A Badger Celebration
06/29/1982
– Paul: Five NCAA tournament appearances netted national titles in 1973 and 1977.
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Badger fan support became the talk of the nation as Badger Backers have become recognized as the best at upset NCAA attendance records for nine consecutive years. After capturing the 1981 NCAA crown the Badger celebration seems destined to continue in the upcoming decade.
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Yahoo
This is your celebration
Yahoo
This is your celebration
Celebrate good times, come on
Let’s celebrate
Celebrate good times, come on
Let’s celebrate
There’s a party goin’ on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you
Come on now
Celebration
– From the far reaches of the United States in Canada to hometown favorite. Badger mentor Bob Johnson molded a hockey team that surprised everyone by seasons end. It was a team effort that guided the Badgers to their third NCAA crown, and for that reason, the entire squad received the most valuable player award. Seniors dedicated to leaving Wisconsin as winners gave the team leadership. And all American defenseman the previous year, Theran Welsh from Weldon Saskatchewan led the way in demonstrating that team unity would take Wisconsin to the top again. Theran was the highest scoring defenseman in the WCHA with 49 points. He ended his Badger career as Wisconsin’s all time assist leader with 194 and he ranks third in Badger scoring annals with 228 points. A durable player, he missed just one game at his four year career at Wisconsin. Welsh’s play added to the tradition of the outstanding defenseman Wisconsin is known for. A Rochester Minnesota native Scott Lecy saved his best effort for his senior year. He led the team in scoring with 75 points and his 26 goals was a personal best for one season. His 83 career goals ranked forth on the all time scoring list. And during the past season, Scott had two goal games against Notre Dame, Colorado College, Western Michigan and RPI, and he had a string of 15 consecutive games in which he scored at least 1 point. One of the WCHA’s top scores the last three years, Lecy’s style of play will be missed.
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Ed Lebler played in every game during the championship season, and his 28 goals was his best scoring effort in his years at Wisconsin. From Vanderhoof British Columbia, Eddie scored at least one goal in seven of the final nine games including two against Minnesota in the title game. His opened that goal in
the final seconds of the championship game was the icing on the Badgers title cake. Lebler’s physical style and determine attitude helped spark the younger players.
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A dynamo from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Dan Gorowsky proved that patience pays off. He did not see action for the first third of the year when given the opportunity to play he proved his worth. He scored a goal in five of the first six games and did not miss a contest from then on. Along with Ken Karlick, Gorowsky was a key member of Wisconsin’s most effective shorthanded unit. He never quit on a play. These upperclassmen provided the Badgers squad with the spark that ignited the fire carrying them to the national title.
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Youth also played an important part in Wisconsin’s 1980, 81 success story. It seemed only right that an underclassman junior Jay McFarlane was the team captain. The big Badger enforcer from Edmonton Alberta provided the leadership and the muscle on the defensive unit that allowed the fewest goals in the WCHA. His blue line knowledge and experience was a key factor in allowing the Badgers to always be on the attack.
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Despite missing six key games during the Badger stretch drive, Ron Vincent proved his value to the Badger squad, always a consistent performer. The Victoria British Columbia native was the team’s second leading scorer with 65 points. Ron’s 20 goals included a hat trick in the Badger’s 10 to one a victory of the defending champion North Dakota. Vincent’s versatility showed as he was called upon to play each forward position during the season. Always his scoring trap, Ron Vincent is a key to Wisconsin’s offense. Junior Pete Johnson surprised a lot of people in 1980, 81. The hometown product became the most consistent goal score, ripping the net in 25 different games. Pete 17 power play goals was tops in the squad and he tide for the team leadership with 30 goals for the year. He’s scored a total of great points at each of seven different games at his four goals and four assist where key ingredients in Wisconsin’s final rush. Pete Johnson came into his own during the title year.
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John Newberry’s first year as a Badger was impressive. He tallied two goals in the season opener and had 11 goals after the first nine games. During the season he scored three hat tricks, and his 30 goals overall tied him for the team lead. John’s two goals, and four assists and the NCAA attorney earned him all tournament honors. Still learning, he is always a threat to score when on the ice.
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The list of players who contributed in no small way to Wisconsin’s title seems endless. The inspiring play and the shorthanded efforts of Ken Karlic throughout are unforgettable.
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Lexi Dunner’s game winning goal against Clarkson at the NCAA quarter finals will long be remembered.
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John Johansson’s four game winning goals and his shorthanded goal in the NCAA semifinal game against Northern Michigan showed everyone, he comes to play.
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Brian Mullens rank long rushes, shorthanded goals and overall play excited the fans
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Bruce Driver proved to be one of the top Defensemen in the WCHA and received a consideration for the NCAA all tournament squad. Ted Pearson’s late season goal scoring rally and a winning goal in the NCAA title game culminated the Badger season. Jeff Andringa, Patty Beard, Todd Lacey, Steve McKenzie Scott Sable, and others were all a part of carrying on Wisconsin’s hockey tradition. The most surprising element of the Wisconsin Hockey Team was the goal tending. Early in the year, Freshman Terry Kleisinger established himself as number one but an ankle injury that would slow to heel kept him from seeing much action at seasons end. Terry recorded two shutouts during the year, and ranks second in the WCHA with a 3.25 goals against average. His presence will bolster Badger fortunes in the future.
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The Cinderella story of the year was Southmore netminder, Marc Behrends. The Madison native was named the most valuable player in the NCAA tournament, just three months after winning his first varsity game, a four to three win over Michigan on January 10th. He emerged as the top WCAK goalie and posted an 11, four and one overall record. Mark allowed just four goals while kicking out 55 shots in the NCAA tournament, making him the solid choice as the meet outstanding player. Mark proved that hard work and dedication is still the right path to follow.
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After completing the WCAK season in a second place tie with a 17 and 11 record, the Badgers appeared ready to head to Duluth until an up star Colorado College Team downed them 13 to 12 at a two game total goal series. But all was not lost as the NCAA selection committee awarded the final play off spot in the west to the Badgers. Labeled as the back door Badgers, this team was determined to prove to everyone that they deserve to be playing for the national crowd. They overcame the odds by beating Clarkson the number one team in the east on their home ice. The Badgers traveled to the national tournament as an underdog in the all Western field. Minnesota, Northern Michigan and Michigan tech were the other semifinalists. The Badgers opened the tournament against Northern Michigan the CCHA champions. After a scoreless first period the Badgers drew first blood with a power play goal by senior Ed Lebler, three minutes into the second stands up. As the second period was ending, and the Badgers found themselves shorthanded, Freshman John Johansen got the puck off a face off and went into unassisted to give Wisconsin a two to nothing margin with just two minutes left in the period.
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The Badgers were on their way to the finals after telling three more goals in the final 20 minutes. And Mark Barron stopped all but one shot as the Badgers cruise to a five to one victory over the Wilds Cats.
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The finals brought a great hockey rivalry together again, Wisconsin and Minnesota had staged some classic battles over the years, but this time it would be for the national title. Coming into the encounter, the Gophers were highly favored as they were the WCHA champs and the number one ranked team in the country. Wisconsin pressured the Gophers from the opening face off and at the 9:24 mark, Senior Dan Gorowsky gave the Badgers a lead that they would never relinquish. Freshman John Newberry stored a power play goal at 14:49, and Ed Lebler made it three to nothing after taking a long pass from Pat Ethier and beating Minnesota’s goalie with a 20 foot slap shot.
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The upset minded Badgers increased their lead in the second period with a rebound goal by freshman Ted Pearson and Newberry’s second power play goal of the game. The score after two periods of play was five one in Wisconsin favor and the Badger fans could sense another NCAA crown.
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Two power play goals by the gophers cut the margin to five to three, but Badger goalie, Mark Barrons almost unbelievable saves and Ed Lebler’s open net goal crushed Minnesota’s hope. Wisconsin six to three victory for their third NCAA title, got the Badgers celebration started.
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That celebration seems destined to continue as the 1980, 81 Badgers gave proof that Wisconsin intends to be a team to challenge in the eighties. Yahoo!
This is your celebration
Celebrate good times