, Michigan F Kevin Swider, Ferris State F
ECAC Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Ray Giroux, YaleRookie of the Year Erik Cole, Clarkson Willie Mitchell, ClarksonCoach of the Year Tim Taylor, YaleBest Defensive Defenseman Ray Giroux, YaleBest Defensive Forward Buddy Wallace, ClarksonKen Dryden Award Alex Westlund, YaleMost Outstanding Player in Tournament Jeff Halpern, PrincetonAll-ECAC Hockey Teams First Team Position Second Team Alex Westlund, Yale G Jason Elliott, CornellRay Giroux, Yale D Willie Mitchell, ClarksonSteve Shirreffs, Princeton D Jimmy Andersson, BrownEric Healey, Rensselaer F Paul DiFrancesco, St. Lawrence Damian Prescott, Brown FJeff Halpern, PrincetonJeff Hamilton, Yale F Chris Clark, Clarkson Rookie Team Position Andrew Allen, Vermont G Cory Murphy, Colgate D Andreas Moborg, Vermont D Willie Mitchell, Clarkson DDenis Ladouceur, Cornell F Steve Moore, Harvard F Erik Cole, Clarkson F Chris Bala, Harvard F
Hockey East Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Chris Drury, Boston UniversityRookie of the Year Brian Gionta, Boston CollegeBob Kullen Coach of the Year Award Bruce Crowder, NortheasternLen Ceglarski Sportsmanship Award Steve Kariya, MaineBest Defensive Forward Chris Drury, Boston UniversityWilliam Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player Marty Reasoner, Boston CollegeAll-Hockey East Teams First Team Position Second TeamMarc Robitaille, Northeastern G Michel Larocque, Boston UniversityMike Mottau, Boston College D Chris Kelleher, Boston University Tom Poti, Boston University D Mike Nicholishen, Massachusetts-Lowell Chris Drury, Boston University F Derek Bekar, New HampshireJason Krog, New Hampshire F Brian Gionta, Boston College Marty Reasoner, Boston College F Mark Mowers, New Hampshire Rookie Team Position Boyd Ballard, Providence G Scott Clemmensen, Boston College G Bobby Allen, Boston College D Rob Scuderi, Boston College D Carl Corazzini, Boston University F Brian Cummings, Northeastern F Brian Gionta, Boston College F Matthias Trattnig, Maine F
WCHA Award RecipientPlayer of the Year Curtis Murphy North DakotaDefensive Player of the Year Matt Henderson, North Dakota Andy Sutton, Michigan TechRookie of the Year Karl Goehring, North DakotaStudent-Athlete of the Year Mitch Vig, North DakotaCoach of the Year Craig Dahl, St. Cloud StateMost Valuable Player in Tournament Joe Bianchi, WisconsinAll-WCHA Teams First Team Position Second TeamKarl Goehring, North Dakota G Brian Leitza, St. Cloud State Craig Anderson, Wisconsin D Calvin Elfring, Colorado College Curtis Murphy, North Dakota D Andy Sutton, Michigan TechBrian Swanson, Colorado College F Steven Reinprecht, WisconsinJason Blake, North Dakota F Reggie Berg, Minnesota Andre Savage, Michigan Tech F David Hoogsteen, North Dakota Third Team Position Rookie Team Doug Taskey, Alaska-Anchorage G Karl Goehring, North Dakota Josh DeWolf, St. Cloud State D Trevor Hammer, North Dakota Scott Swanson, Colorado College D Ryan Coole, Minnesota-Duluth D Paul Manning, Colorado College Mike Peluso, Minnesota-Duluth F Kevin Granato, Wisconsin Wyatt Smith, Minnesota F Mark Rycroft, Denver Paul Comrie, Denver F Jeff Panzer, North Dakota
1998 NHL entry draft
Round Pick Player College Conference NHL team 1 26 Michigan CCHA 2 52 Boston College Hockey East 2 53 Harvard ECAC Hockey 2 58 Harvard ECAC Hockey 3 61 Boston University Hockey East 3 62 Colorado College WCHA 3 68 ‡ Michigan Tech WCHA 3 71 Clarkson ECAC Hockey 3 73 † Minnesota WCHA 3 77 † Boston University Hockey East 3 81 Colorado College WCHA 3 82 Boston College Hockey East 3 85 Michigan CCHA 4 88 † Minnesota–Duluth WCHA 4 94 Maine Hockey East 4 99 Michigan State CCHA 4 107 Princeton ECAC Hockey 5 115 Providence Hockey East 5 116 † Michigan CCHA 5 122 Miami CCHA 5 125 † Minnesota WCHA 5 134 Boston College Hockey East 6 149 † Michigan Tech WCHA 6 155 Western Michigan CCHA 6 156 Clarkson ECAC Hockey 7 178 Minnesota–Duluth WCHA 7 183 † St. Cloud State WCHA 7 184 Clarkson ECAC Hockey 7 186 † Maine Hockey East 7 187 Minnesota WCHA 7 199 † Wisconsin WCHA 7 200 † Boston University Hockey East 8 201 † Michigan CCHA 8 204 Northeastern Hockey East 8 212 † Northeastern Hockey East 8 217 † Rensselaer ECAC Hockey 8 219 † Bowling Green CCHA 8 220 Providence Hockey East 8 221 Michigan CCHA 9 237 St. Lawrence ECAC Hockey 9 244 Colorado College WCHA 9 248 † Maine Hockey East 9 254 † Wisconsin WCHA 9 255 † Minnesota WCHA † incoming freshman‡ Ruutu had left school two years prior.
See also 1997–98 NCAA Division II men's ice hockey season 1997–98 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
References
External links College Hockey Historical Archives 1997–98 NCAA Standings