List of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey seasons explained

This is a list of seasons completed by the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team. The list documents the season-by-season records of the Golden Gophers from 1921 to present, including postseason records, and league awards for individual players or head coaches.

Minnesota has won five NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championships (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003) and has been the runner-up eight times (1953, 1954, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1989, 2014, 2023). The team also shared the 1929 National Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship with Yale and won the 1940 AAU-sponsored national championship for amateur hockey. In their 100+ year history, the Gophers have won more games than any other program. The Gophers have made an NCAA-leading 40 NCAA postseason appearances since tournament play began in 1948. Their 23 Frozen Four appearances are bettered by two teams: the University of Michigan and Boston College. Minnesota is also one of only five teams to win consecutive national titles (the others being Boston University, University of Denver, University of Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth). The Golden Gophers have been named the WCHA's regular season champion fourteen times, its tournament champion fourteen times, the Big Ten Hockey Conference's regular season champion eight times, and its conference tournament champion twice.

Season-by-season results[1]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

AAU/NCAA D-I Champions NCAA Frozen FourConference regular season championsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular seasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTWOTL3/SWPts*FinishGPWLT%
1921–22Independent10631
1922–23Independent121011
1923–24Independent141310
1924–25Independent10811
1925–26Independent161204
1926–27Independent15960
1927–28Independent13922
1928–29Independent171421
1929–30Independent18792
1930–31Independent197111
1931–32Independent161231
1932–33Independent111010
1933–34Independent141130
1934–35Independent17962
1935–36Independent161060
1936–37Independent161141
1937–38Independent17791
1938–39Independent231760Won in AAU Quarterfinals, 10–1 (Philadelphia)
Won in AAU Semifinals, 3–2 (St. Nicholas)
Lost in AAU Championship, 3–4 (Cleveland)
1939–40Independent181800Won in AAU Semifinals, 9–4 (Amesbury)
Won AAU Championship, 9–1 (Brock Hall)
1940–41Independent161132
1941–42Independent12750
1942–43Independent161051
1943–44Independent11650
1944–45Independent10721
1945–46Independent14941
1946–47Independent201253
1947–48Independent219120
1948–49Independent2312110
1949–50Independent165110
1950–51Independent2614120
1951–52MCHL12570105th2613130
1952–53MCHL20164019T–1st292360Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Rensselaer)
Lost Championship, 3–7 (Michigan)
1953–54WIHL20163120½1st302361Won Semifinal, 14–1 (Boston College)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (OT) (Rensselaer)
1954–55WIHL2410122113rd3016122
1955–56WIHL2211101124th2916121
1956–57WIHL24715086th2912152
1957–58WIHL2413110134th2716110
1958–59Big Ten843192nd2412102
1959–60Big Ten8530101st279162
WCHA2481516th
1960–61Big Ten8530102nd2917111Won WCHA Final series, 6–4 (Michigan)Lost Semifinal, 1–6 (Denver)
Won Third-place game, 4–3 (Rensselaer)
WCHA2014602nd
1961–62Big Ten40313rd219102
WCHA1651016th
1962–63Big Ten8512121st291694Lost WCHA Semifinal series, 2–9 (Denver)
WCHA2010734th
1963–64Big Ten8530102nd2514110
WCHA1610603rd
University Division
1964–65Big Ten8530101st2814122Lost WCHA first round series, 7–11 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA1810803rd
1965–66Big Ten8530101st2716110Lost WCHA first round, 3–4 (North Dakota)
WCHA221390T–2nd
1966–67Big Ten825153rd299191Lost WCHA first round, 2–7 (North Dakota)
WCHA2351718th
1967–68Big Ten835062nd3119120Won WCHA first round, 5–3 (Michigan)
Lost WCHA Final series, 3–16 (Denver)
WCHA2213905th
1968–69Big Ten104513rd2913133Lost WCHA regional semifinal, 4–8 (Michigan)
WCHA2211924th
1969–70Big Ten12840161st3321120Won WCHA regional semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Minnesota–Duluth)
Lost WCHA Regional final, 5–6 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA2618801st
1970–71Big Ten105503rd3214171Won WCHA regional semifinal, 4–3 (Wisconsin)
Won WCHA Regional final, 5–2 (North Dakota)
Won Semifinal, 6–5 (OT) (Harvard)
Lost Championship, 2–4 (Boston University)
WCHA2291215th
1971–72Big Ten1046084th32†8†240†
WCHA2872101410th
1972–73Big Ten12541133rd3415163Lost WCHA first round series, 10–14 (Wisconsin)
WCHA2812133356th
Division I
1973–74Big Ten1254313T–1st3922116Won WCHA first round series, 10–5 (Michigan)
Won WCHA second round series, 5–4 (Denver)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (Boston University)
Won Championship, 4–2 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA281495332nd
1974–75Big Ten12840161st4231101Won WCHA first round series, 10–2 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Won WCHA second round series, 8–5 (Michigan)
Won Semifinal, 6–4 (Harvard)
Lost Championship, 1–6 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA322480481st
1975–76Big Ten1248083rd4428142Won WCHA first round series, 12–5 (Colorado College)
Won WCHA second round series, 9–8 (Michigan State)
Won Semifinal, 4–2 (Boston University)
Won Championship, 6–4 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA3218131373rd
1976–77Big Ten12570103rd4117213Won WCHA first round series, 10–7 (Notre Dame)
Lost WCHA Semifinal series, 8–17 (Wisconsin)
WCHA3213163297th
1977–78Big Ten12660123rd3822142Lost WCHA first round series, 7–8 (Colorado College)
WCHA3218131374th
1978–79Big Ten121020201st4432111Won WCHA first round series, 11–4 (Michigan Tech)
Won WCHA second round series, 8–4 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Won First round, 6–3 (Bowling Green)
Won Semifinal, 4–3 (New Hampshire)
Won Championship, 4–3 (North Dakota)
WCHA3220111412nd
1979–80Big Ten12840161st4126150Won WCHA first round series, 13–5 (Michigan Tech)
Won WCHA second round series, 13–4 (Colorado College)
Lost First round, 3–4 (Northern Michigan)
WCHA32181402nd
1980–81Big Ten109101st4533120Won WCHA first round series, 10–8 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Won WCHA second round series, 14–10 (Colorado College)
Won Quarterfinal series, 14–8 (Colgate)
Won Semifinal, 7–2 (Michigan Tech)
Lost Championship, 3–6 (Wisconsin)
WCHA282080401st
1981–82WCHA2613112283rd3622122Won First round series, 9–4 (Colorado College)
Lost Semifinal series, 5–9 (North Dakota)
1982–83WCHA261871371st4532121Won Semifinal series, 11–6 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Lost Championship series, 3–8 (Wisconsin)
Won Quarterfinal series, 16–8 (New Hampshire)
Lost Semifinal, 3–5 (Harvard)
Lost Third-place game, 3–4 (Providence)
1983–84WCHA2616913rd4027112Won First round series, 7–2 (Colorado College)
Lost Semifinal series, 7–9 (North Dakota)
1984–85WCHA3421103452nd4731133Won First round series, 9–8 (Northern Michigan)
Won Semifinal series, 14–7 (Wisconsin)
Lost Championship series, 8–10 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 8–9 (Boston College)
1985–86WCHA3424100482nd4835130Won First round series, 14–7 (Colorado College)
Won Semifinal series, 11–4 (Wisconsin)
Lost Championship series, 2–6 (Denver)
Won Quarterfinal series, 11–7 (Boston University)
Lost Semifinal, 4–6 (Michigan State)
Won Third-place game, 6–4 (Denver)
1986–87WCHA352591512nd4934141Won First round series, 17–9 (Michigan Tech)
Won Semifinal series, 9–6 (Wisconsin)
Lost Championship series, 6–10 (North Dakota)
Won Quarterfinal series, 6–4 (Boston College)
Lost Semifinal, 3–5 (Michigan State)
Won Third-place game, 6–3 (Harvard)
1987–88WCHA352870561st4434100Won First round series, 2–0 (Colorado College)
Won Semifinal, 6–1 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Lost Championship, 2–3 (Wisconsin)
Won Quarterfinal series, 8–5 (Michigan State)
Lost Semifinal, 2–3 (St. Lawrence)
Lost Third-place game, 2–5 (Maine)
1988–89WCHA352762361st4834113Won First round series, 2–0 (Colorado College)
Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (Denver)
Lost Third-place game, 3–4 (Wisconsin)
Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Wisconsin)
Won Semifinal, 7–4 (Maine)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (Harvard)
1989–90WCHA281792362nd4628162Won First round series, 2–0 (Colorado College)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (North Dakota)
Lost Championship, 1–7 (Wisconsin)
Won First round series, 2–0 (Clarkson)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (Boston College)
1990–91WCHA322255492nd4530105Won First round series, 2–0 (Michigan Tech)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Wisconsin)
Lost Championship, 2–4 (Northern Michigan)
Won First round series, 2–1 (Providence)
Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Maine)
1991–92WCHA322660521st4433110Won First round series, 2–0 (North Dakota)
Won Semifinal, 5–1 (Colorado College)
Lost Championship, 2–4 (Northern Michigan)
Lost Regional semifinal, 3–8 (Lake Superior State)
1992–93WCHA32169739T–2nd4222128Won First round series, 2–0 (North Dakota)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Wisconsin)
Won Championship, 5–3 (Northern Michigan)
Won Regional Quarterfinal, 2–1 (Clarkson)
Lost Regional semifinal, 2–6 (Maine)
1993–94WCHA3218104402nd4225134Won First round series, 2–0 (Denver)
Won Semifinal, 6–1 (Michigan Tech)
Won Championship, 3–2 (OT) (St. Cloud State)
Won Regional semifinal, 2–1 (2OT) (Massachusetts–Lowell)
Lost National semifinal, 1–4 (Boston University)
1994–95WCHA3216115374th4425145Won First round series, 2–0 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Won Quarterfinal, 3–2 (North Dakota)
Lost Semifinal, 4–5 (OT) (Colorado College)
Won Third-place game, 5–4 (OT) (Denver)
Won Regional Quarterfinal, 1–0 (Rensselaer)
Won Regional semifinal, 5–2 (Colorado College)
Lost National semifinal, 3–7 (Boston University)
1995–96WCHA322192442nd42‡30‡10‡2‡Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Won Semifinal, 4–3 (OT) (Wisconsin)
Won Championship, 7–2 (Michigan Tech)
Won Regional Quarterfinal, 5–1 (Providence)
Lost Regional semifinal, 3–4 (Michigan)
1996–97WCHA322110143T–1st42‡28‡13‡1‡Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Won Semifinal, 5–4 (OT) (St. Cloud State)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (OT) (North Dakota)
Won Regional Quarterfinal, 6–3 (Michigan State)
Lost Regional semifinal, 4–7 (Michigan)
1997–98WCHA2812160246th3917220Lost First round series, 1–2 (Minnesota–Duluth)
1998–99WCHA2810126265th4315199Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Won Quarterfinal, 5–3 (St. Cloud State)
Lost Semifinal, 2–6 (North Dakota)
Lost Third-place game, 4–7 (Colorado College)
1999–00WCHA2813132286th4120192Won First round series, 2–0 (Colorado College)
Won Quarterfinal, 6–4 (Minnesota State–Mankato)
Lost Semifinal, 3–5 (Wisconsin)
Lost Third-place game, 4–6 (St. Cloud State)
2000–01WCHA281882383rd4227132Won First round series, 2–0 (Michigan Tech)
Lost Semifinal, 0–3 (St. Cloud State)
Lost Third-place game, 4–5 (Colorado College)
Lost Regional Quarterfinal, 4–5 (OT) (Maine)
2001–02WCHA281873393rd443284Won First round series, 2–0 (North Dakota)
Won Semifinal, 4–1 (St. Cloud State)
Lost Championship, 2–5 (Denver)
Won Regional semifinal, 4–2 (Colorado College)
Won National semifinal, 3–2 (Michigan)
Won National Championship, 4–3 (OT) (Maine)
2002–03WCHA28156737T–2nd452889Won First round series, 2–0 (Michigan Tech)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Minnesota State)
Won Championship, 4–2 (Colorado College)
Won Regional semifinal, 9–2 (Mercyhurst)
Won Regional final, 7–4 (Ferris State)
Won National semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Michigan)
Won National Championship, 5–1 (New Hampshire)
2003–04WCHA281512131T–4th4427143Won First round series, 2–0 (St. Cloud State)
Won Semifinal, 7–4 (Minnesota–Duluth)
Won Championship, 5–4 (North Dakota)
Won Regional semifinal, 5–2 (Notre Dame)
Lost Regional final, 1–3 (Minnesota–Duluth)
2004–05WCHA281710135T–3rd4428151Won First round series, 2–0 (Minnesota State)
Lost Semifinal, 0–3 (Colorado College)
Lost Third-place game, 2–4 (North Dakota)
Won Regional semifinal, 1–0 (OT) (Maine)
Won Regional final, 2–1 (OT) (Cornell)
Lost National semifinal, 2–4 (North Dakota)
2005–06WCHA282053431st412795Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Lost Semifinal, 7–8 (OT) (St. Cloud State)
Lost Third-place game, 0–4 (Wisconsin)
Lost Regional semifinal, 3–4 (OT) (Holy Cross)
2006–07WCHA281873391st4431103Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Won Semifinal, 4–2 (Wisconsin)
Won Championship, 3–2 (OT) (North Dakota)
Won Regional semifinal, 4–3 (Air Force)
Lost Regional final, 2–3 (OT) (North Dakota)
2007–08WCHA289127257th4519179Won First round series, 2–1 (Minnesota State)
Won Quarterfinal, 3–2 (St. Cloud State)
Won Semifinal, 2–1 (OT) (Colorado College)
Lost Championship, 1–2 (Denver)
Lost Regional semifinal, 2–5 (Boston College)
2008–09WCHA2812115295th3717137Won First round series, 2–0 (St. Cloud State)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–2 (Minnesota–Duluth)
2009–10WCHA2812142267th3918192Lost First round series, 1–2 (North Dakota)
2010–11WCHA2813105315th3616146Lost First round series, 0–2 (Alaska–Anchorage)
2011–12WCHA282080401st4328141Won First round series, 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage)
Lost Semifinal, 3–6 (North Dakota)
Won Regional semifinal, 7–3 (Boston University)
Won Regional final, 5–2 (North Dakota)
Lost National semifinal, 1–6 (Boston College)
2012–13WCHA28167537T–1st402695Won First round series, 2–0 (Bemidji State)
Lost Semifinal, 0–2 (Colorado College)
Lost Regional semifinal, 2–3 (OT) (Yale)
2013–14Big Ten2014330451st412876Lost Semifinal, 1–3 (Ohio State)Won Regional semifinal, 7–3 (Robert Morris)
Won Regional final, 4–0 (St. Cloud State)
Won National semifinal, 2–1 (North Dakota)
Lost National Championship, 4–7 (Union)
2014–15Big Ten2012530391st3923133Won Semifinal, 3–0 (Ohio State)
Won Championship, 4–2 (Michigan)
Lost Regional semifinal, 1–4 (Minnesota–Duluth)
2015–16Big Ten2014600421st3720170Won Semifinal, 4–2 (Ohio State)
Lost Championship, 3–5 (Michigan)
2016–17Big Ten2014510431st3823123Lost Semifinal, 3–4 (2OT) (Penn State)Lost Regional semifinal, 2–3 (Notre Dame)
2017–18Big Ten24101221335th3819172Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Penn State)
2018–19Big Ten24111030363rd3818164Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Michigan)
Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (OT) (Notre Dame)
2019–20Big Ten24987438T–2nd3716147Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Notre Dame)
Tournament cancelled
2020–21Big Ten221660000.7272nd312470Won Quarterfinal, 2–1 (OT) (Michigan State)
Won Semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Michigan)
Won Championship, 6–4 (Wisconsin)
Won Regional semifinal, 7–2 (Omaha)
Lost Regional final, 0–4 (Minnesota State)
2021–22Big Ten241860120551st3926130Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Penn State)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (Michigan)
Won Regional semifinal, 4–3 (OT) (Massachusetts)
Won Regional final, 3–0 (Western Michigan)
Lost National semifinal, 1–5 (Minnesota State)
2022–23Big Ten241941210571st4029101Won Semifinal, 5–1 (Michigan State)
Lost Championship, 3–4 (Michigan)
Won Regional semifinal, 9–2 (Canisius)
Won Regional final, 4–1 (St. Cloud State)
Won National semifinal, 6–2 (Boston University)
Lost National Championship, 2–3 (OT) (Quinnipiac)
2023–24Big Ten241374310413rd3923115Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Penn State)
Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (Michigan)
Won Regional Semifinal, 3–2 (Omaha)
Lost Regional Final, 3–6 (Boston University)
TotalsGPWLT%Championships
Regular season2928175097820014 MCHL/WIHL/WCHA Championships, 16 (6 modern era) Big Ten Championships
Conference Post-season19512069614 WCHA tournament championships, 2 Big Ten tournament championships
NCAA Post-season1046242041 NCAA Tournament appearances
Regular season and Post-season Record3227193210892065 NCAA Division I National Championships

†Sonmor resigned in December 1971.
Mike Guentzel Served as an interim coach for a total of three games in two seasons while Doug Woog was suspended.

References

General

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minnesota Golden Gophers . Minnesota Men's Hockey 2018-19 Media Guide . April 2, 2019.