List of Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey seasons

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.

3M Arena at Mariucci, home arena of the Golden Gophers men's hockey team since 1993

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 season[a]Conference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTWOTL3/SWPts*FinishGPWLT%
I. D. MacDonald (1921–1922)
1921–22Independent10631.650
Emil Iverson (1922–1930)
1922–23Independent121011.875
1923–24Independent141310.929
1924–25Independent10811.850
1925–26Independent161204.875
1926–27Independent15960.600
1927–28Independent13922.769
1928–29Independent171421.853
1929–30Independent18792.444
Frank Pond (1930–1935)
1930–31Independent197111.395
1931–32Independent161231.781
1932–33Independent111010.909
1933–34Independent141130.786
1934–35Independent17962.588
Larry Armstrong (1935–1947)
1935–36Independent161060.625
1936–37Independent161141.719
1937–38Independent17791.441
1938–39Independent231760.739Won in AAU Quarterfinals, 10–1 (Philadelphia)
Won in AAU Semifinals, 3–2 (St. Nicholas)
Lost in AAU Championship, 3–4 (Cleveland)
1939–40Independent1818001.000Won in AAU Semifinals, 9–4 (Amesbury)
Won AAU Championship, 9–1 (Brock Hall)
1940–41Independent161132.750
1941–42Independent12750.583
1942–43Independent161051.656
1943–44Independent11650.545
1944–45Independent10721.750
1945–46Independent14941.679
1946–47Independent201253.675
Elwin Romnes (1947–1952)
1947–48Independent219120.429
1948–49Independent2312110.522
1949–50Independent165110.313
1950–51Independent2614120.538
1951–52MCHL12570105th2613130.500
John Mariucci (1952–1955)
1952–53MCHL20164019T–1st292360.793Won Semifinal, 3–2 (Rensselaer)
Lost Championship, 3–7 (Michigan)
1953–54WIHL20163120½1st302361.783Won Semifinal, 14–1 (Boston College)
Lost Championship, 4–5 (OT) (Rensselaer)
1954–55WIHL2410122113rd3016122.567
Marsh Ryman (1955–1956)
1955–56WIHL2211101124th2916121.569
John Mariucci (1956–1966)
1956–57WIHL24715086th2912152.429
1957–58WIHL2413110134th2716110.593
1958–59Big Ten843192nd2412102.542
1959–60Big Ten8530101st279162.370
WCHA248151.3546th
1960–61Big Ten8530102nd2917111.603Won WCHA Final series, 6–4 (Michigan)Lost Semifinal, 1–6 (Denver)
Won Third-place game, 4–3 (Rensselaer)
WCHA201460.7002nd
1961–62Big Ten4031.1253rd219102.476
WCHA165101.3446th
1962–63Big Ten8512121st291694.621Lost WCHA Semifinal series, 2–9 (Denver)
WCHA201073.5754th
1963–64Big Ten8530102nd2514110.560
WCHA161060.6253rd
University Division
1964–65Big Ten8530101st2814122.536Lost WCHA first round series, 7–11 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA181080.5563rd
1965–66Big Ten8530101st2716110.593Lost WCHA first round, 3–4 (North Dakota)
WCHA221390.591T–2nd
Glen Sonmor (1966–1971)
1966–67Big Ten825153rd299191.328Lost WCHA first round, 2–7 (North Dakota)
WCHA235171.2398th
1967–68Big Ten835062nd3119120.613Won WCHA first round, 5–3 (Michigan)
Lost WCHA Final series, 3–16 (Denver)
WCHA221390.5915th
1968–69Big Ten10451.4503rd2913133.517Lost WCHA regional semifinal, 4–8 (Michigan)
WCHA221192.5454th
1969–70Big Ten12840161st3321120.636Won WCHA regional semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Minnesota–Duluth)
Lost WCHA Regional final, 5–6 (Michigan Tech)
WCHA261880.6921st
1970–71Big Ten10550.5003rd3214171.453Won 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)
WCHA229121.4325th
Ken Yackel (1971–1972)
1971–72Big Ten1046084th32†8†240†.250
WCHA2872101410th
Herb Brooks (1972–1979)
1972–73Big Ten12541133rd3415163.485Lost WCHA first round series, 10–14 (Wisconsin)
WCHA2812133356th
Division I
1973–74Big Ten1254313T–1st3922116.641Won 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 Ten12840161st4231101.750Won 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 Ten1248083rd4428142.659Won 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 Ten12570103rd4117213.451Won WCHA first round series, 10–7 (Notre Dame)
Lost WCHA Semifinal series, 8–17 (Wisconsin)
WCHA3213163297th
1977–78Big Ten12660123rd3822142.605Lost WCHA first round series, 7–8 (Colorado College)
WCHA3218131374th
1978–79Big Ten121020201st4432111.739Won 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
Brad Buetow (1979–1985)
1979–80Big Ten12840161st4126150.634Won WCHA first round series, 13–5 (Michigan Tech)
Won WCHA second round series, 13–4 (Colorado College)
Lost First round, 3–4 (Northern Michigan)
WCHA3218140.5632nd
1980–81Big Ten10910.9001st4533120.733Won 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
1981–82WCHA2613112283rd3622122.639Won First round series, 9–4 (Colorado College)
Lost Semifinal series, 5–9 (North Dakota)
1982–83WCHA261871371st4532121.722Won 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)
1983–84WCHA261691.6353rd4027112.700Won First round series, 7–2 (Colorado College)
Lost Semifinal series, 7–9 (North Dakota)
1984–85WCHA3421103452nd4731133.691Won 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)
Doug Woog (1985–1999)
1985–86WCHA3424100482nd4835130.729Won 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)
1986–87WCHA352591512nd4934141.704Won 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)
1987–88WCHA352870561st4434100.773Won 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)
1988–89WCHA352762361st4834113.740Won 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)
1989–90WCHA281792362nd4628162.630Won 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)
1990–91WCHA322255492nd4530105.722Won 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)
1991–92WCHA322660521st4433110.750Won 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–2nd4222128.619Won 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)
1993–94WCHA3218104402nd4225134.650Won 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)
1994–95WCHA3216115374th4425145.625Won 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‡.738Won 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‡.679Won 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)
1997–98WCHA2812160246th3917220.436Lost First round series, 1–2 (Minnesota–Duluth)
1998–99WCHA2810126265th4315199.453Won 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)
Don Lucia (1999–2018)
1999–00WCHA2813132286th4120192.512Won 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)
2000–01WCHA281882383rd4227132.667Won 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)
2001–02WCHA281873393rd443284.773Won 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–2nd452889.722Won 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–4th4427143.648Won 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–3rd4428151.648Won 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)
2005–06WCHA282053431st412795.720Won 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)
2006–07WCHA281873391st4431103.739Won 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)
2007–08WCHA289127257th4519179.522Won 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)
2008–09WCHA2812115295th3717137.554Won First round series, 2–0 (St. Cloud State)
Lost Quarterfinal, 1–2 (Minnesota–Duluth)
2009–10WCHA2812142267th3918192.487Lost First round series, 1–2 (North Dakota)
2010–11WCHA2813105315th3616146.528Lost First round series, 0–2 (Alaska–Anchorage)
2011–12WCHA282080401st4328141.663Won 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–1st402695.713Won First round series, 2–0 (Bemidji State)
Lost Semifinal, 0–2 (Colorado College)
Lost Regional semifinal, 2–3 (OT) (Yale)
2013–14Big Ten2014330451st412876.756Lost 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 Ten2012530391st3923133.628Won Semifinal, 3–0 (Ohio State)
Won Championship, 4–2 (Michigan)
Lost Regional semifinal, 1–4 (Minnesota–Duluth)
2015–16Big Ten2014600421st3720170.541Won Semifinal, 4–2 (Ohio State)
Lost Championship, 3–5 (Michigan)
2016–17Big Ten2014510431st3823123.645Lost Semifinal, 3–4 (2OT) (Penn State)Lost Regional semifinal, 2–3 (Notre Dame)
2017–18Big Ten24101221335th3819172.526Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Penn State)
Bob Motzko (2018–Present)
2018–19Big Ten24111030363rd3818164.526Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Michigan)
Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (OT) (Notre Dame)
2019–20Big Ten24987438T–2nd3716147.527Won Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Notre Dame)
Tournament cancelled
2020–21Big Ten221660000.7272nd312470.774Won 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 Ten241860120551st3926130.667Won 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 Ten241941210571st4029101.738Won 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 Ten241374310413rd3923115.654Won 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 season29281750978200.63214 MCHL/WIHL/WCHA Championships, 16 (6 modern era) Big Ten Championships
Conference Post-season195120696.63114 WCHA tournament championships, 2 Big Ten tournament championships
NCAA Post-season10462420.59641 NCAA Tournament appearances
Regular season and Post-season Record322719321089206.6315 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.

Footnotes

References

Specific

General