University of Minnesota Athletics
John Mayasich
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
John Mayasich |
John Mayasich has long been regarded as one of the finest amateur hockey players ever produced in the United States, and is without question the greatest to ever lace 'em up in Minnesota. Mayasich grew up playing hockey on the Iron Range and went on to lead his Eveleth High School team to an amazing run of four consecutive undefeated state championship seasons from 1948-51.
From there, Mayasich headed south, where he led the Gophers to a couple of NCAA Final Fours, and took college hockey by storm. Before his career was over, the two-time All-American had tallied Gopher records of 298 career points and 144 goals. (His totals worked out to an incredible 1.4 goals per game average with nearly three points per game.) At the end of his playing career with the Gophers, Mayasich fulfilled his military obligations and then went on to star on the 1956 silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team in Cortina, Italy.
Mayasich was a "velvety-smoothed skater," who is credited as being the first college hockey player to develop the slap shot. Following college, Mayasich went on to play with eight U.S. Olympic and National teams, including winning a gold medal in 1960 at the Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, Calif.
Declining professional hockey opportunities in the then six team NHL, Mayasich devoted his remaining hockey career to the USHL's Green Bay Bobcats, where he played and later coached. Mayasich also coached the 1969 U.S. National team as well.
Mayasich received numerous honors during his hockey days, including being the first Minnesotan to be voted into the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1976, Mayasich had an homecoming of sorts, when he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in his native Eveleth.
M Club Hall of Fame
